SUMNER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 24, 7 October 1887, Page 29

SUMNER.

" A chiel's araang you taking notes,

Au' faith, he'll prent it." — Burns. Summer, the Brighton of these parts, really a pretty place, situated at the Eastern extr imity of Port Hills, is distant eight miles from the City of the Plaina. It consists of a small, level, sandy bay, well surrounded with hills, aad opening towards the north. In wiith it in about a mile, and extends back about three-quarters of a mile. The number of private dwellings in the place is seventy-five, end its population is estim ited at about 300. Besides private houses there are three hotels, two of which are large and handsome buildings. There are also two schools, an asylum for the deaf and dumb, and a church. Many oC the private residences are beautiful and commodious. A few are shaded with blue gums, but, for the most part, they are well surrounded with, pine trees, which latter seem to flourish well. Some low hills, or mouads, have been selected for building site 3, and most of ttn houses are ne^r the bsach— further back ara paddocks, aud residences become more scattered. Invalids, convalescents, besides others requiring sea-air, or wishing to bathe, to ramble over hill and rocks, and for a short time to enjoy themselves in various ways, usually do not remain long in the place. But among the rest there are many persons living at Sumner vjho are engaged with some business in the city, but who prefer residing in a quiet place, and where the air is fresh and untainted. Prom the presence of the sea aud the shelter of the hills the climate in Samner is more mild than in town. These reasons render the price of land there high. Even in the present depressed times a quarter acre seotion could not be obtained for less than £400.

On the beach is a number of bathing-vans— even donkeys can be procured by visitors who enjoy riding on these animals. At the east end of the beach are large and splendidly arrtinged bathing sheds, in front of which a portion of the sea and a space of the beach hare enclosed Within this enclosure — which is about an acre and a half in extent— persons may indulge in a famous swim without fear of drowning or of sharks.

Almost the first object of interest seen on entering Sumner is a large volcanic rock, situate partly on the beach and partly in the sea T'lis mere shell of a rock is called Sumner Cave, because a passage extends through it. On thia rock, aud upon others near, groups of girls and children are frequently seen reading or watching the " creeping curlers come up and o'er the sands," or fishing with hook and line. Near the cave is the bar— the place where the estuary ends, and its waters are obstructed by the surf. The road leading to Sumner winds for two miles along the sides of the hills. It is skirted for the most part of the way by the sea, a few feet below. As, in some places, the rocks above the road are very broken and craggy, and rise, in many parts, to tha h i^ht of 300 ft., it is considered somewhat dangerous. A horse in a vehicle shying, or taking a notion to go backwards, would soon precipitate the conveyance over the edge of the road into the set, or into the estuary. Accidents, however, seldom happea, ani avery day scores of vehicles pass along the road. But from the fact thut portions of the rock have fallen down, and that not very long since a serious coach accident occurred, it is said that many ladies in Chrißtchurch can never be induced to favour Sumner with a visit.

Along the road, about a mile and three quarters from Sumner, if situated the famous cavern known as Moa Point Cave. This care was explored by the late Dr. Von Haast in 1872. A quantity of moa and other bones, stone-axes, and utensils of various kinds were diicovered, which are now in the Canterbury musnum. Aocording to Von Haast, the cave is a pre-existing hollow in a stream of lava, subsequeutly enlarged by the action of the sea— in other words, in tha first installed an air bubble in a mass of liquid flowing matter. It consists of three compartments, running nearly due north and south, and almost in a straight linn from the entrance. Ihe first cave is by far the largest, and is 102 ft. long, 72ft. broad towards the middle, and about 24ft. high. At the entrance there is a large block of stone which seems to have fallen from the roof, which is arched and in some places extremely rugged, and the stone is very dark coloured. Deponent and three more, who were in the care recently after dark and examined it with ihe aid of a lamp, considered that if it wag properly lit up and « floor paced in it, then it would form an excellent place in which to hold a ball or party. At one end was a quantity of abhea, and lately for about :* month smoke has been issuing from tha entrance. As, for many years, the cave has been used for a cowshed — a man now living near ÜB»'.d to place 12 cows in it on wintery nighta — a greai amount of rubbish had accumulated, and someone must have set thid on tire. Indeed, for a very long time the outer cave baa been made into a general camping place : to prevent which its entrance has been closed up with boards, and the small doorway through these is constantly locked. The inner cave is 18ft. long, 14ft. wide, and about 10ft. high. A small passige, 2ft. high, connects this with the third cave, along which passage we crawled. The third cava is 22ft. by lGlt., and its aye-age height is 20ft. The floors in all are peifectly dry, and covered with a dark coloured sand, in which thera are hmall panicles of quartz or quartz-hke stone. These particles shine exceedingly when seeu in the night. Opposite the cave there i 9 a level tract of land, rough and unfit for cultivation, about 50 acres in extent, upon which close to tbe banks of the estuary, there is a group of small houses. These humble dwellings are principally occupied by fishermen. Herrings and flounders are the kinds of fish usually captured. In winter, after a night very sev rely cold, frostfish are frequently found stranded on the beach.

Amußing anecdotes are coming in about the Jubilee celebration. A lady who had goi a ticket for the Abbey met a fiiend who had Jailed to get one, but who did like the Fox in the F;ible, for she said she* woulu not, on any account, onter tho Abbey, even if Bhe were given a ticket ; for, bha added, " you are sure to bt- dynamited I" •' There is nothing I bhould like better," answeied the former, <( I always had an ambition to be buried in W stminster Abbey, and thia Beems to be the only chance I ever shall get to have 1117 wieh,"