the Islands?

Will Oil be Found in the Islands?

Letter to the Editor

IN the December “PIM” were pub lished several articles dealing with the search for oil in Papua and New Guinea —I should like to add the re sults of my own experiences.

I was in Port Moresby, years ago, when the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. and the Australian authorities were making full enquiries into the Vailala field, before they withdrew from the Territory. Like many others, I indulged in an after dinner smoke on Ryan’s Hotel verandah, and one night met six or seven oil men who had just come in from Vailala to catch the South-going BP steamer. We talked for a time and the conversation eventually turned to Papua’s oil pros pects.

One man, with a foreign name, and who spoke with a slight American drawl, declared that his observations led him to believe “they’ll never get permanent oil in New Guinea”. He added that after seeing the results of many bores he had come to the conclusion that “the island was badly fractured by earth quakes”. It would be possible to find oil, but the flow would not last—and he had sent in his report to that effect. I wonder if this report is known to those now concerned with the drilling in Papua?

I may say that years ago I was in terested in a small syndicate formed to enquire into reported coal and oil fields on the south of New Ireland. This was later cancelled, as there was no chance of getting capital just after the last war.

It was said that after heavy rain oil was washed down the flooded creeks and, in addition, there were salt springs on the level country.

Little has been said about oil in the Solomons—oil has been reported there also, and on one island there is a con siderable quantity in the salt water, which, through the ages, has put a coat ing of black grease on the rocks.

I am, etc.,

Traveller.

Kavieng, TNG, 24/1/41.