UNDERGROUND WATERCOURSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 291, 29 February 1928, Page 9

UNDERGROUND WATERCOURSE

Secret Boring by Road Board MAY SOLVE AUCKLAND’S PROBLEM OUT on a search for water, .and placing some reliance on the water divinations of the Rev. Mr. Mason, of Otahuhu, the One Tree Hill Road Board is sinking a hole four feet six inches square on the -slopes of One Tree Hill, believing that they will tap a strong- underground stream, and securer a plentful and permanent supply.

The sinking of the well lias been largely shrouded in secrecy, but it was discovered by a Sun man this morning, only a short distance under the peak of the hill, and Just outside the golf links boundary. To men started work yesterday —one down the hole and the other hauling up. Apparently the whole, operation is regarded as an experiment, but according to the water-diviner, there is a very strong stream flowing in a southerly direction across the slopes of the hill. Estimates as to the depth to which the bore will have to go vary from 50ft to 100 ft, and between these depths the board hopes to strike water in quantities that are estimated even as high as being sufficient to supply the whole of Auckland. The bore was 12ft down early this

afternoon, and the man in the hole was working among scoria rock. It is suggested that there is more 1 than a remote connection between the ‘ sudden surreptitious efforts of the One Tree Hill Road Board and the theory which was advanced in The Sun on 1 Saturday by Mr. F. R. Field, to the effect that Lake Taupo feeds many of the lakes and springs in the neighbourhood of this city, and that there . are many subterranean water courses which flow beneath Auckland and give reliability to the lakes and springs at Takapuna and Onehunga. The opportune engagement of a diviner, and his reported success, have led to a belief in some quarters that the road board has been sent on its pursuit of water by some concrete knowledge of the direction of one of the watercourses mentioned by Mr. Field.