LAND FOR OIL REFINERY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29170, 2 April 1960, Page 17

LAND FOR OIL REFINERY

Residents’ View Of Activities "The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, April 1. Many Kaiaua and Orere residents are convinced that a £2O million oil refinery will be built in their area. They say a 400-acre Waimango Point property owned by Mr H Royal, from which recording gear installed by the Ministry of Works extends into the Firth of Thames, has been bought by the company concerned. But Mr Royal denies this. He says an approach has been made to buy his property, by parties not necessarily connected with the refinery. He hastens to add that his farm has not been sold. About two weeks ago. Mr Royal was approached by representaives of a leading stock and station agency who asked him to put a price on a portion of his land the foreshore.

Suspecting that the firm was an agent for an outside party. Mr Royal asked the buyer’s name. According to reports, the answer was vague. After naming his price. Mr Royal then said he would not sell until he knew who the purchaser was. In the meantime, Ministry of Works employees are continuing to change the charts on the recording equipment on the property once a week. So far, there has been no record of heavy seas, and the highest wave recorded has been about four feet.

The cable to the equipment extends about H miles into the Firth of Thames and, according to Mr Royal, is laid in about 10 or 12 fathoms of water.