The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

BORING FOR A TUNNEL UNDER BIRMING
HAM.

When the project of a central station in Birmingham
was announced, the portion of the plan which contem-
plated the construction of a tunnel underneath the town
was looked upon with considerable uneasiness by a large
part of the community. This arose from a fear that the
foundations on which the town is built being clay-sand
and red sandstone, would give way, and it was confi-
dently affirmed by some, that the borings had clearly
shown that the works of the tunnel could not be executed
without great risk to the buildings, underneath which
the tunnel would have to be made. It would appear that
the directors of the London and North Western had also
their doubts on this point, notices of removal having
been served on several proprietors and householders, who,
until they received them, had no thought of being dis-
turbed. But the shaft which has just been sunk at the
canal wharf in Easy-row by the contractor, for the tun-
nel portion of the works of the Stour Valley—which
have joined the London and South-Western—has disco-
vered the stratum of the earth to be of such a character
as to remove all the fears that have been entertained.
The shaft has already been sunk above fifty feet, and
must be worked six feet farther down before it will reach
the level of the bottom of the tunnel ; but so solid and
adhesive have the strata been found, that the operation
of blasting has had to be repeatedly performed. On
Thursday a large portion of the red rock was thus de
tached, and altogether the strata is so compact and well
bedded, that even although there were to be no brick
work in the tunnel, the buildings above would be safe.
Next week the driving of the tunnel commences ; the
whole is to be cased by the most durable quality of brick,
and finished in substantial style.

SOUTH RAIL.—OPENING TO NEWTON.
This royal burgh, which stands so deservedly high
amongst all the truly respectable towns of England, has
been the scene of unwonted excitement. It is not often
that Newton puts itself in a flurry, and when it does
there must be really some exciting cause thereto. Need
we say, that sufficient cause was found in the approach-
ing opening of the South Devon Railway ? We had
intended to say something remarkably civil to tne New-
ton damsels on this occasion, but a house full of care
and sickness has sadly interfered with the satisfactory
progress of our duties during this week. We are so-
laced with the reflection that they are able to take care of
themselves, and that wherever a bright eye, a fair face
and an intelligent bearing are popular, there the Newton
maidens are not the last to be toasted. We commend
them to the mistletoe, and now for the train. A meeting
was held at the Globe Hotel on the Wednesday evening,
Mr. Portreevo Ford in the chair, when down-upon-the-
nail subscriptions were promptly made, and it was de-
termined that the town should be for once in its lifejolly.
all the next day. It was determined also, on the motion
of Mr. Flamank, the lawyer, and Mr. Kent, the financier,
that a complimentary address to the directors of the rail
should bo presented upon their arrival at the station.
The address was written in a hearty all-hail spirit, and
the directors must have felt half an inch higher upon re-
ceiving so flattering a proof of the high consideration
with which they were held at Newton, in the shire of
Devon.

The word being passed for festivity, at it they went on
Thursday morning in right earnest. The bells seemed
mad in the old church tower, which reeled under the in-
cessant vibration. Two bands were imported into the
town, the far-famed Totness, and the resounding Teign-
mouth, each with his saucy drum. The Totness band
riding in a triumphal car, drawn by Mr. Sharpe's eight
magnificent greys. Her Majesty's team is not finer than
that of the great contractor. The station was decorated
with evergreens and Chinese flags, kindly supplied by
Squire Cartwright, of Forde House, Mr. Hughes, Mr.
Partridge, and others, of Teignmouth, and Mr. Squarry,
of Sheldon. Everything looked gay, exceedingly so for
December, and fortunately no rain fell. Before leaving
this, it may be as well to mention that Mr. Sharpe de
termined to justify his name to the end of the year, and
macadamised a quarter of a mile of one of the new
approach roads, in the course of the night, although he
had to send more than a mile and a half to the quarry
for stones for the purpose. Let posterity beat that if
they can. We defy them ; they never have, and never
wil.
About eleven the train arrived, led by the Antelope
engine, which was decorated with flags, and driven by
M. C. Rea, Esq., superintendent of the locomotive de-
partment between Exeter and Bristol. It brought three of
the directors—Lord Courtenay, Fripp, Esq., Coles,
Esq., and the Secretary, W. Carr, Esq. ; J. Gill, Esq.,
M.P., the Chairman ; Sir A. Buller, director ; H. Cart-
wright, Esq , and several others of the neighbouring
gentry, received them at the station. The address was
then presented by the Portreeve, and Mr. Gill replied that
the directors were highly gratified with the reception
they tool top( ~l ~„ No-A, t,,r,, ;,,.. , ii, ' ('0 the gla.) the
sun shone on them for the first time : hitherto they had
to combat with prejudice and misrepresentation." He
spoke with much feeling,, being evidently touched,