The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-03-10 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND COMPANY.  The Van Diemen's Land Company have issued their report, preparatory to their:yearly meeting on Thursday next. The chief agent of the company having been absent from the colony during the last 12 months, sales of land have been suspended in order that he might, on resuming his duties, carry out some fresh regulations. He returned to the colony by the Royal Charter, from Liverpool, in January last, and took with him new instructions. Meanwhile the evidence afforded of the rapid rise in the value of the Government lands adjoining those of the company, by the prices obtained when sales have taken place, gives strong encouragement with regard to the prospects of the entire district. In a recent instance the company had to relet 300 acres of cleared land which had been previously occupied for four years at 1/ per acre, and it was immediately taken for one year at an average of more than 3/ per acre, The facilities of steam communioation along the ooast continue to be maintained, and a prospect exists of its being established between Circular-head and Melbourne. With regard to the finances of the company, there are not at present sufficient funds to pay a dividend of lOs per share, but it is hoped such a distribution will be made before the end of the year, the amount now in hand is 3,3491.  REVOLTING MURDER  •  A case of murder, of the most revolting description has just occurred in the little hamlet of Obsdale, near Alness, parish of Rosskeen, Ross-shire. The victim, was a humble, industrious old woman, named Margaret Munro, unmarried, and sixty years of age. She subsisted by working in the fields and other chance labour, and fro'a her frugal habits was commonly believed to be possessed of some money—perhaps ten or twelve pounds. She lived in a miserable small bothy, but within about thirty yards on each side were two cottages, one of them being occupied by a married sister. On Saturday last the deceased was out working at Delmore, and on her return in the evening she went to the village of Alness. to make some small purchases of tea and other provisions. Next day it was observed that no smoke had issued from her chimney. Her sister entered the bothy, and found the deceased in bed, apparently dead, and the bed clothes saturated with blood. Alarm was given, and the police constable repaired to the spot. The first impression was that the old woman had committed suioide, but further investigation showed the improbability of this conjecture, and a regular examination into all the circumstances was made next day by Mr. Taylor, Sheriff substitute. It would appear that the old woman had gone to bed and apparently fallen asleep, lying on her left side, with her face to the wall. The murderer had found no difficulty in obtaining an entrance, for the only fastening to the door was a block of wood rolled up against it. This had been pushed aside. In the cottage was a short coarse knife, the only one possessed by the deceased, and with this a. wound had been inflicted on the front of the throat, completely dividing the windpipe, but without severing' the jugular vein or carotid artery. There had apparently been no struggle, the bood having flowed out immediately in front of the wound. There were marks on both arms of the indentation of nails ; and the medical gentlemen were of opinion that it was impossible the deceased could herself have inflicted the injury. The knife lay about two yards distant, and was covered with blood ; at the bottom of the bed was found part of the blade of a knife,, also stained with blood, but it was obvious that this could not have been the instrument, and had only been placed there to keep up an idea of suicide. On searching the dark cottage, a few shillings and pen -e were found on a shelf, with the provisions which the poor woman had purchased the previous night. In a trunk, with some other articles of wearing apparel. was a gown, and within the cuff of one of the sleeves was found £3 15s. What other money the deceased possessed, or whether she had any more. is not known, but this deposit in the trunk had escaped the murderer. The case being clearly established as one of murder, the local authorities have been indefatigable in their efforts to trace out the perpetrator of the foul crime, but no clue has yet been discovered.--Inverness Courier.