WATER DIVINER'S ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21069, 31 December 1931, Page 10

WATER DIVINER'S ART.

OTAHUHU DEMONSTRATION. .OFFICIAL PARTY PRESENT. 'AUGMENTING BOROUGH SUPPLY. An impressive demonstration of water 'divining was given to members of the Otaliuhu Borough Council last evening at Mount Richmond Domain, near Otahuhu. The growing demand on the water supply of the borough has caused the Otahuhu Borough Council of recent years to prospect continuously for additional sources to augment the present supply drawn from a well in Mount Richmond Domain. This locality was divined about 21 years ago by the late Canon Mason, vicar of Otahuhu In 1910 the present well was sunk and the supply reticulated through the watertower erected on the summit of the highest cone in the Domain. The tower is a familiar landmark and is visible to travellers passing southward from Auckland. It was on the divination of Canon Mason, that the well was sunk, and this source has met the requirements of this growing district over a period of 21 years. The receding water level has led the Borough Council to deepen the well to its present depth of 72ft. Flow irom Present Well. Some years ago the opinion of an eminent geologist was obtained regarding the receding water level, and it was then stated that there was a natural catchment area, resembling an underground lake, in the locality of the Mount Richmond Domain. That there is a tremendous water source is borne out by the fact that the present flow from the original well is 4,000,000 gallons a week. Four years ago the Otaliuhu Borough Council purchased the water rights on a piece of land east of the Mount Wellinghighway and sank another well there. This well, known as Thompson's well, was sunk about 85ft. and a pumping test was carried out. The flow was 36.000 gallons an hour over a lengthy period. The presence of another water diviner at Mount Richmond Domain last evening was the outcome of a proposal by the Works Committee of the council to expend a considerable sum to complete the test at Thompson's well, and, if successful, to increase the expenditure to £llOO in connecting this source with the borough mains. Action was delayed pending further prospecting of the Mount Richmond Domain area by Mr. Harry Warner, a water diviner, who is ■ also carrying out similar work on Crown lands. Hoop of Fencing Wire. In the presence of the council and a number of residents, Mr. Warner commenced divination in a crater about 150ycls. from the site of the original well His "divining rod" was a piece of ordinary fencing wire bent in the form of a hoop. Holding this erect, he walked over the ground, and as he crossed and recrossed a strip of ground about 26yds wide the wire twisted in his hands until the Bow of the hoop pointed earthwards. , The more sceptical of the party were asked to hold one end of the wire while the' diviner took the other end, and also grasped the free hand of the person operating with him. In spite of the strenuous efforts of each person who experimented, the wire dipped downwards as the path of the indicated stream was crossed. The council was informed that the flow of the stream was eastward, about 26vds.' wide, and independent of the stream at. present tapped by the old well. The direction of the current was indicated, the diviner stated, by the direction in which the divining rod dipped. ' Experimenters' Hands Bruised. Further tests were made on other parts of the domain to check the width and direction of the stream. In each instance the wire twined and pointed downwards. Severai of the spectators who wished to try the efficacy of the method by grasping the wire received badly bruised palms. Mr., H. Moffat, the engineer in charge of the well and plant, said the findings of the diviner confirmed his own opinions as a diviner of minor rank. He held the theory that by driving a narrow tunnel from the present ■shaft to tho fresh source it would be possible to divert the supply through the present well and raise it for use through the existing plant, which comprises two pumps. Later in the evening the diviner and the party carried out divining tests at Thompwell. Mr. Warner said he could locate only one narrow stream, the present shaft being sunk directly over it. When this well was divined about four years ago the diviner engaged then said- there were seven streams in the locality.