PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AT SUMNER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIV, Issue 802, 18 July 1860, Page 4

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AT SUMNER.

To the Editor ofthe Lyttelton Times.

Sir,—The late loss of life, wreck, and casualties on Sumner bar point suggestively to the urgent necessity existing of. some .means being placed perriiariently on the spot by which the danger and loss in cases of accident may haply be. materially lessened. «A coaster with only a dingy has evidently when on a bar with a heavy surf breaking, no sufficient vehicle with which to lay out the necessary anchor and warps by which she may be saved.

I would, through your columns, offer the following suggestion to the Government and public on a matter so interesting to the province :—

That on the Harbor estimates there be placed a sum to provide (to be kept under the charge of the hotelkeeper at Sumner, which charge shall be made obligatory on him in his license) an elm-built surfboat, copper-fastened, fitted with life-lines, four oars, one steer-oar, one kedge anchor, four rowlocks with chain laniards, one double-headed boat-hook, one grapnel, one patent New Bedford Manilla whale line in a tub, one drogue, and two life-buoys. A crew for this boat could always be mustered from the coasters that might at. time of accident be. at anchor within the bar, who at present have no means of either saving "the strong swimmer in his agony," or giving the most ordinary help to a vessel in trouble.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

ROBERT GREAVES.

Akaroa, July 2, 1860.