OIL AT WANGANUI

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19030, 2 June 1936, Page 11

OIL AT WANGANUI

INVESTIGATION ASSURED GOVERNMENT PROMISE DIVINER’S DISCOVERIES Since independent investigations by idmriera have led to the belief that oil exists in vast quantities below areas in and adjacent to Wangahui, steps have been taken by the Wanganui City Council to acquaint the Government with the possibilities of the discovert. The outcome of representations by Mr. J. B. Cotterill. M.l;\, to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. IJ. G. Sullivan, has resulted in the assurance that at the end of the present session of Parliament either Dr. h. Mnrsden or Dr. J. Henderson, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, will visit Wanganui and discuss with the Mayor, Mr. VV. «*■ Rogers, and the city engineer, Mr. L. F. Row. reports bearing on diviners claims.

For many years it lias been known that oil exists in the swampy area lying between St. John’s flill and the coast, and small emissions of this were well known to early settlers. 1 races ot the substance have also been seen m the Wanganui River, on the airport, and along the South Beach. Some com petent to express an opinion consider that the Napier earthquake in 1931 disrupted an oil seam which would in ai probability account for the now more noticeable signs of crude oil in those localities. The opinion advanced that this deposit was a continuation of the New Plymouth oilfields has been rejected. Instead three diviners have expressed the opinion that the held below Wanganui is more extensive ami more promising, and tbat there is no connection between the fields. IMMENSE SUPPLIES

To find out for himself the extent of the deposit at Wanganui, Mr. C. McDonald, of Woodvilie, spent a recent week-end divining in the city. Tests m various localities convinced him that the field was below the. complete city area and suburban areas with the exception of St. John’s Hill. The oil belt followed a course to Castlecliff, where it curved back through Danville and to the city again. “There is sufficient oil here to supply the needs of the British Empire,’: he said when interviewed. “1 believe this deposit is the second largest in the North Island, and it dwarfs the New Plymouth field.” He considered the largest field in New Zealand was in the Manawatu district, and the second largest was in the South Island, but as to where the exact localities were, lie preferred not to disclose until he had made more comprehensive investigations. PROLIFIC GUSHERS Early this month, Mr. T. I odd, o! Lepperton, another well-known diviner, paid a visit to Wanganui and found symptoms of oil corroborating Mr. McDonald's tests. Incidentally, the two diviners happened to meet each other for the first time. In the course of a short morning’s tour, Mr. Todd stated he found unmistakable signs oi at least a dozen prolific gushers, and. three o' the largest were .within a stone s throw of the hangar at the airport ”

Manv city reserves also revealed signs, of oil below the surface in abundant Juaritities. He was able to measure the intensions of each prospective gusher, and together with the locality; details were noted so that- when the Gov •f ernment, in accordance with its pro_ mise to the Wanganui City Counci' decides to carry out further tests, it anil fcrjve all necessary details as complete as possible. He was astonished at the extent of the field. Another diviner, Mr. T. J. Clover, of Waverley. also conducted numerous tests throughout the same localities, and arrived at similar conclusions.