L'Avenir clu Tonkin reports as follows with regard to the proposed railway from Phulangthuong to Lungchou:—The representatives of the Societe de Fives-Lille, who, for upwards of a month, have bes discussing plans with the Chinese officials delegated to assist in the construction of the railway over the frontier, can obtain tio satisfaction, and find it impossible to commence the work. lonel Valiéres will return to France, and one of the directors of the Company' is expected to arrive on the scene soon to make a last attempt to effect a settlement. It is more than rouble that should the Societe de Fives-lille fail to obtain satisfaction, they will absolutely abandon the project, claiming a heavy indemnity for the work already performed and the lost time. - General Ssu and some members of his suite are alleged to be concerned in the obstacles pi in the way of the French Company. In the meanwhile, time passes, the line is not constructed and the English advance on the other side will be in the heart of China before the premier coup de pioche can be given to the Tongkingese frontier.
[This, at first sight, looks a serious matter for the French Company; but there has been such a change of opinion in regard to the best point of penetration from Tongking fo China that we suspect the Company wovtld not be averse to abandoning the lino and accepting an indemnity. General Ssu, it may be mentioned, is the gentleman who was feasted and lionised in the French Colonies last year.. Great things were exted from his friendship, but now our allie friends imply that old Ssu is no better than he ought to be.' Thisisa hard world.—Ep. CAL]
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.