C—2

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The following are particulars regarding the deep boreholes in the Dominion :-—

CINNAHAII. The Whangarei Cinnabar-mining Company, whose operations are carried on at Puhipuhi, North Auckland, has been renamed the " New Zealand Quicksilver-mines (Limited)." During 1918 the company mined and retorted about 582 tons of ore for a return of 11,296 lb. of quicksilver, valued at £2,824. The Customs returns show that during the same period there was entered for exportation 4} tons (10,0801b.) of quicksilver, valued at £2,122. The Inspector of Mines reports that during the year mining development has not been carried out, the reserve, of ore being drawn upon to supply the retorts. Kauri-gum. The kauri-gum industry being under the administration of a separate Department controlled by a Superintendent, and reported on in an official annual report by that officer, reference to such industry in this report: is confined, to the publication of the quantity and value of this mineral which lias been exported, and to new processes which have and are being adopted lor the recovery or treatment of kauri-gum prior to shipment, and to the extraction of oil therefrom. During 1918 2,419 tons of kauri-gum, valued at £157,313, was exported, the total quantity and value of gum exported to the end of 1918 being respectively 356,292 tons, valued at £18,325,252. During the past five years attempts have been made to raise kauri-gum from swamp land by means of gold-dredges, but up to the present time the profits therefrom, if any, have been small. Since 1917 progress has been made in the development of the kauri-peat oil-extraction. Plants are being installed by two companies- viz., the New Zealand Peat-oils Company (Limited), who propose to operate on 3,000 acres at Kaimaumau, north of Mangonui, and by the Parenga Gumfields (Limited), who will shortly commence operations at Red hill; Northern Wairou, upon 6,000 acres. ft is proposed to refine from the crude oil motor-spirit (benzine), paint-oil, and varnish-oils, with the residuum pitch. The following is the result of analyses by the Dominion Analyst of samples of peat from Kaimaumau taken from a depth of 12 ft, : — Sample Sample Sample Sample Sample No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. No. 5. Total crude oil, in gallons per ton .. 29-8 17-3 20-2 40-9 29-0 Gas (cubic feet per ton) .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,300 Ammonia sulphate, in pounds per ton 11 -9 13-2 11-2 10-5 14-1 Charcoal (hundredweight per ton) .. . . .. .. . . 7-2 Acetic acid (pounds per ton) . . . . . . . . .. B*o A new process for cleaning low-grade gums has been discovered and patented by Dr. J. S. Maclaurin, Government Analyst. By this process, known as the " salt vacuum process," the gumcontaining dirt is agitated in a conical tank containing a strong solution of common salt, the air being removed by a pump. Upon stopping the agitation the gum and dirt separate by gravity, the gum rising to the top of the tank, while the dirt sinks to the bottom, where it is drawn off.

Name or .Name of Company. Xuinbur of Well. Total Locality. Depth in Feet. I Result oi Drilling and Present Operations, ii any. Taranaki Oil-wells . . .. I 33 ■ • ■ » I — Moturoa .. .. 3,030 3,045 Suspended. Feebly productive; 8 in. casing. Feebly productive, intermittently ; 4 in. casing. Unproductive; casing withdrawn. Productive; relining with 8 in. casing. Casing withdrawn. Unproductive ; abandoned. 3 4,040 ■1 850 „ 2,950 „ .. ... 0 (rotary) I 2 Blenheim Oil Company .. : Blenheim 2,885 Boll Block, Waitara . . 3,821. 2,970 Moturoa .. .. 5,329 Feebly productive at 2,200 ft.; very small flow ; 5 in. casing to 5274 ft., thence 3}in. easing. Abandoned or suspended. Drilling stopped ; hole blocked. Drilling stopped. Abandoned or suspended. Abandoned (in primary rock). Stopped; strata unfavourable. Drilling; strong gas omissions. Drilling stopped. Abandoned or suspended. I Phoenix Oil Consolidated Oilfields of Taranaki Bonithorn Freehold Oil United Oil .. Kotuku Oilfields Syndicate 2,300 Huiroa . . .. 4,921 Near Now Plymouth .. , 2,505 Tikorangi, Waitara River 695 Near Lake Brunner .. 952 1,335 ,, .. Kaimata bore I ' 1 -.2 New Zealand Oilfields.. .. I 2 Mangaone Oilfields .. .. I Near Waipatiki, Hawke's 3,466 Bay Ditto .. .. 2,000 Totangi, Gisborne .. 511 Waihiroro . . .. 1,375 Mangaone Valley, near 3,000 Eketahuna Near Eketahuna .. Ill Near Chertscy .. 1 ,896 ■. ; 2 Canterbury Petroleum Prospecting I Company Still drilling; 1,500 ft. of gravel anil conglomerate ; 5 in. casing ; traces of oilgas. I I