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response to the invitation of one of the Vice-Presidents, the Rev. 
H. H. Winwood, to accompany him on a water finding excursion. 
The secret of the spot to be visited was kept till the members 
met, when Mr. Winwood introduced the “ diviner,” Mr. Leicester 
Gataker, and stated that the walk was to a field belonging to 
Mr. H. D. Skrine, at Claverton. The party then proceeded by 
way of Bathwick hill, where the evils of barbed wire was 
evidenced, a dog belonging to a popular member of the Club 
having its hind leg caught and securely fixed by this cruel 
contrivance. However, the animal was released fortunately 
without much damage, but it is clear the recent Act of Parliament 
has not been enforced in Bath. The scene of the experiments, a 
field near the Militia camping ground, having been reached 
without any further excitement, Mr. Gataker commenced his 
operations and quickly pointed out a spot where the said water 
would be found, and subsequently several other places were 
indicated and marked with pegs, the suggested depth of the 
spring varying in different positions from 25ft. to 40ft. Several 
members of the party tried, both with twigs and also with a piece 
_ of steel wire, but no one was possessed of the necessary power. 
_ The ends of the twig in Mr. Gataker’s hands were securely held 
to prevent it turning, but the result was the same, the twig 
_ twisting itself round and breaking the bark where held. The 
3 ulk of the members were very sceptical, but many of them were 
convinced by the experiments of the diviner that he had some 
“unaccountable power through which the twig turned in his hands 
when passing over certain portions of ground. One gentleman, 
however, remained sceptical to the end, and his explanations of 
_ the twisting of the stick created considerable amusement. At the 
~ conclusion of the experiments, Mr. H. D. Skrine, who had joined 
the party on its arrival, and had watched the proceedings with 
evident interest, entertained the members to lunch on the ground, 
at the conclusion of which Mr. Winwood moved a vote of thanks 
_ to him for his hospitality and for his kindness in allowing the use 
