Local Intelligence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 12 December 1857, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Croixelles Copper Mining Company. — Mr. Hackett, of the Dun Mountain Mining Company, has just returned from a visit of inspection to the property of the above Company, which he has made in company with Mr. Curtis, one of the directors, and the manager (Mr. Marsden). We are not in possession of Mr. Hackett's report, but we understand that with respect to the mine within the harbour his opinion is unfavourable to further operations at present. We are happy, however, to learn, and we congratulate the shareholders and the province on the fact, that Mr. Hackett forms a decidedly favourable opinion of the Current Basin mine, and has no hesitation in recommending the Company to take active steps for its development.

Steam Postal Communication with Australia. — It would appear, from the following extract from the Wellington Independent of the 28th ultimo, that we are, at no very distant date, to be made participators in the many advantages arising from steam postal communication with England and the neighbouring colonies : —

"We stjp the pr«3a to announce that the Imperial Government and Mr. Sewell completed arrangements on the 16th September, with the New Zealand and Australian Mail Steam Navigation Company, Captain Gibbs, manager, for the establishment of Inter-Pro-vincial Steam. Two vessels, of 800 tons and 200 horse power, to run between Australia and New Zealand, and two vessels of 500 tons and 100 horse power to branch from Wellington north and south. The cost, £20,000 per annum. £12,000 to be paid by the Imperial Government, and £8,000 by the colony." This will indeed be a grand step in the march of improvement. We only hope there may be no mistake about the matter.

We hear that the English mails for Nelson, brought to Wellington by the vessel chartered for that purpose, have been there for the last nine or ten days, no arrangement having been made for forwarding them to their destination. This again is another result of the conflict for power between Wellington and Auckland, between the Provincial and General Governments, and of the confusion resulting from it. Our Nelson Government has surely as much authority to demand the New Zealand mails at MelbourneasthatofWellington,andtheconstant communication resulting from our Gold-fields would make such a demand both justifiable and economical for us.

His numerous friends will be glad to hear that Mr. Weld of the Wairau, late a member for that district in the General Assembly, has arrived in Sydney by the "Columbian," and may shortly be expected here ; probably in the course of the next week or ten days. Attempted Suicide. — Yesterday morning an aboriginal native named Te Meihana was taken into custody by the police, for drunkeu and disorderly conduct f and jrhiie confined in the station-house, he attempted to commit suicide by strangling himself with his leathern belt. Fortunately, his movements were observed in time by the police in attendance, and medical aid was immediately called in, but not until he had become blue in the face and motionless. He was, however, soon restored, and then laid an information against the publican who supplied him with the liquor. It is not often that complaints of this description come before our authorities, and we do sincerely hope, that after this very serious warning, whereby a man has nearly lost his life, the retailers of spirits in this town will not again infringe that very salutary law which forbids their supplying spirits to natives.