THE WATER-DIVINER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14690, 26 May 1911, Page 8

THE WATER-DIVINER

REV. H. MASON. AT WORK.

The water-finding powers of the Eev. H. Mason, of Otahuhu, have made a considerable impression upon the people of the South Island. Commenting upon his work, the Lyttelton Times says:

The divining rod is not an instrument approved by modern science. Indeed, one high authority has dismissed the whole subject curtly and scornfully by remarking that in the days of superstition frits of wood or metal were " believed, even by educated persons, to have the property of indicating the position of minerals and springs of water." But the "water-diviner" has persisted in the face of the scofhngs of the sceptics, and New Zealand people, at any rate, will bo disposed to attach some importance to the experiments which have been conducted at Hanmer by the Rev. H. Mason. During the last few years Mr. Ma-son has been successful in locating underground supplies of water in many places where surface indications were not apparent. We cannot pretend to understand his methods, which would seem to be based on some peculiar sensitiveness to surrounding physical conditions, and. of course, superior persons arc quite entitled to suggest that he is merely fortunate in making guesses. The fact of immediate interest is that he has stated his belief that a few borings at spots he has indicated would provide Hanmer with a greatly increased supply of hot mineral water. At the present time the sanatorium is handicapped because the natural flow of its thermal springs is limited, and the water has to be conserved rather carefully. We hope that steps will be taken to test Mr. Mason's theory, if not by the Government then by the residents themselves. The conversion of the present cold swimming bath into a hot pool would in itself acid enormously to the attractiveness of Hanmer.