NUMBERING THE HOUSES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1201, 9 January 1878, Page 3

NUMBERING THE HOUSES.

To the Editor of the t-Hohe. Sib,—lt would be a matter of satisfaction to several of the citizens, not in the secret, if they were made aware by what authority the sum of half a crown is demanded from them as the price of a number for their house — the actual cost of numbering being about threepence. Some are under the impression that, it is done by authority of the City Council. Others assert that it is merely a scheme of a private speculator. Altogether it is considered to be a very unsatisfactory proceeding. It the numbering of the houses is not being effected by, or under, authority from the City Council —part of whose work it surely is—what guarantee have the citizens that even, after having paid their half-crowns, the number they receive is a correct one, or that it will be recognised as such by the municipal authorities ; that the numbering of the city will be completed ; or that, supposing it to be incorrectly numbered, that the City Council will not eventually take it into their own hands and levy a rate for the purpose, so that it will cause a double payment to be made for the one object ? A rate (manifestly the fairest way) of oneeighth of a penny in the pound, would furnish about one hundred pounds, a sum more than sufficient for numbering the houses. By the present system the citizens will be called upon to pay more than four times that amount, besides pressing unfairly upon individuals; thus, a house assessed at £24 pays precisely the same amount as one assessed at £240. Again, owners of vacant lots in the city will reap all the advantages to be derived from numbering the houses, without in any way contributing to the expense : this must bo so patent, even to the meanest capacity, that if the City Couuncil really have the interests of the citizens at heart they will strike a rate, and save their constituents two or three hundred pounds, besides giving them the satisfaction of knowing that the numbering will bo done officially, correctly, and systematically, and that they are only paying their just individual share of the expenses.

Yours, &0., PRO BONO PUBLICO.