NELSON. [From the Nelson Examiner, July 1 and 8.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 310, 19 July 1848, Page 2

NELSON. [From the Nelson Examiner, July 1 and B.]

We have intelligence from Auckland Ly way of Sydney, a month later than by the last direct communication between the Northern and Southern Provinces of the colony, and from the frequency of a similar occurrence, it makes good the old saying, of the " longest way round being the nearest way home." We therefore suggest to the Post-office"" authorities, that the convenience of the public would be greatly served if an arrangement could be made to despatch mails by this route. A mail for the " Postmastef-General of New Zealand," via Sydney, if sent by the next vessel leaving Nelson for the latter port, would very probably reach its destination some time sooner than if kept back for a direct conveyance. The Governor returned to Auckland in the Calliope from the Bay of Islands, on the 30th April. The Ann, from Belfast, with seventythree pensioners and their families, arrived on the 16th of May. The American whaler Hope, in running for the Bay of Islan/ls, on the 16th of April, mistook the entrance, and in passing through a narrow channel between the island of Ostia and several smaller ones, struck on a rock. By the assistance of the boats of the Caliope, the greater part of the cargo was saved, but the vessel was likely to become a total wreck. .i

The Ralph Bernal. — A dinner to the crew of the Ralph Bernal was given by Captain Maclaren on Monday last, at the Wakatu Hotel. The good feeling which exists between the officers and crew of this vessel is highly creditable to all parties, and worthy of imitation, for if conduct such as Captain Maclaren's was more general, the Police courts in these colonies would not be so frequently resorted to by the masters of merchantmen and their crews. It is now nearly eleven months since the Ralph Bernal left England, during which time she has been in port nine times, and every hand she originally shipped is still on board. This is a strange contrast with merchantmen generally, as the practice is to lose more or less hands in every port they call at, and often to an extent to cause great loss to the ship by detention. On the occasion we have named, the healths of^ Captain and Mrs. Maclaren, Mr. Mowas-tffjC chief officer, the good old ship, and other appropriate toasts, were very heartily given and drank, and the Jacks, rather to the astonishment" of "mine host," were as peaceable and. orderly a company as could be desired.