SOUTHERN CROSS PETROLEUM WORKS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume X, Issue 2027, 17 September 1883, Page 2

SOUTHERN CROSS PETROLEUM WORKS.

[From the Lyttdton Times]

Gisborne, September 7. The person who last night brought to town the information concerning the reported striking of oil at the Southern Cross Company's works not being discoverable, it seemed to me that the next best thing was to enquire for Major Ropata. The Major, it will be remembered, was said to haTe given evidence confirming the story of the other mysterious gentleman whose present whereabouts cannot be ascertained. The latter told his tale at the office of the evening paper ouly on condition that his name should not be made public. Since that he appears to have held his tongue, for nobody seems to know who he was. Major Ropata's story was short. He himself had not been at the oil well for quite a long time, but just before he started to come down to Gisborne he had seen one of the Americans engaged by the Company to carry out the boring operations. This man had said that the pipes were now down more than 50Q feet, and that the indications were so very encouraging aad so marked that he expected to strike the oil at almost any moment. What is called hero " the show " was better than it had ever been before. A large quantity of oil had also been put into barrels up at the springs. Some of the samples last obtained the American had declared to be of wonderful quality, bo much so that in its native state it would be worth about four times the average quality of similar American oil. This part of the narrative was all heresay, and the Major wa3 particular to make me understand that he did not mean to be responsible for any misstatements or exaggeration that might possibly be contained in it. He was, however, very positive as to what he himself had seen at the springs on his last visit — that was oil, water and gas, mixed together, being pumped out of the tubes in large quantities. This is simply additional testimony, apart from my last last night's telegram. The interview ended by the old warrior challenging me to go up to the ground and disprove his statements if I could. This was all of the affair, aud as far as mere acceptance goes, an easy one to take up, aa the Southern Cross noes North to-morrow. The chief may possibly have the satisfaction of seeing his words more than confirmed within a week, though hardly before that time, as communication is so bad.