NATURAL GAS SUPPLY.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19664, 26 August 1935, Page 12

NATURAL GAS SUPPLY.

PUZZLE FOR EXPERTS. FROM ALL OVER WORLD. Matty experts believe that there is oil under the village of Heathflcld (Sussex), where for over 30 years a supply of natural illuminating -gas has welled up out of the earth. Until 12 months ago this -gas, which flowed from a well on Southern Railway property, had been used to light Heath field Railway Station, but since then the whole supply lias been handed over to the Ministry of Mines, whose research department now used it for experimental purposes. ‘How this wonderful supply of gas was accidentally discovered was related by Hie statlonmaster at Heathfield.

“A well was being bored for a supply of water for the locomotive department,” he said, “when one day the foreman well-sinker struck a match to light his pipe. As he struck it, a huge sheet of flame went up from the well.

“Experts soon discovered that a source of natural gas had been tapped, so a cap was played over it with a valve and two gas containers built. “For 30 years this gas, without any pumping, has forced its way from the earth and kept the containers full, and tiie station was lit by it. “Many other bore-boles have been sunk in the district to try and tap the source of this gas, but none of them have succeeded, and nobody so far lias ever found any oil. “Scientists and oil experts from all over the world have visited Healltfleld lo sec this well and to investigate it, but opinion seents to be very much divided as fo whether there is any oil under the village.”