THE NEW REFINERY AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 7

THE NEW REFINERY AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

OPENING DAY. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY MR. HENRY. (By Our Special Reporter.) New Plymouth, Friday night. The now refinery. erected by the Taranaki pJmv Zealand) Oil Wells, Ltd. (of which the Earl of Eanfurly is the chairman), in tho oilfield at Moturoa, New Plymouth, will be opened on, Monday, when visitors are expected from Wellington, Auckland, and the different centres whero oil developments are in progress. Tho occasion is one of great interest for tho people of Taranaki. It is an interesting fact that during tho present week three new wells have started drilling, and there are prospects of other locations for ■well sites boing selected during the next few weeks.

Tho rofiuory, which is now working, is capable of handling 250 barrels of oil per dny. The plant and machinery were sent out to New Plymouth by Messrs. Craig and Co., of Paisley, Scotland, and tho work of erection has been done under the supervision of Mr. George Millar, tbo refinery manager, and the local advisory board, of which. Mr. C. Carter is the chairman. The crude oil of the field has a paraffin base, and yields on refining , petrol, benzine, kerosene, gaa oil, lubricating oil, paraffin wax, paraffin coke, and liquid tar. It is claimed the refinery has been erected in record timo. There has not been a eingle mistake of a serious nature from the day of tho first shipment of eases from Paisley. It is also a. fact that the work of erection has been oarried out without a hitch, mishap, or disagreement with labour. Seen to-night by The, Dominion reporter, Mr. Henry, the company's technical adviser, .said: "The local oil situation is extremely interesting .at the present timo. The work of the past twelve months has practically established the industry, and thero is a widespread confidenec that when • somo of the new wells reach the oil horizons tho good times so eagerly looked for by the long lino of pioneers will be started. From now on the oil business will be the heart of the industrial lifo of Taranakk and I am looking forward to tho timo when it will, in, a very vital way, exert an energising, influenco on tho oil and kindred mining industries of the Ibminion." Having spoken in, terms of praise of the splendid spirit displayed by the early pioneers, those who struggled to m»ke n commercial suscess of the industry twenty and thirty years ago, Mr: Henry said tho present directors had been greatly encouraged in their heavy work by the practical interest which tho Government and tho heads of different Departments had shown in tho industry.

Lord Ranfurly and the Industry, Continuing, he eaid: "An important point is the friendly attitude of tne public towards this new industry. All concerned highly value tolerant and reasonable public criticism, but the public must not forget that this is a new and competitive industry, and ono -which cannot bo established ,on a. sound commercial basis without sqmo friction, an. occasional hitch, and a risk of misunderstanding. Up to tho present everyone lias done his best for tho shareholders. I would be wanting in piy duty to tho parent company, and indeed to tho oil industry generally, if I did not make soino reference to' tho work which has been dono iii London during the .past, twelve 'months. There is α-uotkcr Tdason why I should do. , this. During the past few weeks'several anonymous letters havo been published, and tho writers have reiterated tho allegation that the London part of tho company has fallen short of expectations, and might be.,done without. Some of tho statements for "an explanation wkieli"-' will ,, niako mistinderstandin!; in the iuturc absolutely impossible. It is my.duty to make that explanation, and tho only place ivhore 1 can make it with satisfaction .to myself and in full "justice to allconcerned is in the town of i\e.w Plymouth. Put it, with. oi)/t labouring the point, that without Lord lianfurly, his name, great influence, and personal icnpivledgu ot tho industry, no London Ucard'vduM have been, brought together, and the promoters, failing in their first object, would not have put tho company through, with the result that the industry would havo b?en left in tho state or , stagnation in whicli it existed some threa j-c.irs' auo. Clearly understand, Lord Eanlurly liovcr had the remotest connection with tho promoting interests, and if thoro was anything wrong with tho business anterior to the flotation of tho coinpauy Lord Kani'urly had nothing to do with-it, it has been a pleasure to rue to seo it frequently stated in tlie press that Lord Baniurly has rendered the com. pany tireless and mvaluable service. The appreciations of his work, although warm nnd characteristic of the Kew Zoaland press, may, I fear, fail to adequately con. vey to the shareholders the full extent of tlio service ho has rendered his old Dominion in tho.capacity of chairman of this company. His interest in tho development of the oil fields of Taranaki and the industrial development of the Dominion has tceii patriotic, and I am prepared to say that; if it had not been for his oldtime associations with the Dominion, in which lie has told irio he spent seven of tho happiest years of his life, he, would Tievor have undertaken the heavy business task of looking after Taranaki oil affairs in London. To his initiative and personal influence we owe tho fact that the iirst refinery south of tho Line has buen erected in record time, nnd that everything Font out from the Old Country has reached the Dominion without a single hitch or trouble of any description. Lord Banfurly has looked personally into every detail of the business, and it is not my experience —and I havo had a considerable experienoo of London companies—that any chairman has in his first year of office achieved a greater success in connection, with a colonial mining undertaking of this magnitude. Lord Raufurlv knows New Plymouth and its oil industry, and if enterprise, a careful examination of financial details, and au optimistic faith in the ultimate success of the industry count for anything, I claim that these havo been characteristic features of the services rendered by tho chairman in London.

"I have only to say with respect to the other members of the bonrd that they have loyally supported Lord Ranfurly nnd'done their duty, and any defence of their work against the attacks of anonymous letter writers is something they would not desire to undertake. I leavo it at that."

Mr. Henry ?nid he hoped that Monday's T/rocepdmgs anil the developments of the next few mouths would Tender nil future criticism unnecessary, and lead everyone interested in the industry to work harmoniously for its advancement, "just," ho added, "as oil men <lo in othsr parts of the world, where oil is discovered aiul a flw iield h.1.9 to be opened up."