In brief

Press, 7 December 1988, Page 9

In brief

Low profile for winner New Zealand's latest Lotto millionaire, a Christchurch businessman, is carefully avoiding publicity in the wake of his win at the week-end. A spokesman for the Lotteries Commission said the man did not wish to be identified. Although the man, who has two children, has plaved Lotto every week since it began, staff at Target Books in the Northlands Shopping Centre, where he bought his winning ticket, were also unaware of his name. Saturday's instant millionaire has used the same numbers in each Lotto game, and they rewarded him with a first division prize of $1,002,827.89. The man told Lotteries Commission representatives the win had left him numb, and he was still too excited to decide how to spend his fortune. High-speed chase A high-speed chase from Waikuku ended with the police converging on a bike gang’s Worcester Street house yesterday, where they seized a motor-cycle but not the rider. The incident began late yesterday morning, .when a Ministry of Transport officer tried unsuccessfully to flag down a motor-cyclist for alleged speeding. The officer had to give chase, at speeds up to 150 km/h, south on the motorway, through Marshland and into the city. He lost his quarry near the Styx Bridge, but police had been called in to ass'ist and were waiting for him when he arrived at the gang house. He sped off when he saw them, but then returned, ditching th bike outside and rushing in, pursued by the police, including dog handlers. He escaped, however, and by last evening the police had a motor-cycle and some clothing, but not their quarry. One man was arrested inside the house for alleged obstruction. ANZ lifts lending rates PA Wellington The ANZ Bank will follow the Bank of New Zealand and Westpac Banking Corporation with a rise in its index lending rates to 16.25 per cent. The 0.25 per cent rise in ANZ’s rate will take effect on Friday. The bank said its housing loan rates would remain unchanged. The managing director of ANZ, Mr Paul Rizzo, said that pressure would remain on interest rates till the market received a clear indication that the Government’s budgetary situation was stable and that the fiscal deficit would be reduced this year. Mr Rizzo said also needed was a level of rates overseas that would “permit a return to an environment of declining interest rates as experienced earlier in the year.” On Monday the BNZ raised its base lending rate 0.5 per cent to 16.25 per cent and Westpac raised its base rate 0.25 per cent to the same level. Furs stolen from car PA Blenheim A Christchurch woman had more than $20,000 in furs and personal effects stolen from her locked car while waiting for the ferry in Picton on Monday evening. The car was parked opposite the Picton Railway Station and the offenders smashed the rear left window while the elderly woman was away from the vehicle between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Among items missing were a grey squirrel coat she said was valued at $lO,OOO, a red squirrel coat valued at $7OOO, two porcelain figurines valued about $l2OO and a marmot stole.—PA Dept gets reprieve PA Wellington The Department of Lands, due for abolition at the end of the month, has been given a reprieve until June 30 next year. The Minister of State-owned Enterprises, Mr Rodger, said the Government planned to have a separate office of Crown Land, the Department of Survey and Land Information, take over the land department’s continuing functions.