AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13868, 30 September 1908, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— . SHIPPING COLLISION. ' - (Received September 29, 11.45 p.m.) Sydney, September 29. Captain Sprott, of the steamer,; Leura, . had his ! certificate <suspended;; for - three ; months by the Marin© Court; to-day in connection, with the collision with th« Ajax. .. ■~.",'. '-I': '■: , : v; ' : . <rl /.' WHALES DRIVEN ASHORE. , Sidney, September 29. -A fierce; battle between killers and whales was witnessed i; at Eden 'Bay; 'A ■;.. .;■; school of killers drove two whales ashore. , . The killers were .then .driven off and the 'V. whales secured. / '].",, ," , '/?',"",'[ GALE AT PEAK HILL. . Ssowkx, September 29. ■;■", .'.",•■ A storm at ) Peak ■• Bill unroofed many buildings and did other extensive damage. : CABLE - CHARGES. ■ Melbourne, September 29. The High Court, in'a special case, awarded the Eastern Extension' Cable Company ■ ; £633 against the : Commonwealth Government, the amount being the difference in the minimum revenue and the amount ,: received'' by the company ,• lor messages ■ transmitted over the cable between Tas- . mania and Victoria. The Court held that ,> the Common was not empowered, under the agreement made with the company in 1902, to reduce the cost of cables, an - Order-iii-CoiiVicii to that effect being , imperative. The Commonwealth was ; bound to pay. the rates fixed until they were lawfully reduced, and was also' bound to pay the company in respect of :. shipping intelligence transmitted : until :: ; the agreement was .lawfully terminated. THE ANTI-TRUST ACT. MEr,BouiiNß, September 29. The- cases against : the Huddart-Parker Company and Mr. Appleton, . managing ' director of the firm, tor refusing to ; answer questions under, the Anti-Trust Act in relation to the alleged coal vend, resulted in a fine of £5, with £5 5s costs, being inflicted in each case. The ' evidence disclosed that the firm acted on the advice of their solicitors, who claimed that; there ; was no legal obligation to answer the > questions, that the Act was ultra vires, and suggested that the case be , made *a test one. The latter suggestion was adopted, and ■the matter will now be taken to the High Court, both parties desiring a final" and early settlement.