WELLINGTON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) September 15.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2238, 22 September 1864, Page 5

WELLINGTON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) September 15.

The Seat of Government Commissioners took their departiue from the " Emphe City" at ten o'clock on la->t Monday morning, in the ' Eangatua,' for Pictou, where they arrived about five o'clock the same eveuing, after a very rough run across. The fact is, there appeals to hive beeu a singular fatality mam. fested whenever these gentlemen have ventured abroad in Cook's Stiaits, as upon both passages fiom Wanganui the steamer had to urn into Queen Charlotte's Sound for shelter, and upou thepiesont trip exceedingly bad weather was experienced. Of course nothing has been divulged regarding the opinion the Commissioners eutertam lelative to the suitability of Wellington for the Seat of Government ; but from what one can gather there is little doubt as to the result of the investigations of our claims, and the public generally here are confident a-- to the fact of the decision being in our favour 'Ihe affair has given rise to a good deal of speculation in the way of lauded propeity and buildings; and upon the Commissioners will depend whether or not some far seeing individuals were justified m hazarding their capital. I understand that Sir Francis Murphy intends returning to Wellington after visiting Picton and Nelson, while Messrs. Docker and Gunn proceed to Auckland, to lay their report befoie hii Excellency the Governor. Sir Francis 1 etui ns to Melbourne by way of Canterbury and Oti« o . The great libel case was settled on Tuesday last by the specul jury findiug a verdict for the plaintiff, Mr. C. W. Schultze, the Speaker of the Provincial Council. The case went to the jury on the simple plea of not guilty, the plea of justification havin" been abandoned at the outlet by the counsel foi the defence. The jury had really no option but to brine in * verdict of guilty under the eiicumstances, as the defence was about the lamest thing of the kind that ever was attempted in a court of justice. The defendant was bound over m three sureties of £100 each, *nd himself for £200, to come up for judgment when called upon, the understanding being°that, unless another libel w»a published agunst Mr! Schultze, he never would be called upon in this case There is exhibited in the window of Mr. Sling's jewellery shop a small quantity of gold which wa^ iiold by a party of three men the other day. They itated that they had obtained it in close proximity to Wellington ; but they declined to state the locality. They had several ounces in their possession. An exteusive sale of Government land took place on Monday last, when some 20,000 acres in the lUngatikei were disposed of at an average of about Bs. the acre. I hear that 26,000 jicres of the Waitotara block will be open for selection and purchase after the 7th October next. The s.s. 'Ahuriri leaves this eveuing for Auckl«nd in the place of the ' Wonga,' and the ' Wonga ' leaves on Saturday for Napier and Auckland, to take up your long-promised service.