SUMNER.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9596, 10 December 1896, Page 3

SUMNER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

In our peaceful little township the elections were taken very quietly, so far as our own voting was concerned. We certainly duly visited the Schoolhouse, where Mr Crawford, the Town Clerk, officiated as Master of'the Ceremonies, assisted by Mr Hussey. We voted for the candidate of our choice, and we struck out the top line—or the other two—which I fancy most of us did, according to our fancy, thereby having our little say on the licensing question, but this was done without any of the excitement there was in town. As the afternoon drew on, however, we wanted to hear something of what the rest of the colony was doing, and many of us went to Christchurch, where of course our interest was centred. So many of us, in fact, went up that the fo\ir cars which the Tramway Company considerately put on an hour later , at night than usual were taxed to the utmost inside and out to carry xis and the Woolston contingent home again. j The Tramway Company have commenced Ito level a section at the bath end of the i line, on which they are going to build a shed I for their engine, and when it is completed ! that will be the Sumner terminus of the I line and all the trams will run to it and j start from it. This will be a great con- ! venience to Sumner residents. At present I some of them do not go beyond Watson's corner. On Tuesday a large picnic from Ladbrooks was down here, somewhere about 700 adults and children. It was a laree party, but it i will be eclipsed by one coming down on the 17th or 18th, when the Sydenham State School, is to have a holiday at Sumner, and cars »for about 1800 will have to be provided. The grand facilities here for picnics and every conceivable seaside enjoyment are attracting more and more to our seaside. You see Nature lias been bountiful to us, and we have added finishing touches in the way of swings, donkeys, bathing machines, gardens, &c. j Comicalities and churches don't usually jgo together, but we enjoyed a union of the I two the other morning. It was a saint's day ! —Ireallydon't know which —but in honour of lit a service had been- announced in the ! English Church. I think everybody nearly forgot all about it on the particular day. The officiating clergyman arrived by the eleven tram and was seen hurrying along the road to the church. The sight of him ! reminded the caretaker of the building, i who at once rushed to get things ready. But there was no one to ring the bell, and a boy, called in hot haste out of school, was I fortunately on the spot in time to do a little tinkling before service commenced and, after all this trouble, there was the large congregation of two ladies. Talking of churches*-- our Roman Catholic friends will soon have one in Sumner. A hall built some time ago on the section where the Tennis Club used to have its court is undergoing the necessary alterations I and additions to make it suitable for that purpose. I understand the late Mr A. J. White acquired the property and made it a gift to the Catholics with the intention of its being used as it will be shortly.