WATER DIVINING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18283, 29 December 1933, Page 7

WATER DIVINING

STRATFORD YOUTH MADE UNCONSCIOUS “SOBBED HYSTERICALLY” The powers of water divining, at which some people still scoff, were demonstrated in a remarkable manner at Stratford last week-end. 'those who doubt that the power exists could receive a very definite answer from a youth who, holding one end of a divining rod and joining the other hand with that ot the diviner, suffered violent reactions and was rendered temporarily unconscious.

The diviner is employed by a Stratford firm of dairying engineers, and for some years has been successfully using his powers to locate underground streams of water. Last week-end the firm received an order to locate water and sink an artesian well on a farm property. The diviner, another member ol the firm and a boy on the staff, visited the property and went about their business in the usual way. The divining rod in this instance was a thick piece of fencing wire bent in the form of a w. The diviner gripped the wire with the apex of the w pointing upward, and the search began. There was ‘no doubt about the phenomena that followed. When the party arrived over the, spot where underground water flowed the wire began to tremble and gradually forced itself around against the pressure the diviner exerted against it, until the apex pointed to the place of the strongest flow. Whatever the position the man stood in the result was the same - the point of the wire directed them to the hidden spring. “SOBBED HYSTERICALLY” Then occurred the disturbing incident. The boy was given the wire to see if he also possessed the mysterious power. The effect was reverse to the usual in “positive” cases—the wire pointed violently toward him. The boy was tried with the diviner, each taking hold of the wire with one hand and clasping the spare hand of the other. The effect was more than was bargained for. The wire shot violently round and the boy collapsed with his hand to his eyes. He sobbed hysterically, went red in the face and his heart beat furiously. The wire was taken from the boy, who was unconscious, and he rapidly recovered. He had no recollection of what had occur- ■ red, but is not in the least sceptical concerning the reality of divining powers. Discussing the incident afterwards, the diviner said the influence in the boy evidently acted on the reverse way. He proceeded to relate some of hit- experiences of the effects of the strange 'power. He, had, he said, never known it to fail him. He demonstrated with a piece of wire and a half-crown that the power extended to silver as well as to a twig of hazel which he sometimes used. The reporter, invited to link hands with the diviner, felt himself subject to a slight quickening -of the heart beats, and the wire twisted in both their hands.

Apparently, said the diviner, there ■was some form of animal magnetism or elcctric-al current in some people—most were dead to it —and the current flowed from the person to the water, earthing the subject, as it were. The peculiar ease of the boy was the first or' that kind he had known. UNDERGROUND WATER ONLY The uses and ramifications of the power were numerous and wide. No diviner was affected over the sea or over open water, as a river, or even on a bridge. The water had to be underground. It was not 'possible to continue divining for any great length of time, as there was an undoubted strain on the heart, which had often necessitated him resting.

People possessing divining powers were usually very sensitive to water. Over hidden streams the hairs on his legs bristled, the tips of his fingers tingled, and it was impossible for him to sleep. He had noticed the fact in a hotel at Auckland where he sometimes stayed. Even three or four storeys high the effect of the stream ■beneath the foundations made one side of the hotel impossible for him. The diviner mentioned the case of an acquaintance Avho built a new house and occupied a front room. On ■his taking up residence in the house ■his health suffered and doctors were a l , a loss to understand the reason. The reason for his condition was a stream flowing directly beneath the room. The fact was discovered by divining; the man kept away from that particular room, and his trouble disappeared. “Some people may scoff,” he said, “but there is no doubt in my mind that with the science of divining is bound up the solution of many mysterious ailments suffered by people whose trouble is sensibility to water.” The experience of the youth was referred to a medical man, who said it was well known that there were established cases without number where it had been definitely proved that there was some such power in the presence jpf underground streams. There was no technical knowledge on the subject, which was oue of undoubted interest.