A TRIP TO THE OIL SPRINGS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 413, 6 February 1890, Page 3

A TRIP TO THE OIL SPRINGS.

WITH THE AUSTRIAN EXPERT. [STANDARD SPECIAL. J (Concluded.) The greatest problem, however, that he had on his hands was that of Burmah, where there was undoubtedly petroleum, but the climate was such that English or Canadian drillers could not stand it. Indeed, it was a trouble to get a driller to go to most places, and those he already had in South Australia did not care about that climate at all. The driller always earned good wages—he paid his first borer 80s and his second 16s a day, but they were men be could trust anywhere, and scarcely ever required his personal supervision. When be heard that the present South Pacific bore had cost at the rate of over £3 a foot he was astonished and said in Gallicia they paid 7a fid a foot on contract work, and the men would sooner take that than wages. Mr Adams uses the Canadian system of drilling, in which rods that screw together take the place of the rope in vogue in the United States, and used at the South Pacific bore. He, however, admits that the rope system has several advantages which might be introduced into hie own.

AN OBUOntU MAYOR.

Ur Adams appear) to bare had a great deal ot experience in boring for oil, and from hie own aoconnt has travelled in a great many part) of the world. He has a good word to aay for New Zealand, and, like everyone elee who has tried the olimate, speaks highly of it as compared with the other colonies, He thinks it will eventually become a resort for British tourists, but before the traffic can assume large proportions suggests that certain alterations will have to be made, both as regards the mode of transit and the accommodation to be provided. Mr Adams has visited the colony at a busy time, and perhaps might have taken a different view had not thesteamera and hotels been overcrowded, as they have been on account of the Exhibition and Jubilee celebrations, As may ba imagined, a man who has travelled so much has a fund of Stories, with which he regaled us during the r livening. These mostly turned upon oil or oil Batters, and one of them will bear repeating. On one occasion oil having been struck unexpectedly, it was necessary that the well should be pumped out, and no barrels being at hand, nothing was left but to pump the oil into a stream. This caused a great commotion among the peasants, who complained that the water they were in the habit of using had been spoilt, and threatened in consequence to sue for heavy damagss, The proprietor of the well saw no way but one out of the difficulty. In consideration of being made drunk—in that country, said Mr Adams, you can get drunk for about fourpence—the Mayor of the village came forward and swore that he bad tasted the water after the oil bad been in it, and declared that the water was not st all affected, on the contrary it had rather been Improved by the mixture, and so the matter was decided io favor of the proprietor. utx al xas BvatKos. At about a quarter to eleven we began to get tired of oil, and decided to • turn in.’ Turning in, ft must be remembered, was not Simply jumping into bed. We bad for once Io act as chamber maids, and make our own bed, We picked out the softest place on the floor, and having gathered some small ti tree twigs before dark, we spread these on the boards to taka away the woody feeling. An Oilskin mackintosh and a carriage wrap kept down the damp, and over them we spread a blanket which did duty as a sheet, The buggy cushion with a coat on top made a good makeshift pillow, and a heavy blanket and a rug completed our bedding. Our friend Mr Adams was accommodated with a bed of the same nature, and tar from feeling discomfort said i' was much preferable to his previous night's experience. A conversation about mosquitoes just before bedtime made me dread their fond attaobment, but, with the exception of a solitary insect, I had no disturbance in that direction. Of my human oompanions I can scarcely speak so complimentary, because they vied with each other in trying to lift the roof with their sonorous snoring, while one unlucky individual who was evidently affected with the oil or the nightmare, started to yell out in his sleep. At six o'clock next morning we turned out, and looked as if we hadn’t slept for a week. A wash, however, soon put us to rights, and we watched while others worked until the breakfast bell rang at eight o’clock. We then found that we would have to proceed to breakfast in two detachments. The loafers gave way to the workers, and we waited in anxious expectation lest the food should run out, and we should have to go without breakfast a second morning. I felt that such a calamity would tell against my friend, and had almost, but not quite, resolved to sacrifice myself for him.

UNNECESSARY VZABS. But any fears I had on that score soon proved to be groundless, for Mrs MoCombe, who looked after onr appetites, bad enough and to spare for ns all. Mrs MoCombe had a large family to provide for that morning, and she did it well. I had expected to have to put up with a few inconveniences when I went to the oil springs, and it was a pleasant sensation to find oneself sitting before a dauling white table cloth with everything neatly and tidily arranged and the best of everything on the table. In town it would have been creditable, but et the springe it was regularly scrumptious. Here we had roast mutton with potatoes, cabbage, and marrow, to say nothing of a tapioca pudding and a plum pie for dinner; a meat pie, with nice white scones and tea-cakes for tea; add fried cntlets and potatoes for breakfast, and it will be admitted that we had no bad living. The wonder is how Mrs MoCombe is able to manage It all, seeing that she has only a young girl to help her and has a baby to nurse. •Tommy’ McCombe does the honors of the table, No one thinks of calling him anything else but Tommy, although he is a pater- . families. Tommy could tell some queer old ■ tales about the oil springs If he liked. He 5. has stuck to them for a long time, and he has * cadet who, if he doesn’t join the Salvation will moat likely succeed Tommy in the oil business—that is, of course, if people don't get sick of searching for petroleum before the pride of Tommy’s heart grows old enough. But at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning we bld good bye to Tommy and his good lady, and in close company with our expert friend set off for Gisborne. We had decided like him that there was nothing to be

gained by waiting, and Mr Barnard being of like mind, rolled up his swag and came too. ckxbbal mraxssioNS. My Impressions are all of an unsatisfactory nature. Anyone visiting the springs cannot but be made aware that money has been spent lavishly and with very little to show for it. What little there is is not at all encouraging. Disused ropes lie in every direction, and anyone would make a pile out of the old iron that is lying about. The derrick itself looks somewhat flimsy, while the various parts connected with it exhibit sad signs of neglect, and other portions of the Works are in vary little better condition. Mr Stubbs was drawing the pipes, and while unscrewing them one of the men, half remonstrating st the extra trouble, *aid, ‘Mr Weaver wouldn’t unscrew those pipes, be would out them off’ I and pieces of cut off pipes seem to verify this state, ment, The pumping rods which were procured in expectation of striking oil ere lying exposed to wind and weather, shd the explanation that these are wooden articles, will not reassure anyone that they have bean taken the bast care of. A number of other stgsll things which show neglect on somebody’s part, might be pointed nut if it would do any good towards recalling the shareholders’ money that appears to have been wasted. I was rather surj.< - - to -■»• that the oil tanks—those tanks whicu uad io be procured before the works could proceed !— are at least under cover, and partly filled with Water. On the scale that money has beep fpent, I should have expected the shareholders to bays poipetbing substantial to show, and I I ban only say my confidence in the oil has not k been at all increased by my first visit to the I springs. At ths same time I hope that those I who still havs hopes will have them realised.

DEAF.—A Person cured of Deafnes# and noises fa ths haaB of 28 years’ standing by a Slmpla Remedy, will send a description lat it ife-1 to aay parted who applies to LNls «MM, Hi William Btmt, Melbeum,