THE PETROL FLOWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 6

THE PETROL FLOWS.

GREAT DAY IN NEW PLYMOUTH FIRST REFINERY OPENED. (By Teltffrapli.—Special Reporter.) New Plymouth, July 28. New Plymouth was en fete to-day when tho new finely equipped refinery of the Taranaki Oil Wells, Limited, was formally opened by Mr. H. Okey, M.P. The function attracted widespread interest and many shareholders from a distance were present to view the latest and most important addition to the oil works at Moturoa. Bunting of the brightest waved gaily from every derrick head in the district, and if John Rockefeller himself had arrived with a couple of millions to buy up options the place could not have presented a gayer appearance. At the entrance to the grounds off the Breakwater Road a novel arch was erected from kerosene and petrol tins and cases made in tho company's factory, giving at once a businesslike atmosphere to the proceeding, whilst lines of flags connected up the vurious refinery buildings. The weather was all that could be desired and everyone concerned with any oil proposition at all appeared to be delightfully sanguine as to the future. The proceedings, which took place in the tin-making factory, were opened by Mr. Carter (chairman of the local Advisory Bottrd) v;ho dealt with tho history of the company leading up to the erection of the refinery. Mr. Okey, M.P., regretted that the Prime Minister could not be present (though he felt just as competent to turn on tho oil as the Prime Minister), but Saturday and Monday were busy days for Ministers as they had a good deal of Cabinet business to transact. Ij.e was very glad to be present at such an important occasion in the history of the oil industry in the Dominion. He had regarded it from the outset not only as an industry that would benefit the district, but as one which would benefit the whole of tilt Dominion, and he had always felt that it was a Dominion undertaking. For that reason he felt that he could appeal to the Government. The first assistance which had been given them was enabling them to place twenty barrels of oil at the disposal of the Navy, proving to the Admiralty that they hod oil in the Dominion. The second assistance was the granting of the bonus of i? 5000 for the production of 50,000 gallons of oil, and they were now after .£2500 to be paid when that amount of oil was refined. The third time the Government had assisted was when, in a .Speech from the | Throne during the Ward Administration, it was announced that it was intended I to allow oil boring machinery to come' in duty free, although legislation had not been brought down by this Government to make that provision a permanent one, the present Minister for. Customs (the Hon. P. M. B. Fisher) had agreed to the rebate on all machinery arriving within twelve months from the resignation of the Ward Government, which had meant a total saving of .£SOOO, and to the Taranaki Oil Wells, Ltd., ,£3OOO. When they (the company) made up their mind to erect a refinery it was' found impossible to get the land required, and again they had to go to the Government' for a site. The piece of. land on which the refinery was erected was made available for purchase, and through tho action of the Government in taking poi%er to sell part of its teserves, the Taranaki Oil Wells, Limited, wore able to acquire this splended site. He had evidence from time.to time that the industry had the sympathy of every member of the House— (applause)—and for anything in reason he thought ho could depend on the. assist, ance of every member of Parliament. (Applause.) Oil Fuel for tho Navy. With tho importance of the question of oil fuel for the Navy, ho thought they could look for assistance from the Old Country. The Advisory Board had had a visit from Captain Halsey, of 11.M.5. New Zealand, and from what was stated he gathered that that officer'was very pleased with what ho saw. His getting into communication with the people at Homo would impress on the authorities the fact that we had oil in the Dominion. He looked forward to tho time when it would not only bo a Dominion industry, but an Empire industry. It was important that wo should havo our own supply of oil for Navy purposes.. Only a lew'weeks ago there was a cablo message published stating thate oil-burning ships were being made at a les9 cost and greater power. Only three years ago a gentleman in Wellington who had put more money into the industry than any other man in New Zealand, said that the greatest trouble in the oil business was not in getting it, but in finding,a market for it. He thought that the American oil rings would be too much for it. Three years had changed all that. There was now a big market for all they could turn out. (Applause.) Some people had imagined that they would be able to get the products at a reduced rate, and tie did not wish those people to ,be deceived, but. he did not think the Advisory Board contemplated putting their oils on tho market at a reduced rate. Soma people had expressed tho view that the erection of the refinery was ahead of the industry, but in the carrying out of that work t'hey had been backed up by every member. They did not anticipate being able to keep the stills going fully all tho time, but they had sufficient oil themselves to keep going for a while, and those in the business must back them up. There were companies all round them, and -they hoped, to be able to show that what , they had done was in the interests of tlie shareholders of the company, and that some day in the future all interested would receive tho greatest amount their faith warranted. Mr. Wilkinson, JI.P. in the course of his remarks stated that the price of benzine had gone up 50 per cent, in threo years. He did not see why Parliament should not give the industry protection as f?i.r as the supply to the Dominion .was concerned. Ho congratulated the members of tho company on so bravely' sticking to their guns. The Mayor (Mr. Brown) and Mr. J. D. Henry (technical adviser to the company) also spoke briefly, after which Mr. Okey proceeded to the petrol room, and,-stand-ing by the lever, said, "By turning this tap I declare tho refinery open." Tho lever was duly turned, then jets of petrol spurted into ten fins, which were in a few seconds filled to the brim with crystal clear petrol, "flashy" and clean enough for the car of a king. Thereafter the crowd scrambled all over tho works, watching the oil flowing in its various stages from the volotile petrol, down through kerosene, lubricating oils, paraffin, wax, to finally the oil cake. And so a new industry, fraught with potential greatness, was born to New Zealand. The company celebrated tha event by a dinner held to-night