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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 9, 11 January 1871, Page 2

The Mont Cenis Tunnel. — The following, from The Artizan of Oct. 1, will be read with great interest : — The tunnel, as Professor Anstead reminded the audience, will perforate the crest of the main chains of the Alps, nearly midway between Tout Tabor and Mont Cenis, passing nearly under the summit of Mont Frejus. The operations of the tunnel involve a direct cut through a series of rocks on a line whose depth below the surface was almost at once very considerable. Owing to the form of the ground and the rise of the mounlain, the depth was 2000 feet at each end after 2000 feet tuunelling. From this point, however, tbe depth increased very little from each end for a long distance. In the middle of the tunnel the depth below the surface is 5400 feet, while the deepest borings for such works as mines and wells do not exceed 3000 feet. The works have been carried on throughout with some regard to the great physical questions involved. Among these the temperature at various distauccs and depths beneath the surface was not the least important. Instructions were given to bore a large hole laterally into the rock for a distance of about 10 feet, at intervals of 500 metres, and determine the temperature of the rock by thermometers provided for tho purpose. On the northern side this important experiment had been carelessly executed, but on the south side, especially towards the centre, some good observations had been made, and the result was somewhat startling. The last observation made at the time of his visit was at 6200 metres £20,342 feet) from the south end, at a depth of more than 5000 feet. The result was 28 deg. C.=Bo£ deg. F. This would reduce tlie increment to a degree Fahrenheit in more than 100 feet, the general increase being observed in miues to average a degree in about 60 feet. Here, again, however, there was still something wanting) the mean annual temperature of the surface not beiDg accurately knowD, and the depth from the surface of the stratum of permanent temperature never having been determined. With reference to the progress of the work of tunnelling, the Professor stated that on the 31st of

last month there remained less than 2000 feet out of 40,000 feet to pierce, and as the present rate of progress is about 500 feet per mouth, it may be expected that the communication will be complete at the commencement of the ensuing year. A Man named William Anderson was lately found dead in the yard of the Commercial Hotel, Wanganui. The Waikouaili Herald stales that the "leg bone" of a inoa was unearthed last../ week hy Mr. Thomas Kernard, while ploughing in a paddock on his farm at Goodwood. The bone measures over three feet in length, and varies in thickness from two to six inches in diameter. For remainder of News sec Fourth page.