A TRIP TO THE OIL SPRING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3254, 2 March 1885, Page 3

A TRIP TO THE OIL SPRING.

I (Poverty Bay Herald). The new directorate of the South Pacific Petroleum Company left Gisborne ! at noon on Tuesday to pay a visit to the | scene of operations on the Pakake-o-whirikoka Block. In spite of all that has been said to the contrary, the road presented no difficulties. Crossing the ford at Katferatahi, the way led along a varied stretch of road, up hill and down dale, the worst pinches being materially improved by some of the new road formation contracts. Mr Arthur's station at Whatatutu was reached at 6 p.m., without the slightest check. Four of the number were driven m a buggy and pair, provided by Mr S. Stevenson, the remainder of the party being m the saddle. Shortly after daybreak the party resumed their journey, arriving m good time for breakfast at the scene of operations. Whilst everything would indicate that the new site is as promising a one as could have been chosen for oil boring purposes, the most fastidious lover of the beautiful could not but acknowledge that, m point of picturesqueness, it could hardly be surpassed. The site chosen is a small triangular flat on the Waiongoramia creek, bounded on one side and partly on another by a very pretty and varied strip of bush, on the other sides by the creek, the whole completely encircled by high hills as a background. In the centre of this flat the derrick is erected, a tall, complicated, Jacob's ladder like looking structure some 72 feet m height. The engine house, men's huts, and other necessary building* are all erected at appropriate points, the tout ensemble forming a striking example of the pertinacity with which mankind insist on wrestling the treasures of Mother Earth from her bosom, regardless of danger, difficulty, or cost. It is still an open question whether payable oil bearing strata will ever be discovered m Poverty Bay, but one thing appears quite certain, that if they are to be found at all, Mr Weaver is the right man to do it. He is now drilling and driving the tubing at a vigorous rate, and to all appearance, it would be difficult to improve on Mr Weaver's method of carrying out his contract. A drill of some 40 feet m length, weighing upwards of a ton, is lifted and dropped by means of a huge walking-beam. After this gigantic tool has penetrated to a certain depth, it is withdrawn to make room for an ingenious instrument called a sandpump, which is lowered by means of independent gear, and m an incredibly 3hort space of time brings to the surface all the mud, stones and mullock previously loosened by the drill. It is impossible, however, for words to give even a faint idea of the magnitude of the undertaking. The tall derrick towering steeple-high above the on-looker, the gigantic tools, the massive hawsers, the immense force employed, and yet the perfect order and command evidently possessed by Mr Weaver over the whole of his gear, must be seen to be realised. In the lowering of the ponderous drill down the tubing it is a Bight to witness the velocity which it gainß as it descends into its narrow bed, and after the first 200 feet, the speed increases to an extent which would lead the passer-by to the impresßion that a whirlwind was sweeping through the building — the immense windlassflying round like lightning, the rush of the drill, down the tube, and the whole structure vibrating as if about to be blown away. Yet all thia power and weight can be checked instantly, as if by magic, with the slightest touch of the brake. Mr Weaver ha 3 now attained a depth of 466 feet. The working being still m papa, a few traces of j sand. and. (belli being occaiiouaHy percept*

ible. Faint signs of oil are likewise to be discerned at frequent intervals, and Mr Weaver is very hopeful regarding the result. He has worked, he says, on ground of a precisely similar description, and has found oil-bearing rock underneath. He believea that at about 600 feet the indications will be more decided m character, but that it will require deeper sinking to find payable oil. The directors returned to town last evening entirely satisfied with all they had seen, and they are certainly justified m their conclusions, for the Company was never on a better basis than at the present time. A meeting of the directors was held thia morning, when the first payment by the directorate was duly made.