WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TEI/EGRAnt.—OWN COKRESI'OS'DENT.]

Wellington, Saturday. ADVERTISING THE COLONY. Mr. C. H. McMdbeun, from New York, has been engaged by the Government to write a book on New Zealand for American " consumption." He has been provided with apartments in the precincts of Parliament House, and also with a female typist and a Webster's dictionary, and lie has set to work in real earnest. The book is to be profusely illustrated, and will contain photographs of Ministers, and make special reference to the benefits derived by the colony during the Seddon regime. -Mr. McMurran lias already contributed a few articles to the American and local press, which have attracted attention on account of their extreme originality, both as to method and matter. THE OYSTER TRADE. It is- yet somewhat early to say whether the recently imposed Commonwealth t«x if 2s per sack on New Zealand oysters .rill seriously affect the considerable and important export trade which lias been done in Stewart Island oysters. The inspector of fisheries (Mr. Ayson.) is obtaining information as to whether, in view of the degree to which disease has seized on the Australian oyster beds, the Commonwealth can find within its own borders a sufficient substitute for New Zealand oysters. It is plain t-liat if the Commonwealth" is compelled to import oysters the tax will simply fall back ofl the consumer, but for the present Southern exporters fear that the tax, though proportionately not very heavy, will harm their trade. The northern beds are closed, and do not export, and in order to test the exporting capacity of the Stewart Island or "dredge" oyster beds, Mr. Ayson intends to survey and chart them, but has not yet had time to do so. He therefore is, so far, prepared to subscribe to the common belief that they are unlimited, but points out that though the catching equipment, through improvements, secures one-third more oysters than was the case three years ago, there are no complaints of scarcity.

A STRICT ORDER. The following is the text of the circular just issued by the Cabinet: —" Heads of Departments aiid others sending communications to members of Parliament, instead A through Ministers: The previous decision of Cabinet is to be respected and literally given effect to, and no communications are to be sent to members except through Ministers. Disregard of this notification will render any officer so offending liable to suspension and ultimate retirement from die service.— Alex. Willis, Secretary to the Cabinet."