A WATER “DIVINER.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2523, 9 June 1909, Page 2

A WATER “DIVINER.”

EXHIBITION IN TAUMAItUNUI. Mr J. R. Raw, of Rotorua, who has acquired a reputation as a water “diviner,” gave, an exhibition of his powers in tlie main streets of the Taumarunui township last week. Mr Raw placed himself in a perfectly upright position, and stretched his arms to tlieir full extent. “You see,” he said, “I'can locate, water in this attitude by contracting my muscles and concentrating my mind on what I wish to do, but that is a severe strain on the human frame. There is an easier way.” He then picked up two small ti-treo twigs. “This,” he said, as he held a single, sapling, “is my usual way.” Ho then held it erect, the length of. his forearm in ’front of him, and walked slowly along the. road. After a few steps’ the twig gradually bent to one direction. “You see,” said he, “there is a running stream.” As he walked further, the stick increased its bend, until he passed the place where he concluded water was flowing. The end of the twig then came round, keeping to the same direction. Further on it came to its former erect position, until Mr Raw approached a second place, where he declared there was running water. Taking another twig with a small prong—a twig similar in thickness and length to the former —he placed one prong in each hand, and the end of the stick towards his chin. Going over the same- ground, it was seen that the free end of the twig swerved round more quickly than the first did as the presumed water was approached, and fell back again as it ivas crossed. “This,” said Air Raw, “is the most common method and the easiest for the divining student.” He then produced a small wire from his pocket. Straightening it through his fingers, he . held it erect. “This,” he said, “is a method entirely my own. The wire consists of three different metals,'and with it I can locate water far easier, and be more certain, than with the twig.” Mr Raw explained that he felt a sensation through his body as he approached the places where the twig indicated water, , even when riding a horse or bicycle, and when in a- railway train he had located streams, having concentrated his mind on the matter. “In all cases,” he said, “water can only be located when there is a running stream, and that cannot be other than an old and permanent flow. Rivers, newly ’made ditches or streams, wills never influence the diviner oi’ his rod.”