New Guinea

Oil Search In

Combined Companies to Spend £250,000

THE large organisation created by Papuan Oil Developments, Ltd., to search for oil in the Territory of Papua during the past two or three years, has now been completely broken up. All the equipment has been sent away and most of the staff have already departed for fields of activity in other parts of the world controlled by the Royal Dutch-Shell group. It is estimated that P.O.D. spent over £400,000.

The departure of P.O.D. has not caused much change in Papua because of the increasing activities of the large staff introduced by Australian Petroleum Co., Ltd.—generally known as A.P.C. The responsible heads of this big organisation are openly confident that they will find oil in commercial quantities in Papua and New Guinea. They think that they have the country that holds the oil—and they are sympathetic to P.0.D., who had the bad luck to be allotted areas in which, despite many indications, oil in commer cial quantities is not to be found.

THE future of Papuan Apinaipi Co., is arousing some speculation. The value of the latter company’s leases, of course, cannot be discussed— some people think that they have excel lent prospects of success—but the opinion is widely held that the capital of the company is too small for the purpose it has in view. It is pointed out that under modem conditions, such far-reaching operations are required to locate oil with any certainty, that they can be under taken only by organisations with almost unlimited capital. If the Apinaipi coun try has the value that some think it has, it would not surprise this writer to see a move made for the amalgamation of Papuan Apinaipi Company with one of bigger companies.

Plans Of The A.P.C.

K USTRALTAN Petroleum Co., Pty., Ltd., J\ and Islands Explorations Co., Pty., Ltd., now are under the one gen eral manager (Mr. C. Saunders) and nn April 19. after r° f timing from the Terri tories, he said that his companies were going ahead with the utmost speed in an intensive search for oil.

“To expedite operations.” said Mr.

Saunders, “mv companies, during the last few months have established an up-to date geological headouarters in Port Moresby comprising geological drawing offices. photographic and palaeontological laboratories, and a photo-interpretation section to compile maps from aerial photographs. The country admittedly is difficult, and local resources scanty, but, in spite of all the disabilities inherent in a campaign, good progress is being made.

“Three aeroplanes have been engaged on an aerial survey of Papua since No vember, and an area amounting to more than 5.000 square miles has been photo graphed. These photographs are being examined and co-ordinated in order to produce the necessary maps to aid the geologists in determining the most suit able structures as a preliminary to initi ating a drilling campaign. It is expected

that a site for the commencement of drilling operations will be selected to ward the end of the year. With this in view, orders are being placed for neces sary equipment in England and the United States.

“The aerial survey work,” continued Mr.

Saunders, “which so far has been con fined almost entirely to Papua, will now be transferred to New Guinea, where weather conditions at this time of the year are more favourable for aerial

photography.

“The total white staff employed in the territories numbers 120, and comprises geologists, geophysicists, surveyors, engineers and other technical and non technical staff. Coastwise and river transport is provided by four large Diesel-driven vessels and four 30ft. motor launches, besides canoes and smaller units.

“Our plans contemplate that during 1939 at least £250,000 will be spent on

surveys and drilling in our areas held under special permits.”

Operations In New Guinea

ANEW aerodrome has been constructed at Tadji, near Aitape, New Guinea, with hangar and quarters for the staff operating the air survey programme of A.P.C., Ltd. Two aeroplanes are en gaged photographing the Sepik River dis trict, using this new aerodrome as base.

Mrs. Mollie Lett, of Port Moresby, left Sydney for Papua by the “Bulolo” on April 29, after spending five months’ holiday in New South Wales and Vic toria.

Hon. J. Craig, Financial Secretary and Colonial Treasurer of the Fiji Civil Ser vice, has been appointed to act as Colonial Secretary.