“DIVINING” FOR OIL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1935, Page 6

“DIVINING” FOR OIL

REACTIONS AT MOTUROA STRANGE INFLUENCE ON THE ROD. IS IT PETROLEUM OR WATER? “AFFECTED” AREA NEAR OAKURA. An attempt to locate oil at Moturoa by “divining” yesterday led to, remarkable manifestations. The diviner had for some time > successfully located springs of water but had not previously employed the strange power in the search for oil. The diviner believes that oil is there, but probably broken into seams or pools. Over considerable areas his - , rod, a stout piece Of copper wire, responded with amazing strength to the strange “influence,” to his own physical discomfort and the mystification of his companions. The obvious question arises whether the diviner can distinguish between water and oil. He says he cannot definitely do that. Though the reaction is similar in each case the area over which the influence is exerted he considers significant. Springs of running water are confined almost invariably to very narrow channels, generally a foot or two wide, whereas at Moturoa wide tracts of land up to two chains across and of undefined length respond to the rod. Stagnant water has no influence. The strongest influence was felt in a wide channel running from the Blenheim oil bore down to. the No. 4 bore on the beach. Over that area the wire rod bent down uncontrollably. Between that channel and the bore on the beach further north there was a distinct break, while in the vicinity of the No. 2 bore the influence was more powerful than ever, and the rod responded over a wide area leading up from that bore over the railway line and continuing indefinitely. The doubt whether water, oil or possibly some mineral led to the manifestations caused the diviner to attempt a check. Over subterranean oil tanks at a petrol service station the rod responded unmistakeably; Over underground water tanks there was no resportte whatever. COPPER WIRE TWISTED. So powerful was the influence over certain of the areas visited that the copper wire was twisted into strange shapes owing to the diviner’s attempts to control it. When the diviner approached a particular area of influence the arch in the wire would point irresistibly in a certain direction. As he advanced the wire would bend slowly downward until when he was over a given Spot the apex of the arch would point directly downward. The diviner would pass on and the wire would point backward until it was taken beyond the area of influence. The diviner said he had considerable difficulty in walking over some areas, and two men could not restrain the rod from moving in a certain direction.

An incident no less remarkable occurred at Oakura. A farmer whose land is near the beach always' had trouble with his horses on an area of land about an acre in extent. When crossing the area the horses would become nervous, weak and "staggery.” A teamster from some miles distent noticed similar. effects at the same spot. The diviner was asked to investigate. He took a piece of wire and approached the spot from the Main South, Road. Fifteen chains away the bend in the' wire began fo point to the centre of the acre—weakly at first but more strongly as he approached, until over the ’whole acre the influence was very powerful. He could clearly define the boundaries of the area, which extended almost to the sea cliff, which is almost 200 feet high. Before the edge of the cliff was reached, however, there was a distinct break. Along the face of the cliff there is no indication of a spring of water, and the diviner is of the opinion that a pool of oil lies under the paddock. CONVINCING DEMONSTRATION. Claims to the strange power to detect the presence of running water underground by divining have in the past been treated with a good deal of scepticism, but a genuine demonstration is quickly convincing. The diviner is often conscious of the presence of water without the aid of a “rod,” but in such cases the manifestations are not nearly pronounced as when the rod is used. The experiences of the diviner who visited Moturoa yesterday were interesting and mystifying. He walked into a building at New Plymouth the other day and promptly announced that there was running water directly beneath where he stood. Through two concrete floors and an unknown depth of earth .it had made its presence felt. He took a piece of leather and Arched it between the hands, and the powerful influence was at once • apparent. The muscles of his hands, arms and chest contracted and the arch of the leather slowly turned over and downward till its apex pointed to where he declared the running water lay. Almost anything, the diviner said, might be used as a rod, although the power of the manifestations varied with the material used. For instance he had used a willow twig (the orthodox instrument), an ordinary leather belt, a piece of wire and even a straw’. So powerful was the influence that on one occasion when he used a piece of ordinary fencing wire the wire was bent and the end of it curled and looped until it pinched and inflicted a wound in his hand. The rod, indeed, when the influence was strong, veritably "took charge” and could not be restrained. The dry summer now closing was responsible for a serious shortage of water in many parts of Taranaki, and consequently for a diligent search for underground supplies. The diviner declared that on not one occasion where he had indicated the presence of water had well-sinkers failed to tap running water or a spring. He described the work of divining as extremely exhausting but perfectly reliable and accurate as to locality. He- could peg out the precise area, within a matter of inches, where water could be found. Strangely enough, the diviner can stand over open running water such as that in a ditch or stream and it has no apparent influence. Even on a bridge or deep culvert there is no, response. For some hours after his demonstration yesterday the diviner felt weak and his limbs trembled.’ A strange feature is that he has communicated the “power” to his brother, but only after numerous "lessons.” For some time the brother could get no response to the rod, even over the areas where influence was strongest, but it came to him suddenly, and now he can find and follow even tiny streams of water under the ground. Driving along the road at 40 miles an hour the diviner, with a rod in his hands, can detect every spring the car passes over.