Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

KILLED INSTANTLY
Premature Explosion
Longreach Oilfield
LONGREACH, October 8.
During preparations to "shoot" the Longreach Oil Wells' bore yesterday, Mr. Arthur Moore, superintendent of works, was killed instantly. Mr. Moore came here at the instance of Oil Search Ltd. after that company came to an agreement with Longreach Oil Wells to shoot the bore, but after two unsuccessful attempts was compelled to wait for a consignment of caps, ywhich arrived by yesterday afternoon's train. He had a torpedo about 2ft. 61n. long, containing six plugs of gelignite, in a vice on a work bench, and was endeavouring to place a battery cap, when a premature explosion occurred. Other workmen were present at the bore, but Mr Moore had taken, the precaution of ordering everyone away.

LONG EXPERIENCE.
Mr. Arthur Moore was born in Dorset, England, and camo to Australia in early manhood, entering the service of the Intercolonial Well Boring Company some four or five years afterwards. He was engaged by that firm in the capacities of driller and draughtsman, and later was inspector of artesian bores for many years. He enlisted in 1916 with the A.F.C., and after a period of training at Point Cook he went overseas the following year. After the signing "of the Armistice Mr. Moore undertook a course of training in oil  development with Lord Cowdray's company, and had practical experience in Staffordshire and Derby. Returning to Australia, he accepted control ot the Government Roma oil bore. After several years of work there, during which time he struck a heavy flow ot gas, and produced the first oil to be condensed from gas, he recommended the closing of the bore,  owing to insurmountable difficulties with water seepage. He then went to America, where, he worked at Signal Hill and other oil fields. He returned after an absence of six months  and took charge of the New Guinea Oil Company's, bore at Hohoro. After some years there he accepted the position of manager of the Roma Cornwall Dome bore, which office, he held for some time. Later he went to England, where he remained six months, and soon after, his return last year he went to Taranaki Oil Wells, New Plymouth (New Zealand), where he succeeded in freeing the bore of obstacles and putting it in the way of straightforward drilling. Recently Mr. Moore, who was a member of the Institute of Petroleum Technologists, London, was engaged to relieve a field manager for three months at Lake's Entrance, Glppsland. He returned to Brisbane last March, and only recently took the  position at Longreach. He is survived by his widow and a daughter about eight years of age, who reside at Sandgate.