Operations of Three Companies

Search For Oil In Papua

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Dec. 10.

Representatives of the three on companies, holding - large concessions in the west of Papua, have been actively engaged in the preliminary work of the search.

On November 18, the Papuan Oil De velopment Co.’s vessel Angas arrived from Sarawak, Borneo, in charge of Captain Rendall and a Malay crew, and sailed for Daru on December 8 with Dr, C. Schu macher (assistant geologist).

On December 7 a Guinea Airways Junker, fitted with floats alighted in the harbour. It is understood that the ’plane has been engaged by Papuan Oil Development Co. for two or three weeks’ aerial survey over their large concession in the west, over the waterways of the Fly River. The ’plane left for the Fly River and Daru on December 10, with Dr.

C. W. Creek (chief geologist).

The Oriomo Oil Co.’s vessel the Olive, arrived in Port Moresby on November 25 in charge of Captain Kingdon. It is to be used for transport work on the com pany’s oil concession in the west. The first base camp will be near the Kikori River and the Olive left on November 28 with the first party—Messrs. J. N. Mont gomery (chief geologist), S. W. Carey, W.

P. Wilson, and B. C. Hides. It is under stood that the company will be actively engaged for some time up the waterways of the Kikori.

Representatives of Island Exploration Co. (Messrs. N. Osborne. S. P. O’Driscoli, and H. Prentice) left for Daru on Novem ber 28 by the Royal Endeavour. Messrs.

Miller and Reed are already there. It is understood that the company is expecting a vessel shortly to do transport work over their large concession.

Mr. Leigh Lightbody, of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd., Rabaul, arrived in Sydney from New Guinea by the Neptuna in the middle of December.