WATER-FINDING INSTRUMENT.

Mataura Ensign, 18 March 1909, Page 3

WATER-FINDING INSTRUMENT.

The Department of Agriculture has received particulars oi' an mstnuncut which promise- to prove oi' - -M-i-ieiueU value in locating the presence 'if underground supplies <>l waler (sa.vs the '.New Zealand t'anuei'i. It is probable that one will bo secured to to<» its \alue ii: this country. Two have been imported by the Queensla id I'Ovcrnr.icitt i lie i tinders are highly-tiiiislied instruments enclosed in a leather case, which may bo thrown o l ei the shoulder as ;i earner;: might l'c curried. 'I he instrument'- mi .i'Hl each ami the\ are ex pectcd to work to -"OOft., but others arc ! manufactured to work IOOOit II:. I tinder is placed on a sma.U tripod, and i m appearance it resi'inMo a cump.i —. ; The needle is (minted to the masue-.iv ! nortli, and ill" priuciple on which the instrument works is the measuring oi ' the strength ct the electrical currents which are constantly flowing hecwiy:i ! earth and atmosphere and which are al-i ways sironcest'iu the vicinity of «iibter-1 rauean watercourses, the .vaier.- ; of which arc charged with electricity m; a certain deitlec. Tiic needle, it is said. . will commence to move when out underground water, and the spot where' tlm urea lest movement is obtained iwhere bovin- si,., u ld 1-e is out ilia* should iilways W ml.- u !■» Mveen S ;«m<! ]'2 •

;iml *2 t\» ■"> p m.. these b,■ iti•_ the ~ of the greatest a< livjtv in :!ii- vertical currents. li also advised that a line;

clear day >iwuld be selected. n» tho in-. »trumfliT- tli«s not if ri; - > v. II ,t Isc-n' earth and ausvv.jihci,- atv sMir-:--* with Yiif in>tiun;« i> not work tu\'> or lu "i•• :".siji diat* vk-iuity oi iron >