WEALTH IN OIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 8

WEALTH IN OIL

SOUTH ISLAND FIELD INVESTIGATIONS IN HAND [ Per Press Association. J DUNEDIN, May 29. An event of immence importance to New Zealand and to Otago especially, if certain investigations at present being carried out by the Government are successful, is the discovery of oil near Milford Sound. This may be a modern parallel in wealth to the finding ot gold in Otago. The oilfield is situated in a huge fault extending nearly 20 miles from Martin's Bay along the coast, and from documentary information placed at the disposal ot a reporter the Government will be prepared to control tne entire production of oil should Die potentialities of the field be as promising as exhaustive preliminary invest'gatlons denote. Tmce separate oil occurrences have been located, oil from seepage Demg ot such purity that it w.as used by tne rcterach party for heating purposes. Actually the discovery of oil in the locality by the late Professor Black, of the Otago University, and a qualified prospector, dates back to about 30 years ago. Professor Black was so impressed by the future possibilities of the field that he put his thoughts in writing and his report is at present in the possession of the Government. Dr. Woolnough, the eminent geologist and adviser to the Australian Government, attended the Science Conference at Auckland last year and publicly stated that New Zealand was definitely within the oil zone. He added that any indication of oil being found should be thoroughly investigated. Presumably the Government will install a pilot bore to test the ground at Martin’s Bay.