There's 'Black Gold'

Fever In Tonga

From a Nukualofa correspondent In Tonga today, the talk is of oil—and the talkers are optimistic. The confirmation of oil seepage on the coast of Eua has boosted the morale of the kingdom, and if nobody is say ing that the oil is there in commercial quantities, at least nobody is saying it isn’t.

The oil seepage was confirmed in stember by Mr. J. C. Grover, Fiji’s rector of Geological Surveys, fol ding earlier reports by King ufa’ahau, and others, that an oil e substance had been seen on the ist of Eua. [n confirming these reports Mr. over said that contamination could ; be ruled out, but in view of the t that reports of oil at Eua date :k more than 30 years, it appeared st likely that the oil is hydro bon seepage. dr. Grover’s study of Eua revealed t it is the highest point of a huge rine basin. This basin appears to tch approximately 200 miles by miles, with the comparatively flat nd of Tongatapu rising out of it. onga is taking the possibility of oil strike seriously and it would n that some in Australia share optimism. No sooner had the r s broken that the King had sred an investigation into the oil Eua than an oil exploration com y in Australia offered to under : a survey of the Eua findings. /hen the deposits were declared tive, Tonga’s Secretary to Govern it and the Crown Solicitor went Australia for talks with legal

experts on the problems involved should there be oil in the kingdom.

Before his departure, the Secretary said that at this early stage the gov ernment must move cautiously.

Immediately after his return from Sydney in September there was no coment from him.

Despite the local enthusiasm, some experts have warned that only about one in 10 oil seepages are worth fol lowing up, as they rarely turn out to be economic deposits.

On September 18 a senior geologist with the Shell Company of Australia, Mr. W. F. Kleinmiede, arrived in Nukualofa and immediate arrange ments were made for him to make an exploratory expedition to Eua.

He first had an audience with the King. The geologist was expected to arrive back in Nukualofa in late Sep tember.

Should extensive oil deposits be found in Tonga there will be no land speculation, since the Crown owns all the land. Nobles and other private individuals have large estates which they lease from the Crown.

At the age of 16 every male may apply for a land allotment and pay an annual poll tax, but leases can be terminated at any time.

Meanwhile, the Tongan vessel, Hifofua, calls at Fiji regularly to tow the oil barge with Tonga’s quota of oil, and distributes it round the scat tered island groups of the kingdom.

It is an expensive chore which must be carried out to supply fuel for domestic purposes, electricity and transport.

It is early days yet, but everyone has the right to dream a little. And what glorious prospects could lie ahead!

As Mr. Grover said, “If you do not investigate you will never know if there is any petroleum present.

There may be natural gas which could be the basis for industries which could develop the country and pro vide jobs for generations unborn.”