SUMNER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19676, 20 July 1929, Page 8

SUMNER ITEMS.

Damage by Sea. The sea is still reaching the foot of the sand cliffs at high tide, but not with sufficient force to cause any further scouring. The only apparent damage during the week is the dislodgment of a few more of the stones of the Scarborough boat harbour wall, and the complete collapse of the concrete slab in front of the opening of the low stone wall round the Surf Club pavilion. There are a large number of stones scattered over the beach from the sandhills right down to the water's edge. Dou less many have been uncovered during the process of the removal of tons of sand from the bed of the beach, but the cliffs and rocks fronting Scarborough have received such a severe pummelling that great quantities of rock have broken away. A Use for Seaweed. On the portion of the beach near the extension of the Esplanade wall at the end of Morten street the high tides have deposited piles of seaweed, released from its hold on the rocks near the headland by the heavy seas. Those who pride themselves on their gardens should, take advantage of „ j golden opportunity offered them to make a pile of this seaweed, which after some months makes an ideal garden nure. Yea ago, when such an opportunity offered, the children at the Sumner School stacked a large quantity in the school grounds for their garden plots. Heavy Silting. An inspection from the north side of the Cave "lock to the edge of the rapidly filling "lagoon" reveals further extensive silting. The sand has now built up to such an extent that rocks adjoining the Cave Rock, which were once on the edge of a dangerous channel, ar now barely showing above a covering many feet in depth. Towards the band rotunda, between the pier and the Cave Rock, the depth of the sand deposit is clearly demonstrated by a pole which under normal conditions was clear of the beach by seven or eight feet, but is now barely eighteen inches above the surface. At either end of the Esplanade solid sand has now banked up to the steps which give access to the beach, and at the present rate another six weeks should suffice to fill the lagoon up completely. Whereas the sand has been building up in the vicinity of the Esplanade, further along towards the Clifton road scouring has occurred under he high stone wall which protects the main

road near the north end of the tramway bridge. Previously this section of the beach has not been affected, but rocks are now exposed which for vears had been well buried. Power Tailure. In common with other districts, Sumner experienced a failure or the electrical supply on Thursday morning. The tramway timetable was considerably upset, the tram which is timed to leave the borough at 7.40 a.m., finally getting away at about 8.30 a.m. The interruption meant the late arrival of many school children, and considerable inconvenience was caused to business people. A Light Needed. The light in the Tramway waiting room at the terminus failed some six or seven weeks ago, and has not been replaced. Complaints have been made that for this reason women are frightened to shelter there at night when waiting for trams, since the nearest street lamp is 30 yards away. Porensic Club. The weekly debate took place on Tuesday last, the subject being, "That the hire-purchase system should be abolished." The principal speakers included Messrs J. R. Hampton, R. H. Neville, H. B. Pimm, and J. H. Thomas. After a most animated discussion those supporting the motion were declared the winners by 7 votes to 3. Mr Douglas Smith made an excellent chairman. Next Tuesday Mr J. Rhodes will preside, the subject being "That Borough Councils as at present constituted are not the best form of local government." The speakers will include Messrs R. D. Jamieson, P. J. Twomey, J. E. Tait, and R. H. Neville. Unemployment. In order to raise funds to relieve unemployment in Sumner and Eedcliffs a grand concert, organised by All Saints' Church choir, is to be held in the Town Hall next month. Work, which will in all probability keep local unemployed busy until the end of the spring, has been arranged on the Esplanade plots and on the beach. This work will be put in hand immediately after an inspection by the Public Works Engineer. Rifle Shooting. Owing to very wintry weather there was a smaller attendance than usual at the Sumner-Redcliffs Ladies' Miniature Rifle Club on Wednesday evening. The

.. ... -onior brooch competition | results of the d | were as follows: - Ml °f £ * fi - 6 - \ f J 66; Miss P. Vaughan, }£» e '» Mrs V j .••> \f;<.= P Ellis, 00, ou. Jerard, b3; Miss 1..* » were:- * h V U n lor 6-63; Miss E. WhitMiss C. Corser, 0., <-j, 6e J& 63 C 4. tt for hut week's trophy The shoot ofi *£ la j liM corser, Mis's resulted in a win n r Tat Ellis being runner-up. public Library. Thcro was a good attendance of thee interested in the proposed reconstruction of the Sumner Public Library | at the Town Hall on Wednesday even- j iD Xhe Mavor (Mr W 11. NjchoW. i who presided, said the C ouncil had de- ; tided when approached by the Library Committee, that it must either take over the Library or subsidise it t rem the rates. It came to the conclusion that in view of the number of subscribers, it had no choice but to make an attempt to run it for one year, taking over the finances for the time being. which showed a debit of £2S 3s. As the total income last year was £tH, the Council had decided to offer rent, lighting, heating, cleaning, and secretarial work. With an entirely voluntary staff of librarians they could spend 90 per cent, of their income on new books. The Council's proposals included the appointment of the Town Clerk as treasurer, a separate banking account, a list of ten voluntary librarians, a committee of eight persons to manage the affairs, with a selection committee to purchase books. It proposed to draw ud rules similar to those in the Christchurch Library—all new books to go into circulation at once, but to be reserved after three months' use. By such an arrangement between 300 and 400 books a year could be purchased. The proposals of the Council were agreed to. The following honorary librarians were nominated:—Mesdames W. H. Nicholson, H. J. Marriner, Fountain Barber, W. H. Brown, L. P. Longuet, F. N. Aitken, Douglas Smith, Misses W. Barnett, Willett, M. A. Bain, and Messrs A. Graham, C. Benjamin, H. D. Bates, G. A. Alexander, and Stapley. The following management committee was elected:—Councillor C. I. Denham (chairman), Mesdames H. J. Marriner, Fountain Barber, W. H. Nicholson, Misses Willett and Selby, and Messrs S. Fountain Barber, G. F. Alien, and Councillor J. E. Tait. A meeting of the Maangement Committee was arranged for July 24th.