OIL IN DANNEVIRKE.

Shannon News, 11 April 1924, Page 4

OIL IN DANNEVIRKE.

DIVINERS AT WORK. SEVERAL REPORTED “ FINDS.” Yesterday morning, says the Dannevirlce “News,” a number of local residents, including his Worship the .Mayor, ;Mr. A. J. C. Runciman, and an “Evening News” representative, witnessed an interesting demonstration of divining for oil by Mr. A. McDonald, of Pongaroa, who is reputed to be gifted with unusual powers in this direction. The scene of operations was in the locality of the swing bridge. The party first visited the property of Mr. Jtohnson, just across the swing bridge, where Mr. McDonald claimed to locate a strong current of water. Crossing the road to the flat adjoining the Mangatera Stream, on Mr. A. Dicklns’ farm, the diviner very soon discovered, by the use of the divining rod- —a forked piece of willow —several channels —to be precise, five in all —which he asserted were oil, approximately fr.grn 11 yards to 18 yards each in length, and running in the direction of east to west. •

Crossing the stream into Mr. Dickiiis’ orchard, the diviner drew a blank fdr a chain or two, but then he again claimed to locate further pockets of loil, but running from west to east. Gging into Mr. Wilson’s property, Mr. McDonald claimed to locate a number of other oil streams, running from west to east. What puzzled Mr. McDonald was why the channels on each- side of the stream should be flowing in opposite directions. He said there must be a centre pocket, but owing to want of tipie'and the fact that he would have to negotiate the stream, he was unable then sfco devote the rest of the morning to locating the central channel. The visitors were impressed with the demonstration. Mr. McDonald if unable to state the depth of the oil channels —this can only be ascertained machine. Mr. A. Dickins, who is keenly interested in the matter, proposes til get Mr. A. McDonald and his brother Mr. .T. McDonald, who arrived on the scene later, to give another demonstra tion, arid also to visit other portions of the borough, where the diviners consider there is a likelihood of a find If the fests then carried Out are as satisfactory as they apparently were yesterday, it la within the bounds of possibility that developments may follow.