WATER FINDING

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1921, Page 4

WATER FINDING

QUEENSLAND’S SUCCESS. c p HUMAN AND MECHANICAL (>i AGENCIES. |, n It is somewhat remarkable that on a intinent where a constant supply of Sl a ter is of outstanding importance t llv one Government lias tested to any , msiderable extent the merits ol water j ivining, and the use ol the mechanical ] a ter finder. The success reported ~ •ora Queensland has been so unmistak- r hie that it is difficult to account for t be neglect to investigate the problem i other States. The annual report ol the Department I Public Lauds for the northern State or the year 1919, a copy of which has ust been issued, contains convincing vidence of the effectiveness of the nethods employed. During the year in expenditure of 9925 was incurred in nuking flic services of the Government vater finder available to selectors. The ,vork of locating sites for water by ; nouns of the divining rod and automatic water .finder was continued throughout the State, operations extending to the Cairns hinterland in the j north and into the Central and South-j western districts. The prevailing drought, occasioned such a demand lot . the departmental water-finder’s services that it was found impossible to comply . with the "hole of the requests, and as j a result a large number of applications | accumulated. During the year 419 sites "ore located, 195 of which were for soldier settlers and upon soldier settlement areas. The results ol work done on sites located, as received during the year, show that 51 sites were operated open, in 59 of which good, serviceable supplies of water were obtained. A small supply was obtained oil ■one site, the sinking not being proceeded with, whilst the other three were abandoned, for various reasons. Special mention is made in the report of various sites where unusuaflv results were secured, in the Kiuerald district a settler obtained a big supply of water at a depth of 111 loot upon a site located for him. Me had previous to the location ol this site sunk to depths of 190 feel and 19(5 feet without result. In the same district another landowner prior to the water-finder s visit had put down three Imres to depths of 209 feet, 159 feel, and 159 (fct respectively, and three wells, the depths of which were 120 leet, 199 leet. and 1.90 feet. Salt water had been obtained in the first-mentioned, and a little soakage in one of the wells, whilst upon the sire b’cated lor him by the wator-lindor about two chains from the salt bore a good supply "as obtained at a depth of 15 leet. in the Rockhampton district 000 gallons per hour of good water were obtained upon a site located for him less than one

chain awav from a well which contained

n supply of saline water unlit, for stock. In the Mount Walker district, a big supply of good water was struck at a depth of IS fet, when prior to locating (fie >im the owner had sunk to depths ol 5() leet. 159 feet, and 98 feet without

obtaining water. As an illustration of the utility ol

water divining, the report draws alien lion to the large supplies obtained from Dotwood State Station, in North Queensland, viz., 17.099 gallons and ffS.Otll) gallons per day respectively when prior to the locating ol the site seven wells had been sunk without, an adequate supply of water being obtained. Brief particulars of the 54 tests made during the year, of "which 51 were successful, are supplied. Since August, 1915, 250 sites have been tested. On 2ff*l ol these uatei was obtained, and L were abandoned.

for various causes. In view ol this remarkable achievement, there seems ample justification for the fullest investigation by our own Government officers and scientists ol the use of human and mechanical means as an aid in water-finding.