FIRST FRUITS ?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 September 1936, Page 9

FIRST FRUITS ?

BORING FOR OIL ON SOUTH DOWNS (By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 20th August. A miniature oil-boring camp, with the regulation tin shacks and high derrick, has been established on the South Downs behind Portsmouth. A development company is here, on expert advice, sinking for oil, which the experts predict with' some confidence will be tapped between five and six thousand feet down. The boring has now got down to the three thousand foot level, and the prospectors,, '-the first in the field with practical? endeavour since the Act of Parliament sanctioned such activities in this small island, are on the aui vive for oil symptoms already. An elate Fleet Street journal tells us that “at any moment now oil may gush from this bore, and a'lot of people will be ,a lot richer than they are to-day.” Also: .f<

“Minute by minute the grey sludge pours from below the derrick. Anxious eyes watch it. At any moment it may change colour . . oil will have been discovered in Great Britain.” Even though lots of people will be a lot richer, those who , treasure the amenities of the South Downs will hope there is no gush. TOO, REFINED ~ With current talk of the possibilities of oil being discovered in Brittain, and lovely stretches of our South Downs already defaced with derricks and boring equipment, I am reminded of an incident which happened, jn a certain South American - state which shall be nameless. Oil tracts had been found. Stock Exchanges fluttered, and the nation looked forward to a period of prosperity. From the United States came experts, trained geologists who by a glance at a rock (can tell where oil is hidden. They examined the little provisional well. Sure enough, there was petroleum there, but the men of science were puzzled to find that it resembled refined petroleum rather than the crude variety.-Bene-ficient nature had, it appeared, bestowed. on this sunny land not only the valuable gift of oil but had kind”ly refined it for those who should exploit it. Explanation came'soon, when; one of the geologists, strolling in the neighbourhood found behind a deserted shack innumerable empty but draining petrol tins! *