THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8200, 2 August 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1906.

Mara, that moat interesting of planets, will be engaging tbo attenfcion of astronomers all over the world during the next two years, because it is making a near approach to the earth. The observation of detail on the surface of our ruddy ueiabbour depends leas on the size and power of the telescope than on the state of the atmosphere, and in latitudes where there is "good seeing" a moderately big telescope can do excellent work. Protenaor Lowell, at his observatory, at Flagstaff, Arizona, practically devotes himself to the study of Mars, and it ia he who l°ada the scientific group which believes that life exists on the planet. He argues, of course, from the "canals," those dark lines which are regarded as artificial waterways, carrying the scanty water supply of the planet from the poles to the torrid zone. "A parliament of man must necessarily have l:em I reached on Mars," says a writer, | taking this . view, "for its system I of canals covers the planet and

presupposes unanimous consent and co-operation. lis building baa been a task gigantic beyond anything known on earth, but the Martians are elder brothers, and must have made an immensely greater advance in mechanical inventions and euonomics of labour. More in that line has been achieved o» the earth in the last hundred years than in all the previous oenturioa." The canals of Mais are Baid to show a marvellously comprehensive design. Even if they are not the work of intelligent human beings they can only be ex plained as being due to the growth of vegetation along the lines of natural waterways, and thus we are driven to the tremendous conclusion that life, in some form, does exist ou our neighbour. If vegetable, why not also animal? An ancient egotism disappears. The earth is not the sole home of life in the universe, and if the astronomers are right about Mars, its inhabitants should belong to a race of beiags older an I far wiser than ourselves.

It is a little startling to learn that a mining engineer has oome Ptl the way from'tbe Yukon goidflelds to test the Waihi fields with a divining ro<7. According to the New Zealand Herald, Mr David Kirkwood has not only made the journey, but has, so he says, located the celebrated Martha reef of. the Waihi mine, considerably beyond the Waihi (Jompany'a claim. Mining in Waihi is in a curious position, in that the place is praotioally dependent on the one mine. Millions have been taken out of the Waihi Company's hill, but the claims round it have met with little or no success. Mr Kirkwood declares that working with his divining rod, he has found that, oontrary to the general opinion of miners familiar witn the country, the Martha reef extends beyond the company's boundary, from 300 ft to 500 ft below the "surface, and 90ft wide. Mr Kirkwood has perfect faith in his rod:—"People have smiled when I mentioned to them that the discovery was made with the divining rod, fcut I have established beyond doubt the fact that the rod is not a mere toy to be laughed at or even trifled with, bui in. the hands of a man who understands its use, or power it is a sure and certain indicator ot mineralised veins and ledges." The rod is simply a piece of wood with a shaft growing from it at right angles, and any kind of wood will do, so long as the two parts are in one piece. When looking for a reef, Mr Kirkwood holds one part in either hand, with the other, shaft pointing outwards, and if there is a reef it attraots this shaft downwards. He declares that an experienued man can follow a reef with it as a dog follows game. He believes that mineralised ve s and subterranean water-courses are. highly charged with eleofcrioity, and these currents, combined with the gases which originate deep down in the earth, but are ever escaping to the surface, influence the subject by the medium of the divining rod, which he holds in bis hands. A day's work with the divining rod makes one fael limp and drowsy. The rod can also be used, says Mr Kirkwood, for locating ooal deposits.