OILFIELDS TESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 5

OILFIELDS TESTS

GEOPHYSICAL EXAMINATION MOTORUA COMPANY'S PLANS The proposed geophysical survey of the Moturoa Oil Fields Company's leases at Now Plymouth will commence early in December. Arrangements have been made for the arrival in the first week of that month of a party from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research headed by Mr. 0. Modriniak, geophysicist, According to Mr. C. N. Taylor, managing director of Moturoa Oil Fields, Limited, the survey will be an extended one, and will probably occupy from three to four months. Modern geological and geophysical equipment, ordered from America, has already arrived in New Zealand. The survey will bo one of the most comprehensive yet undertaken in New Zealand, and will embody the latest overseas discoveries in this branch of science. A somewhat similar survey was carried out at Omata some years ago, but on this occasion the Government party will have at their disposal more modern apparatus and more complete data. The survey will bo commenced on tho ground around the base of Paritutu, near tho site of the Moturoa Company's No. 1 bore. There is also a possibility that i& will be extended to areas a few miles south of New Plymouth and toward Waitara. Later there will he. a survey of Taranaki for artesian water sources as affecting dairy farming. - At present tho oil company's operations are confined to maintaining production in Nos. 2 and 4 wells, and to preparing equipment for the • bringing into production of No. 1 bore, which, when temporarily abandoned some time ago, was estimated to produce up to ten barrels a day of crude oil. Future work by tho company will depend largely on the findings of the Burvey party. The survey will have an important bearing on the future of oil drilling in Taranaki. CANNED AND DRIED FRUIT BRITISH IMPORTS IN 1933 INCREASED EMPIRE SUPPLY [fkom our own cohukspondknt] LONDON. Sept. 14 Declines in the imports into Creat Britain of canned and dried fruit supplies, with an increased proportion generally from Empire sources, are recorded for 1933 in a report issued by the intelligence branch of the Imperial Economic Committee. Last year's imports of canned fruits preserved in syrup amounted to 3,014,000cwt., valued at £4,000,000, compared with 3,250,000cwt., valued at over £6,000,000, for the record year of 1932/ Analysis of canned fruit imports reveals that the pineapples from Empire sources has almost completely ousted thaft from foreign countries. In regard to other sorts of fruit, the Empire supply has practically doubled since 1928, while foreign imports have moved within narrow limits. The bulk of tho annual supply of canned fruit available in Britain consists of imports of apricots, peaches, pears and pineapples, but the output of the home industry forms an increasing proportion. Imports of dried fruits decreased by 10 per cent on the 1932 figure, but varied little from the average for the last six years. Imports totalled over 3,500,000cwt., with a value of nearly £0,750,000, and all classes of fruit shared in the decline except figs and fig cake. Raisins, sultanas and currants, as usual, formed the bulk of the imports, and shipments of the firstnamed from Australia, which had a record crop, reached a new high level. A substantial increase also took place in imports of raisins and sultanas from South Africa, the increased imports from these two sources raising tho Empire proportion of the total supplies to nearly 60 per cent.

CROPS OF WHEAT INSURANCE QUESTION POSSIBILITY DISCUSSED The possibility of organising an insurance scheme to cover standing wheat crops, and wheat stored on farmers' property between harvest and delivery, was considered at the annual«meeting of the Electoral Committee of the New Zealand Wheatgrowers' Association in Christchurcli. The matter was the subject of a report by Mr. W. W. Mulholland. After the report had been discussed it was decided to defer final consideration until the next meeting. Mr. Mulholland stated that in order that such a scheme might be operated at a low cost per bushel it would need to bo universally adopted, which could only bo obtained by making it compulsory. He had examined it on the basis of insuring against fire and hail losses. However, insurance or reinsurance against hail losses would bo so expensive that it would bo necessary to eliminate this from a compulsory scheme and leave it optional. In order that the cost other than losses might bo sufficiently low to keep the cost of insurance at a reasonable figure, the collection of a premium or levy must be practically automatic. Collection from individual farmers would be expensive and uncertain, owing to the smallness of the amounts in most cases. Two alternative methods of dealing with insurance wero stated to be possible:- — (1) To take a sufficient levy from the wheat to. cover all possible losses which might have to be met, and at the end of the year, after meeting all claims, to refund to growers the balance remaining. This would mean a largo initial levy. . (2) To insure or reinsure with ordinary insurance organisations, in which case only the actual amount of the premium would need to be collected and the levy could be quite small. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE ADVERTISING IN ENGLAND Mr. C. T. Price, a member of the Nelson Harbour Board, who recently returned from a visit to England, states that ho found that New Zealand butter was well displayed and advertised all ovor the country. In a shop window at Carmarthen, in Wales, he saw a good display of apples, obviously Nelson Stunners. At a show there these apples were sold from cases at 6d a pound. He noticed placards advertising margarine at 4d a lb., mixed margarine and butter at 8d a lb.. New Zealand butter at lid a lb., and Danish butter at is id a lb. He found New Zealand apples very Tj'cll spoken of. WHOLESALE PRICE OF EGGS The wholesalo price of eggs in Auckland is as follows:—Hon., first quality, 10Jd a dozen; B grade, 94d; C grade, 7Jd: duck, 9*d, BJd and 7*d respectively. BRITISH WAR LOAN British Wireless RUGBY. Oct. 19 War Loan, 3$ per cent, is quoted today at £lO5 15s, same as yesterday.