SUMNER NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 89, 21 May 1914, Page 8

SUMNER NOTES.

Tlie Sumner -section of T Company, Coast Defence Territorials paraded last night, 16 strong, under Lieut. H. Wright and Staff Sergt.-Major Massey. The men were exercised principally in semaphore signalling and acquitted themselves very well indeed. It was . announced, before the parade was dismissed, that all Territorials who have not yet finished their class-firing, must attend at the range on Saturday next, the 23rd inst., at 2.15 p.m. to complete the course. Cadets were instructed that they would have to attend for the same purpose on the same day at 2.45 p.m. Owing to the Christchurch Club's fourth grade team withdrawing from the competitions, the local club will have a bye on Saturday. It may be of interest to many visitors staying in the borough and also to many residents, to learn that Sumner possesses a rubbish destructor; the building being erected about five months ago, in pursuance of the Council's sanitation policy. The buildings are situated in Wakefield Avenue, just south of the quarry, and fill a much-needed want. u? The holdivg capacity is about 5 tons, and the destructor is worked at a minimum of cost. One man is employed about an hour daily, raking..the clinkers and attending the lire. Originally, the rubbish collected was tipped on v one of the low-lying sections at the back of the borough and covered over with sand, but the practice was most unhealthy, as the prevailing winds soou uncovered the debris.

There is on view at present in the Town Clerk's office a bottle taken from the first clinkers raked from the destructor. It presents a strangely weird and mishapen appearance and visitors to the office are making many and varied conjectures as to what it really represents..

Yesterday, about mid-day, the residents of the borough witnessed the most unusual sight of the sea running down Morten street, almost reaching the Sumner hotel. Old residents say it is very many years since the sea came up so far, and evidently a violent storm is raging miles out at sea.