TUNNEL TO IRELAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2074, 22 October 1885, Page 2

TUNNEL TO IRELAND.

One of the greatest engineering feats of the age in the proposed tunnel to connect the Scottish and Irish coasts. The distance hy the proposed route is twenty one and a half miles to b» driven from only two fans, and at a great depth owing to the remarkable trough which ■kirts the Scottish coast at about a third of the diatauco between the shores. Sir Charles Crawford, who has given the project great study, comiders that the work could be completed within eight years He states that such a tunnel would bring the coalfields of Ayr within forty miles of the manufactories of Belfast ; would make the magnificient harbour of Lough Swilly the port of call for the trans-At-lantic liners ; would bring America nearly twenty-four hours nearer England, and pour into Ireland such a vivifying stream of life and commerce as would do more to spread comfort and prosperity than decades of remedial legislation. A> regards the difficulties of ventilation, he thiuko either air engines, daily brought nearvr perfection, or electricity, now working a tramway within a score of miles of Donaghadee, or the continuous wire rope, so largely used in America, would enable us to dispense with the smoke-breathing locomotives, and with it banish the bugbear of asphyxia. The enormous traffic which would be created, together with a reasonable rebate which the Midland >ud other line* would doubtless be glad to give on the volume of traffic passed over their lines, would probably suffice to provide the £270,000 net revenue required to give 3} percent, dividend on £4,0U0,0C0 share capital.

The time tablo of Gaudin'n mail coach between Hamilton East, and Frankton will ba found in our advertinonient columns. Mr E. Kioloy hai been appointed n«xton of the Alexandra Cemetery, vice Mr Conn, resigned,