STREET NUMBERING.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2538, 27 May 1882, Page 3

STREET NUMBERING.

To the Editor of the Globe.

Sib, —It is scarcely, I think, to be anticipated that any very serious opposition will be made by the Sydenham fathers to having this very desirable and necessary work proceeded with, but in view of the difficulty which that public benefactor, Mr Tait, has apparently experienced in obtaining authority from the City Council to number the Christohurch streets, perhaps a concise narrative of the experiences of a visitor to the Exhibition in search of bis lodgings may act as a gentle stimulant to the sluggish powers of reasoning possessed by men holding similar views to those expressed by Mr Vincent during the recent debate in the City Council. The Danedin exp ess, by which I had been travelling, arrived at about a quarter past eight in the evening, after a journey of some twelve hours, during the greater part of whioh it had been raining heavily. Although generally of a comparatively serene and philosophical temperament, I confess that the trip had not in any special degree conduced to an amiable frame of mind. I was hungry, and —well for the matter of that—thirsty. I had an inward feeling that a grilled steak, or, perhaps a cutlet, would not be altogether inappropriate to the occasion, and I found myself mechanically speculating aB to the. probabilities of my prospective landlady residing in auoh a locality that a comfortable refreshment in the direction of mulled beer might be among the possibilities as an accompaniment to the more substantial portion of the repast. These, perhaps excusable, reflections were abruptly interrupted by the cabby, into whose vehicle I had by this time become ensconsed, enquiring my intended destination. I said, " Mrs Robinson, Colombo street, Sydenham," and fondly imagining that I should shortly find myself under the hospitable roof of that good lady, I relapsed into an attitude of repose on the soft cushions of the cab, and permitted my thoughts to wander among visions of the delicacies whioh were now pictured to my expeotant mind, yielding to the influence of an equally expectant digestion in the form of enchanting realities. At this point I was recalled to the stern position of affairs by the voice of Jehu descending from the rear of the conveyance, and inquiring in a voice of husky embarrassment to whioh particular Mrs Robinson I desired to be delivered. The question was a poser. I was not personally acquainted with any Mrs Robinson, and I had never been in Colombo street in my life. As the possibility of there being a variety of Mrs Robinsons collected in this particular thoroughfare presented itself to my mind—whioh it did with insinuating clearness —my position appeared confusing in the extreme. I revealed my situation to the cabman, whose acquaintance among the great Robinson family was so extensive as to become positively bewildering. He wsb familiar with Mrs Robinson, who sold newspapers ; Mrs Robinson, who kept the sixpenny restaurant; Mrs Robinson, the corsetmaker and straw hat cleaner ; Mrs Robinson, whose husband had recently bolted; and Mrs Robinson who lived near the crossing. I suggested that perhaps in these excruciating circumstances he had better call on the ladies in the order in which their respective residences ocourred. fThis he ionsidored an inspiration of peculiar brilliancy, and at once proceeded to carry it into effect. We soon arrived at the newspaper establishment, but the indications were not encouraging. The premises were not of sufficient magnitude to permit of the swinging of the proverbial cat, let alone the accommodation of a six foot lodger, so we passed on to those of the the corset maker and straw hat renovater. The apartments devoted to this industry did not appear calculated to afford that retirement from the world for which those of the lady of whom I was in search had been described as remarkable, and for which I had expressly stipulated. We determined, therefore, to push on to the residence of the lady with the fugitive husband, purposely avoiding the inexpensive restaurant as an institution for which I entertained an especial aversion. This proved to be a two-storey house, with some indications of internal comfort, and I approached the door with reviving hopes. The gentle summons prod uced by my knuckles, in the absence of a knecker, was responded to with an abruptness which proved that the deserted mistress had probably, in anticipation of her penitent lord's possible return, taken up a position behind the door on the approach of the cab with the object of getting at him with as little delay as possible. On explaining the object of my visit I was again doomed to disappointment. The good lady, evidently smarting under a painful sense of disappointment, deolared with great asperity that "she never took no dirty lodgers," and with a withering glance of scorn incontinently slammed the door in my face. Ire entered the cab with feolingß of considerable sympathy for the departed husband, and mournfully desired the cabman to drive to the Mrs Robinson's who lived near the crossing. This he did, and at last we were successful, but the journey had occupied over half an hour, instead of about three or four minutes, which would have been the case had the streets been properly numbered. The intelligent cabman demanded four shillings instead of one, and the delicacies prepared br Mrs Robinson for my refection were cold. What wonder, then, that I am an ardent advocate for street numbering ? Yours, &.}., 11. B. O.