SUMNER CLIFFS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9156, 13 July 1895, Page 10

SUMNER CLIFFS.

TO THS _U>JTOR 07 TUB PRESS. 8m, —There is no doubt that these cliffs will cause a great disaster, aa stated by "-Jackey " in your issue of to-day, if something is not done, and very soon, too, to prevent it. Whether the Sumner Borough Council is responsible, or private individuals, they should be compelled at all .events to remove the dangerous portions, so mc to prevent the possibility of a very *_eriou_ accident. Suppose, for instance, it-hat trams were running under these cliffs, _tj they always do, crowded to excess on 'general holidays, each with 250 or 300 souls on board, and there happened to be a big Blip just as one of these trams was passing under, why, Sir, it would simply mean a national calamity, aa people from all parts

on general holidays make for this picj turesque seaside resort. I believe the Sumner Borough Council will have about £100 to erpend from the Winter Work Fund, and if they are responsible for the safety oi these cliffs, then, I ray, by all mean, devote a part, or all, of this money, if necessary; to this work before thluking of their Equares, as they Buagest. The stor.e, &c, could be U3ed to great advantage in making a sea wall aud improving the esplanade, and the place would thereby derive a double benefit. In the eveut of the road being blocked while the work was being carried out, a sleani launch might be chartered to convey passengers between Sumner pier and Burns' jetty or bridge.—Yours. &.., Pko Bono Publico. to the editor of tiie pxes3. Pip..— "■ Vj I i you graut mc space to correct ti; exaggerated reports that have up,,;;_i_a 1:1 some of the papers as to tho state of til's toad and the tram service. Oa Tuesday morning early there was a huge fall of rock, about GO too 3at most, qui'e enous-li to be uaplea«?*»nt (but neither 200 nor 800 tons, as varinu.iy reported). •Some portion of thi3 was lodged across the tram Hue, and water had rendered another place unsafe a little distance from this. The total inconvenience to travellers was that for the first four trams that morning only, tbey had to walk less than a hundred yards (without even wetting their feet) from one tram to another. Excepting for this once changing of cars, I have ridden up every morning this week and got to my office in good time too, and back every evening regularly. There has been a certain amount of earth washed down, which has made the road vory dirty at places, but there has been neither danger nor delay about that, iv f_ct thoro has been far more risk in walking about the streets of Chiistchurcli the last two days, or walking up from New Brighton, as 1 believe ha 3 beeu the fate of residents there.—Yours, &c, A Sumner Resident. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —I was glad to see the letter on this subject in this morniug's Phess. I fear, however, that in trusting to the Sumner Borough Council to improve matters, your correspondent is over sanguine. That body Has already increased the risks of the road in the danger from above by allowing the removal of much of the earth and many large rocks which have gradually b.en forming a natural buttress uuderneath. It is the old story of " penny wise nnd a pound foolish,'' which in this case will probably sooner or later result in a large expenditure of life.—Yours, <&_., Tbavelleb. 12th July, 1895. JThis subject is referred to in " Topics of the Day."—Ed. Pkess].