The Channel Tunnel.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3164, 27 March 1889, Page 3

The Channel Tunnel.

It is stated that, notwithstanding the threatened opposition of the Government, tlio Channel Tunnel Company will proceed with the Bill which it proposes to bring before Parliament and take a division upon next session. It is said that since last year the promoters have received great encouragement to proceed, particularly from a large number of ! persons connected with the manufacturing aud commercial centres of England and Scotland. They have also (says Iron) in many cases been promised the support of several membors of Parliament.. The machinery which was used for boring the tunnel is still in the heading, aud is periodically set in motion to keep, it in order, but no attempt is made to advance the heading, tho length of which measures about 2100 yards. It is now two years since the works were stopped, and the tunnel ib said to be so far impervious to water that on an average not more than 400 gals has found its way into the entire heading in the course of .twenty four hours. The boring operations for coal near the mouth of the tunnel still continue, and a depth of about a thousand feet has now been attained. The character of the strata is such as to encourage the continuation of the operations in tho hope of ultimately finding coal. While the prosecution of the borings for coal ought to be encouraged in every way, the same cannot bo recommended for tho tunnel works, for, in the, present state of public opinion, the money spent that way mil only be wasted.