THE OIL INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 9, 11 June 1913, Page 5

THE OIL INDUSTRY.

OPENING OF THE REFINERY. MR. J. D. HENRY INTERVIEWED. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The next week or so should see a most important step forward in connection with the Taranaki oil industry, for the big refinery which lias been installed by the Taranaki (N.Z.) Oil Wells, Ltd., is expected to be opened, and oil obtained for export. Mr. J. D. Henry, the wellknown English expert, arrived in Wellington from London by the Corinthic to-day, to be present on the important occasion of what is really the beginning of the industry. Seen by a pressman this evening, Mr. Henry said he expected that in a few days the reports on the work done during the year would be issued. For that reason, and because he himself had been without the latest news of drilling results and developments for the past six weeks, he could not make any statement of value at the present time. "With respect to the refinery, however," said Mr. Henry, "I am in the position to say that it represents absolutely all that is best in refinery practice at the present time." The plant was shipped from Scotland to the Dominion, and erected within a year of the formation of the company. Mr. Henry said that a satisfactory feature of the oil industry in Taranaki was the manner in which the other companies were starting operations. No doubt the developments of the next few months would have an important effect on the future of the industry. Mr. Henry was shown a small' English trade paper, which, in a recent issue, criticised the actions and development of the Taranaki (N.Z.) Oil Wells, Ltd., and he said that he attached no importance to its unfair and misleading statements. Mr. Henry will leave for New Plymouth tomorrow morning. The arrangements for the opening of the refinery are not yet complete, but it is likely to be a very important function, and it is probable that both the Governor and Captain Halsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand, will be present.