_The Evening Post_, 13 June 1924:
THE DOWSER’S ROD
DISCUSSED BY GEOLOGISTS
The old puzzle of the water-diviner’s, or “dowser’s” rod was discussed at a meeting of the geological section of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Wednesday, when a paper on the subject was read by Mr. M. Ongley. The paper dealt… with the history of the divining rod… Diviners have worked steadily in various parts of New Zealand. They claim to have located water in many places, streams, and pools of oil near Huntly, New Plymouth, Eltham, Waipatiki, Pongaroa, Masterton, Kotuku, Gore, and Balclutha, and coal and many minerals in numerous localities. These “finds” are based on the bald assertions of the diviners that they have the “power,” and cannot be checked except by expending a large sum of money.… while successes were well canvassed, the failures were not talked about…
A lively discussion followed, turning largely upon the nature of the actual process…
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