Sir B. Watkin's conduct in relation to the experimental Channel
Tunnel is not only in the highest degree contemptuous towards the Government, but is not very intelligible. First, he gave the President of the Board of Trade an assurance that so soon as the Tunnel had reached the 'limits of the foreshore and entered on the three-miles territorial limit, the works should be immediately stopped. Then he deliberately broke that pledge, and carried them on, while putting off the Inspec- tors of the Board of Trade with excuses, 600 yards beyond that limit. Then the Board of Trade obtained an injunction in Court ordering him not to proceed., pending the decision of the various questions affecting the rights of the Crown- In spite of that injunction, however, Sir E. Watkin carried on the works for seventy yards further, and a fresh application was made to the Court on Wednesday, when Mr. Justice North ruled that the injunction of Mr. Justice Kay had been dis- regarded, and required the South-Eastern Railway Company not to use the boring machine for any purpose whatever. Nevertheless, legal decisions seem to make no impression on Sir E. Watkin, so that we remain in doubt as to the result. Yet it is difficult to understand what he can hope front incurring heavy costs in resistance to the Government. The Tunnel can certainly not be completed against the will of Parliament, and the expenses 'which are being incurred will not please the shareholders if they are to end in smoke. Is Sir E. Watkin, perhaps, only trying to establish his reputation as a, man of reckless wilfulness and obstinacy P That is not a good business reputation.
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