General News

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30302, 30 November 1963, Page 12

General News

Smell Traced A bad smell reported by Shortland street residents as coming from the Christchurch Drainage Board's sewagetreatment works was caused by the breakdown of a percolating filter in the works, the board’s chief chemist (Mr A. E. Lambden) said yesterday. When the smell was reported steps were taken to reduce it, apparently with success, since no further complaints had been received. The filter would be repaired as soon as possible. “Rare Person” “Today I have had the pleasure of meeting a very rare type of person.” Mr J. A Malcolm, the overseas representative of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, said at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual export lamb competition at Belfast yesterday. “He was a satisfied farmer. There had been enough rain, his pastures were doing well, and he was getting his lambs away fat.” Christmas Cheer Britons will drink about 352 million pints of beer during Christmas and New Year celebrations, an average of about seven pints a head of the population. An industrial survey says people may choose from the products of 317 breweries.—London, Nov. 29. Death Of Snake A snake bit a South African seaman near the Cape Town Zoo last night—and the snake died. Leading Seaman E. P. Van Wyk and some friends were sitting on the ground. No-one noticed the snake until it bit Van Wyk just above the wrist. While his friends were rubbing sulphur from a match into the bite the snake writhed on the ground for a few moments and then died. Van Wyk has a swollen arm, but is otherwise unharmed.—Johannesburg, Nov. 28.