THE DIVINER’S CLAIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 6

THE DIVINER’S CLAIMS

Sir,—So " Common Sense ” *would prefer to take the word of the so-called driller who apparently claims to have sunk both wells on Mr Wright’s farm. I would prefer if “ Common Sense ” gave the real facts of the case. As I am a deep-well driller, I am well acquainted with all the various water-bearing strata, which are the same now as they would be 35 years ago, when I was in short pants. The following are the true facts:—When Mr Wright’s first well, which was a dug well 20 feet in depth, went dry, he employed a local man to drive a closed-end pipe to a depth of 20 feet below the bottom of the dug well. This made, 'the total depth 40 feet, with no water.' A diviner was then employed, and he located water a. short distance from the former well,, where another was dug (not drilled) to a depth of 20 feet, the same depth as the first well, with an abundance of water. I again say “ Common Sense ” was definitely . wrong in his sarcastic statements on Mr Wright’s well. Regarding the testing, I should like to inform " Common Sense ” that my memory is quite all right. In my opinion, he is suffering from a superiority complex, He rushes around testing diviners over a water-pipe, doing his best to confuse them and finally turning to the diviner v and saying, “A very good test, seven correct out of ten,” and he expects us to take his word for granted. I will relate ,a rather amusing incident which occurred when “ Common Sense ” and his friend were making* tests on my property. The friend was trying his hand at the divining rod and, alas, he declared the stick gave a definite pull. He became quite excited until he caught the disdainful look on the face of “ Common Sense.”

The incident of the diviner at Wylie’s Crossing who found abundance of water at B and none at A on two occasions simply doesn’t make "common sense.” The statement about diviners being unknown and despised on hill country is also incorrect. I can relate many bores I have put down on hill country with the aid of diviners and procured flows of water. At one place within 500 yards of the coast and 300 feet above sea level, after drilling had been undertaken to a depth of 235 feet the water rose to within 18 inches of the surface. As for the challenge from “ Common Sense,” I regard his testing system as futile. There is only one way to test diviners thoroughly, and that is by drilling. So if he has a bit of cash with which to do a little testing, we have a plant to place at his disposal, and he will probably finish up a much wiser but sadder lad.—l am, etc. V. B. W. Maungatua, Feb. 12.