COMPLETION OF MOUNT ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1233, 25 May 1880, Page 3

COMPLETION OF MOUNT ST. GOTHARD TUNNEL.

The St. Gothard Tunnel was completed on the last day of February, 1880. Thus the piercing of the longest tunnel in the world has been achieved in seven years and five months — a rapidity of execution quite unprecedented, for relatively to its length the St. Gothard has been bored in a fourth of the time occupied in the boring of the Hauenstein tunnel, and in less than half the time taken by the Mont Cenis. Few people have any exact idea of the hardships of the tunnelling. In the present instance it means boring through nine miles and a quarter of solid rock. The borings were commenced in 1872, with machinery worked by compressed air, and operations were carried on from both ends at once. The cost of excavating and tunnelling over the 9Jr miles was set down in M. Favre'& — the architect's — contract at two millions sterling, which may give one some idea of what the Submarine Tunnel between Boulogne and Dover will cost, should it ever be attempted. Amateurs of speed in travelling will look upon the completion of the'st. Gothai<l Tunnel as a.n unmitigated booiv. Going from Bale to Milan they will be spared the jolt by diligence or by sleigh, according to season, between Bollin^ona and Lugano, and will have the satisfaction of passing in the dark through one of the grandest tracts of scenery in Europe. They will f[do in twenty-five minutes what used not always to be accomplished in twenty-five hours, for there were times when blinding snowstorms broke suddenly over that steep and treacherous St. Gothard Pass, making travellers right glad to roach the Monte Rosa Hotel atthetop, orthe Hospice where the benevolence of the Canton of Ticino has pi'ovided beds for the poor travellers. The St. Gothard Tunnel is a mile and two-thirds longer than that of the Mont Caiis. From its central point (3779 feet above the sea level) there is a fall towards Geschenen of 6 per 1000 feet, and towards Airolo of 1 per 1000 feet. Altogether it is a stupendous work, and its utility to the commercial and travelling classes will be immense. The whole of "blie workmen engaged in the tunnel ha.ye been presented with a medal. The size of the medal is about that of a fivefranc piece. On one side, within a wreath of bay leaves, is the date of the completion of the tunnel, " March, ISSO," surrounded by the words, " Ai lavoranti altraforo del Gottardo." (To the workmen engaged in tunnelling the St. Gothard). On the other side are the arms of the three participating States, together with their names — Germania, Helvetia, Italia —and underneath the words " Vtribits unitis. "

Nihilist Revelations. — A Nihilist trial in Kieff has resulted in a number of revelations concerning the way the Russian revolutionists go to "work. The accused, who has been condemned to death, one Arsaynee Bogoslav&ky, the son of a clergyman, was charged with a,n attempt to rob a mail van, and to appropiiate the cash box of a regiment of Infantry, with manufacturing explosive materials, with murdering a fellow Socialist, Kuriloff, and with dwelling in* Kieff with a false passport. The murder of Kuriloff, one of their own band, was decided upon because ho was believed to have been betraying his friends. He was fallen upon by the latter and shot, and his body was flung into the Dnieper. According to one of the > witnesses, an ex-Nihilist, the chief of their association is invested with the right of life and % death over the members. For the fh-st*case of disobedience corporal punishment is the penalty ; for the second, death. According to the same and another ex-Nihilist, one of their fellow-members has been the son of a Prince. The sum contributed by the laboring classes for the support of the Association was 20 per cent of their wages,