NEW ZEALAND OILFIELDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1052, 15 February 1911, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND OILFIELDS.

.."INTERVIEW; WITH AN EXPERT. "*■ Mr. Jl IV Henry, the well-known London petroleum 'authority, who has done *o much tp forward the interests of the oil industry (n (he. British Empire; ar'rived in Wellington'yesterday.on his way trom ,the Kaliiku pilneid, (iisborno. Speak- ■ on tho subject'* of tho . New Zealand oil industry, he mentioned thr.t one, of the most interesting facts conno'elocl with his visit was tho kecu interest, which was be- ' inz displayed in the industry by his" asoeUency th'e' Governor. Lord Islington, eaid Mr. Henry,.has a knowledgei of what has been done in tho oil-producins island of Trinidad,, and he is tnkins a special interest in tho developments here, but robro narticularly in tho Tnranaki field, which-he visited quite recently, and iu , respect of which,ho has written n letter of ..encouragement. "Sir Joseph M'ard, your Prime Minister, and the Hon. R. •MTCeniie. your Minister for Mines." atld,id Mr; Uenry, "liavo also interested • themfelves iu the industry, and what has been said, by.-them has created -renewed . intercut in the possibilities of develop- ' ment." •' ,-. ■ Asked wbnt he thoußht e£ New Zealand ee 4n oil-producing country, Mr. Henry said: ''lam prepared to say this: that ' the most prominnrr centres of. production at New Plymouth,- Kotuku (near Greymouth), and Gisborne, ,are better than those interested in oil in London believe them to be. They arc so good, in fact from-an indication point of view . that they ought to bo developed with ample eanital, the b&t skilled labour 6bUinable; and. modern plant/' ■ On the Question of tho introduction of British capital, Mr. Henry holds the opinion that this is not only essential, but ' without doubt tho only effective way of developing; tho field?, especially nt a timo when there if fo much activity in the many oilfields that aro attraciini; attention in other parts of tho hraniro. In reply-to particular questions in regard to tlio Tnranaki oililelris to which ho ha? devoted special attention, Mr. Uciirv limited .liimself to tins remark, tlint gfosraphicnlly. spooking, tins field is much larger than the Taranaki oil inei behove it to be. "I believe thero will bo a considerable inland expansion of the territory," lie added. Tcfiiy Mr. Henry called upon the Minister for Mines, with whom ho had an interesting discussion upon tho general Kiijiject of tho oil industry iii.Aeiv Zealand. . . ' Mr. nenry leave? the Pommion in a few dove for California, and en routo u> England ho will visit tho Alberta oilfield, which, according to our press cables tho. other day. is now attracting attention, and which Mr. Henry some four years ' igo predicted would be a success.