INDICATIONS OF PETROLEUM.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2492, 14 March 1867, Page 4

INDICATIONS OF PETROLEUM.

The following is an extract from a private letter from E. Meredith, Esq, Riversdale, Whareama : —

" I have recently discovered moro than one escape of gas issuing from tho ground through water upon my property. The gas ignites freely,^ and is similar "in character to that upon Mr D. y Cameron's run, twelve miles from here. As we may have petroleum underlying the whole of this district, perhaps you may think the subject of sufficient importance to tho province to draw public attention to it. I may mention that the springs or gas escapes on my run aro within half a mile of tho sea, nnd but threo miles from tho well-known shipping place ' Uriti.' "

The following is extracted from another letter received from the East Coast : —

" When at Mr 's, he mentioned to me that hia son had found a boiling spring quite close to the house. We went to the spot. About half way up (he ranges is fcho well, which is the feet deep ; it makes a noise which cm be heard some thirty yards off, resembling a pot of boiling water. The ground all round is hard, dry fern land, and very stony ; the mouth of the well is about bvx inches in circumference.

"On applying a match to the hole it ignited instantaneously, and burned fiercely for half-an-hour, when we extinguished the flame by closing the aperture with fern. " My first impression -was that it was kerosene, but I afterwards found that the liquid, cold, will not burn.

" I brought a phial full home, and now send it to you. In taking: what is now sent from tho well, it was skimmed off the surface, and, if allowed to stand for a few minutes, a thick sediment falls to the bottom.

" The flame emitted rises to a height of from two to three feet, und much resembles that from spirits."