WATER-DIVINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 8

WATER-DIVINING.

A REMARKABLE POWER. 5 THE REV. H. MASON AT WORK. At the Government quarantine station, j Motuihi Island, yesterday, the interesting experiment of water-divining was carried out by the Rev. H. Mason, of Otahuhu, in the presence of several Departmental officials, including Mr. J. Duncan, inspector in charge of the Auckland Agricultural Department. Water is badly needed for the stock paddocks of the island, and the' Department hoped that Mr. Mason would add to the list of his successes as a waterfinder, by indicating water at Motuihi. Tho party proceeded to the island by steamer from Auckland, and almost immediately after their arrival Mi*. . Mason /started on .his divining expedition. Mi. Mason, at the outset, dispenses with the divining rod. He walks along with outstretched hands. When he approaches a spot where water is to be found beneath the surface, the first indication ,is an involuntary trembling of the hands— the whole body is affected by it—and "it is sometimes so violent that it causes him to almost fall. When the spot is' passed over the tremor disappears. A peg is placed in at the spot, and the operation is repeated elsewhere. So far, Mr. Mason has been almost uniformly successful in his divinations, as subsequent well-sinking has proved. Yesterday he found indications of water in three different spots, which, if they .correct, are in just the places they are most needed for the' requirements of the island stock. Mr. Mason went over the "divined" places a second time with what has been called the "divining rod." The caretaker of the island, at his request, cut him a number of manuka twigs. Selecting one of these, which had a long fork, Mr. Mason grasped the two ends of tho fork in his hands, and walked over the ground with the V point of tho fork uppermost. When ho reached the place where he had previously indicated water, it was amazing to see the fork of the twig gradually bend over till it pointed directly downwards. When the "water spot" was passed, the twig sprang back again. The two ends were held with a very strong grip, so that it was impossible for them to turn round in the diviner's hands, but the fork twisted itself downwards, notwithstanding, and the force of the twist was indicated by the fact that in more than one instance the portion of the twig snapped off where it was held in the'hand. . ■ Several members of the party were so impressed by the spectacle that they were seized with a desire to become waterdiviners also, and they proceeded' to -go over tho ground with exact imitations of ill-. Mason's movements. Their efforts wore resultless, and they gave up fully satisfied' that their powers did not lie in that direction. Water divination has been tried with more or less success in Australia, but none of the records achieved there can compare with Mr. Mason's. His indications yesterday of where water would be found were at places in the centre of the island, and he assured the party with him that at one; of, the; places water would be found at a depth of 55ft., It will be interesting to see whether this prophecy is verified. '. Mr. Mason gives.his services as a waterfinder gratuitously, declining all payment.