Sumner's Pleasant Clime Malles Town Delightful Seaside Resort.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18946, 17 December 1929, Page 13 (Supplement)

Sumner' s Pleasant Clime Malles Town Delightful Seaside Resort.

Borough Has Much To Offer To Permanent Residents And To Visitors From City.

Surrounded on three sides by the steep and rugged Port Hills, Sumner always gives the impression of placidity. Sheltered from the stormy blasts frcm the south, the town gets all the sunshine that there is, while invigorating breezes creep in from the broad expanse of ocean. Its history goes bach to the days before the arrival of the First Four Ships. It was once a thriving seaport, but gradually, through the Vagaries of the estuary bar and the increased facilities offered at Lyttelton, the shipping trade died away and now Sumner is a pleosant, residental seaside suburb. It may be that some of this shipping trade will oe , coived. A project is vww on foot to make a small esiuary port, but whether this eventuates or not, Sumner will never lose its charm to those who visit it from the City.

Sumner has been made one of Canterbury’s most beautiful towns. The residents have built delightful homes on the steep hillsides and, aided by the salubrious climate, they have made gardens that present a blaze of colour. Amateur gardeners will realise the difficulties of making plants grow satisfactorily close to the seafront, but the Sumner people have got over this difficulty by selecting the correct kinds of flowers, the result being that the displays seen there are well worth a visit. Safe Beach.

The beach at Sumner is one that is very safe. The bottom shelves very gradually, and there is a wide expanse of sand at any state of the tide. There is an efficient surf club, as well as a regular patrol man during the summer holidays. The pool which was formed by the action of the sea last year was probably the favourite bathing locality in Cantefbury at that time, and, although it has changed greatly during the winter, it is possible that it will be largely used again this year. There are many keen yachtsmen in and around Sumner. The Christchurch Sailing and Power Boat Club has its headquarters on the estuary, while that very live institution, the Outboard Motor Club, also has its base there. At full tide, when the rather dismal sandbanks are submerged, there is no prettier sight than the dainty yachts sailing up and down this broad expanse of water. Unfortunately for the yachtsmen, there are only a few channels left open for them, this being due to the silting-up process that has gone on. However, despite this difficulty, they manage to keep alive the healthy and invigorating sport of yachting in restricted waters. Many Sports.

The advent of the private motor-car as a popular means of transport has made Sumner very popular on Sundays and holidays. _ The distance from the city, about eight miles, has been a

factor against making the trams to this suburb popular, but nowadays, thousands make frequent visits to the borough. The roadway from Christchurch is in fair order, and there is a likelihood that it will soon be considerably improved.

For the residents, the principal sports ground is St Leonard’s Square, which is under the control of the Borough Council. Here are cricket, Rugby and Soccer grounds, as well as lawns for the playing of bowls and croquet. The latter sport is a very live one in Sumner, which has turned out some of the foremost croquet players of the Dominion.

Golfers are provided for by a ninehole course on Richmond Hill, where one may get plenty of strenuous exercise in a round of the links.

Taylor’s Mistake, about three miles from Sumner, is a favourite week-end resort for city dwellers. It is now possible to reach this place by motor, although many still prefer to walk. Most of the dwellings are attached to caves in the cliffs, making the place unique among New Zealand seaside resorts. There is also a live surf club at Taylor’s Mistake, while excellent fishing is also found there. Pleasant Walks.

On the hills that surround Sumner are to be found sheep runs, and these are separated by tracks which are well known to enthusiastic pedestrians. From the many spurs and peaks that can be easily attained, some wonderful views can be obtained in clear weather. To the northwards, there is a wonderful panorama of sea and land, terminating in the snow-clad Ivaikouras. To the west can be seen the fertile plains, blending in the - haze with the brown foothills of the Southern Alps, while behind these can be seen the cloud-piercing peaks of the mountains themselves. Distances of fifty miles and more can be covered with the naked eye from these points of vantage, and on a bright, sunny day. the

various rivers and streams stand out as scintillating gems in the green and brown of the countryside. The invigorating climate and pleasant surroundings of Sumner have led to the establishment there of the special school for the education of deaf and dumb children. This institution has had a considerable amount of success, and forms an important link in the educational system of thjs Dominion. The borough also has a district high school, which provides secondary education for children in their own town. One great advantage that Sumner possesses is that sandflies and mosquitoes are practically unknown there. This is an important consideration in a seaside town, especially one which has such a warm and genial climate as has Sumner. The Lifeboat. A unique institution at Sumner is the Lifeboat Institution. In its thirtyodd years of existence it has been the instrument of saving 460 lives, a record of which any institution could be proud. The old ship Rescue has done noble work for many years, and there is also a small tender which can be used by two men. In the near future a new lifeboat of the most modern type, costing about £3OOO, will be put into service, and so make the Lifeboat Brigade even more efficient. The new boat will be fitted with an auxiliary motor which will aid it to get away quickly in calm weather. For work on the bar, where a motor would be useless, the boat is to be equipped with six oars. The lifeboatmen at Sumner are all volunteers, and many of them have risked their lives time and time again to give succour to those in distress. Many of the yachts at present on the estuary have had to seek the assistance of the boat and its crew at times, while many swimmers who hav: got out of their depth have been brought to land.