t miles west of Birkhead, where it flowed over the
casing). If the water is stagnant the divining rod is silent. I do not
profess to be able to tell if it is salt or fresh, although books on
divining say this may be ascertained by placing salt in the hands.
Before giving the particulars of my water sites, I would explain that I
was under the impression that I could not feel water at a greater depth
than 300 feet.
I was engaged by the Gregory Rabbit Board to mark a site on very high
country on Llanrheidol Station. I found a good stream not far from one
picked by another diviner, and I guaranteed that water would be struck
at 300 feet. A well was put down to that depth, but no water obtained.
On the strength of my guarantee the sinking of the well was abandoned.
Later, I was engaged to mark sites on Vindex Station, and it was mainly
due to the perseverance of Mr. W. H. Keene, the manager, that water was
tapped over 300 feet. He sunk on one to 500 feet, the water rising to
within 152 feet from the surface. It was tested by being pumped for six
hours, but the 20,000 gallons per day could not be reduced. Water was
obtained at all my sites on Vindex. These results proved that my 300
feet depth was wrong.
I then contracted to test for water on the Nottingham blocks, which are
situated on very high downs country between Hughenden and Winton, at the
heads of the Landsborough, Flinders, and Diamantina Rivers. My previous
experience led me to believe that about 600 feet was my limit, and bores
were put down to over that depth and abandoned without water. Eventually
the owners selected a site, and put down an artesian bore, striking a
flow at about 2,000 feet. I felt sorry they did not sink on one of my
sites to prove exactly how deep I could feel underground water.
Another failure was at Vuna selection. The site was on a continuation of
the high downs adjoining the Nottingham blocks. The bore was put down
over 500 feet at a spot which another diviner had endorsed as being a
good site. This and another one were also abandoned without water.
At Glendower, near Prairie, on the Hughenden railway line, I selected a
site guaranteeing water if there would be at 300 feet, near a site which
had been put down 700 feet without water. The latter had been marked
haphazard, and I could not detect any indication of a stream. My site at
300 feet was also a failure. At this depth the bore was abandoned.
A controversy was started in Ch
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