AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13226, 21 September 1908, Page 7

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association—yß Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SUNFISH DISABLES STEAMER. SYDNEY, Septembor 19. The propellers of the steamer Fiona struck a huge sun fish, weighing two tons, off Bird Island, and became embedded. One propeller was unabl© to get free, and the boat cam© on to Sydney partially disabled. CONSUMPTION IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, September 19. Th© death rate from consumption in Victoria fell from 14.4 per ten thousand in 1889 to 9.5 last year. • COMMERCIAL MORALITY. Mr Justice Higgins, dealing with a case wherein an order was prayed for for tho refund of certain mino* flotation charges, made some severe comments on company promotion. Ho feared that the taking of secret profits by promoters was not confined to mining companies. Th© principles established by tho Equity Courts might be somewhat in advance of the ethics of the financial world. If so, tbo promoters would havo to revise their ethical standards. Tho Courts wero unlikely to change theirs. ■ THE AMERICAN FLEET. : PERTH, September 19. Admiral Sperry, in a final message to Mr Deakin, states that Australia's generous hospitality has created a mutual friendly sympathy and understanding which years of ordinary intercourse could not havo effected. CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP. MELBOURNE, September 20. The Ten Miles Cross-country Championship of Victoria was won by Suffren in 60 minutes'2l4,sec.