PETROLEUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 217, 19 October 1909, Page 4

PETROLEUM.

THE TEST CONTROVERSY. Mr. D. Berry write* to our evening contemporary:— T suppose that 1 should tee) both flattered and frightened at th-» vast array of talent opposed to my effort* to somewhat enlighten the shareholders as to the doings of the Taranaki Petroleum C., Ltd. Kirst, there is a small seetion of the mighty Press, next comes the law. in all its wight and majesty, supported hv a recent aspirant lo political honors, and then one who, to his own amazement no doubt, has greatne>s thrust upon him. Then the veiled threats—"This matter is not ended yet.'' "wp may have something to say later mi,'' etc.. etc., should, by all rules, rather disturb me, hut T shall take my usual nourishment and generally sleep the clock round. Now. like the trio of dir'ctors, who sign the letter in yours of the Itlth inst.. 1. also, nin averse to newspaper controversy, as my eonduet during the thirty-five years £ have lived among you should prove; bat there are occasions when even the proverbial worm will turn, and this is on». J have tried to be fair, never to hit below the belt, alul to be personal as little as a matter of this sort permits i>nt "for the wrong that needs resistance" f must be allowed a little latitude, Tu the letter of the Kith the directors slate that the lmsi* of I lie tc«t was to be on steamed or crude oil, but the agreement drawn by the company's solicitors, and doubtless cheeked by Mr. Roy. mention's absolutely nothing whatever of oil. Besides, if steamed oil were meant, why was un-

'learned oil measured, up il>efore my 1 rinl commenced, anil why were Messrs Sladden and Palmer not informed that the lank nearest the derriek had no oil in it? The company knew, and sent a man to eleau it out. Surely the directors would not ask that Sladden and Palmer's figures lie accepted, when information such as tile above had been withheld from them —they are certainly not to blame. The next point in their letter is tile statement: "Hut he carefully conceals the fact that he hail 28 days, witli an extension liy the directors of another four (lavs, excluding the Rundays .to get ready, etc." T had, allowing the half-holidays on Saturdays, just I't'l days, or even calculating Saturdays as full days, no more than 28 days, and asked for no more. Please get your youngest clerk or office hoy to take an almanac and verify these'figures. Another statement which is really below the helt is that, in brackets, relative t) my claim that I-.had only twelve days to pump, viz.:—"Tt would'be interesting to know exactly the number of hours put in, outside the twelve hours per day, in which 'Mr. Berry undertook t'> win twenty barrels of oil." I must, therefore, again quote the agreement. Clause 4. inter alia, reads: "The said Daniel Ilerry shall commence to pump the -aid well, and shall continue the pumping by day and night shifts, or by day shifts alone, for a period of twentffonr consecutive days." Kow, Messrs Roy, liellringer and Carter, is it not "up to" you three to be manly enough to admit that 1 am correct'/ 1 am not fighting individuals myself. Regarding my statement as to the 144 barrels in twelve days being the greatest yet obtained, the directors certainly have the advantage of me in having access to the reports, but I saw so manv alterations in the log-books that I am inclined to be sceptical, as the reports are compiled from these. However, accepting the statement that they obtained -281 barrels in thirty working days, it on.y amounts to !»' Klrd barrels per twentyfour hours, with, fo r a great portion 'if the time, six men. employed. The concluding paragraph, that I assumed control for the purpose of supervising the drawing of the Sin easing on .Inly 23, is so alM.lut.ply contrary to fact'that f only hope it is a clerical error. Although 1 was graciously permitted ti visit Ihe bore on August 5 (a fortnight afterwards) and saw the pump rods pulled out. yet the agreement was nor. signed until, and is dated. August 7. I am sorry to sec that the water in tank, anil partly filled barrels of nil. cannot be explained away in the same happy style as the rest'of the letlc". However. I have no personal quarrel with any of the gentlemen who signed !t; they are estimable people in their respective professions or business, but. 1 'regret to record, a little out of their element in managing such ,i purely technical company as this."

[P.S.—In common' fairness to me perhaps your morning contemporary v : il copy this letter, since it copied the directors' |e(te r to which this is a renlv -D.M.] ' '