An undertaking of national importance to the state of Holland,
in which English enterprise plays a leading part, was inaugurated on Thurs- day. An English, Dutch, and Belgian company, has been formed to re- claim the land covered by the large arm of the sea between the island of South Beveland, belonging to the province of Zealand, and the mainland near the town of Bergen-op-Zoom. The extent of the area to be re- claimed is 35,000 acres, and the capital adventured may reach 500,0001. Captain Pelly, R.N., is chairman of the company, and Sir John Rennie its engineer. A great feature of the works will be the cutting of a ship- canal through South Beveland, in lieu of the channel that will be filled up. The turning of the first sod of the cutting for the canal was per- formed on Thursday, by Captain Pelly, in presence of the Governor of the Province of Zealand, and a company of Dutch and English notables. Afterwards there was a convivial reunion, at which the toasts of the Queen of England and the King of Holland were interchanged.