PETROLEUM PROSPECTING OPERATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12760, 10 January 1905, Page 6

PETROLEUM PROSPECTING OPERATIONS.

Bor.TNC operations at the. petroleum prospecting works at. Moturoa, Taranaki, were resumed last week after ilio holidays. On Thursday Mr. Fai. reported that the approximate depth reached was ISSOft, and the indications of oil and yrs continued to be excellent. Sir. Fair is hopeful of striking payable oil in the next few day*' boring. At present the driil is going through a hard slaty formation, which, Sir. Fair states, is a good sign. A representative of tho Taranaki Herald visited the works, and found Sir. Fair ard his staff engaged in drilling. In answer to queries. Mr. Fair stated that shortly Iter resuming the drill went through the slate formation, and a strong pressure of gas was struck. A sandstone formation was then entered. To give an ide.a of the amount of gas escaping from the bore, Sir. Fair threw a lighted match in the bore, and instantly a big flame was created, and burned for several minutes. The flames shot up with successive leaps, and kept the men away from the vicinity of the fibre bead for some minutes. In answer to another quostiton, Mr. Fair said he looked on the pressure of gas as a good sign, and he, was sanguine that he was Hearing the achievement of his enterprise.