It is learnt from that the signing of the agreement for the American loan of gold $50,000,000 has been postponed repeatedly, owing to three causes. First of all, the Government does not desire to engage an American Financial Adviser. Second, the rate of interest, demanded by the talists is considered to be too bigl Third, there has not any definite arrangement yet orme to between the loan promoters and European bankers in regard to its flotation.
Howrven, there appears to be every likelihood of saccoss in the neg for the Canton-Hankow Rail LINN BARRIERS, Orricrat dispatches from Soochow have been received by the local mandarins stating that fin about two or three months, all the likin barriers will be abolished and the likin itself will be converted to another tax, whose name may be translated "The Universal Ta will be advantageous both to the Gorernment coffers and the people; i much as it will do away with the abuses and squeezes which had to be endured. all slong the routes by which the goods were sent, and the Government will fave enormous expenditare if, ae it is reported, this tax will be only collected once for all at a large town on goods which may be sent to all parts of Chins free of any farther tax. Moreover, every branch of business will be the option of choosing by election representative with whom the Govers-ment is to deal, and farther he may take upon himself to offer a certain lamp sum either, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or yearly, in lien of the tax for same period leviable on the goods dealt the, Of course, there are many details to be settled before the scheme can be jon, auch as the estimate of the approximate sum of tar collectable daring the periods arranged, which seems to be the most difficult question for both sides to agree upon.
Feb. 9,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.