Search For Oil Goes On In

New Guinea

nPHE concessions granted to Oil Search * Ltd., over 20,000 square miles in New Guinea and 12,000 square miles in Papua, have been renewed for 12 months.

There is a probability that the company will affiliate with important overseas interests.

The registered capital of Papua Oil Developments Ltd. (which is the name under which Shell interests are actively carrying on the search in Papua) has been increased from £150,000 to £200,000.

Dr. C. W. Creek, the Co.’s chief geologist, after an extensive tour in Western Papua, has arrived in Sydney.

The A.S. Milga left Sydney on Dccem

ber 16 for Daru and the Fly River, West ern Papua. The vessel has been • pur chased by P.O.D. for carrying- survey and research parties on Papuan rivers in their search for oil. She was built in 1928 as the pleasure yacht White Swan, and for the present undertaking has been adapted for river use and fitted with awnings.

The Milga is in command of Captain Stanton, of the Shell Co., and carries a crew of five. Captain Stanton served during the war as an engineer in the Royal Navy. He was chief officer of the Discovery in Sir Douglas Mawson’s An tarctic expedition of 1930. Later, he commanded the Melanesian Mission ship Southern Cross and a number of Islands trading vessels.

Mr. W. H. Gallagher, chief geologist of Island Exploration Pty. Co. (Vacuum Oil Co. interests), accompanied by Mr.

J. Muir, senior resident geologist, within recent weeks has made an exten sive survey of the Co.’s large concession in Western Papua. They left Pt. Moresby early in December by ’plane for New Guinea, where the company also has prospecting areas.