Sumner.

he pleasant and picturesque watering place of Sumner, one of the two seaside resorts (New Brighton being the other), of the citizens of Christchurch, is situate eight miles from the city, in a valley between two long spurs of the Port Hills. It is connected with the town by one of the Christchurch Tramway Company's lines, on which cars run at intervals of about an hour. Sumner presents to visitors an agreeable variety of hill-side and sea-beach, with a "special attraction" in the form of the Cave Rock (shown in the centre of the illustration on another page). This rock, with its natural tunnel and its numerous sheltered nooks, is a favourite resort and lounge for those who visit Sumner in search of health, rest, or recreation. There are three hotels in the township. Sumner was a few years ago created a borough; and the burgesses have, with commendable enterprise, successfully carried out a water supply scheme, the water being obtained from artesian wells sunk on Fisherman's Flat, about three miles from the borough. A public institution of great interest, the Asylum for Deaf Mutes, is situated at this watering place. Illustration No. 14 by the Christchurch Photo-Engraving Coy., see page 50.