GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18822, 10 March 1931, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The new traffic bridge over the Ashburton river will probably be opened for traffic next month.

The Ashburton County Council has authorised its inspector to take proceedings against drivers of cars which travel at a speed exceeding 40 miles per hour.

Our Woodbury correspondent states that harvesting is nearly completed in that district. The weather had been fine and cool for a week, but rain commenced to fall on Saturday morning, and has put a stop for the present to all harvesting operations.

A special meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last evening for the purpose of certifying and having signed the District Electors Roll. A formal resolution authorising the signing of the roll as provided by law, was carried.

The weekly luncheon of the Timaru Rotary Club was held yesterday, there being a good attendance. There was no set address arranged, but various matters of a domestic nature were discussed during the hour reserved for the luncheon.

Harvesting operations were well advanced in South Canterbury before Saturday’s rain. The season had been an exceptionally favourable one for threshing from stook, and a large amount of grain was put into bags in good cond.tion.

An Auckland message states that articles and Jewellery worth £25, and £7 In cash, were stolen from the dwelling of Alexander Watson while the occupants were at church. The burglar ransacked the whole house, even stealing 25 gramophone records.

The first steam threshing machine In South Canterbury was landed at Timaru in March, 1866, to the order of Mr E Pilbrow, Temuka It was reported to combine all the latest improvements, including a smutter, and was guaranteed to prepare grain ready for the market. The machine came out in parts, and was assembled on the beach at Timaru.

Advice has been received from the Hermitage that a well-known English climber, Miss Kate Gardiner, of Liverpool, has made successful ascents of Mount Hamilton (9915 ft), and Mount Elie de Beaumont. She was accompanied by Guides Vic. Williams and P. Alack. The ascents were made in perfect weather and good conditions from the Malte Brun Hut. Miss Gardiner has made several visits to New Zealand, and in January, 1929, she made a record ascent, for a lady, of Mount Cook. She was guided by Vic. Williams and the ascent was made in 153 hours from the Haast Hut. Miss Gardiner intends using the Hermitage as her headquarters for the remainder of the climbing season, and has an extensive programme in view.

A new system of business reply cards tor the convenience of business people inaugurated by the Post and Telegraph Department, is now in operation. Business people have found in the past that when they have sent out circulars and so on with a stamped envelope enclosed for reply only a small percentage of the envelopes have been returned. This has entailed a considerable loss. In order to overcome this difficulty, the Post and Telegraph Department has decided to Inaugurate a system whereby it will be possible for firms to pay the postage only on those envelopes which are actually returned. Regulations governing the new system were published in the “Gazette.”/ Firms wishing to take advantage of the new system will require to secure an authority from the Chief Postmaster and give a guarantee to pay at the time of delivery of the reply.