MOCK AUCTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2463, 27 February 1882, Page 3

MOCK AUCTIONS.

To the Editor of the Qlole. Sir,—Knowing that your columns are at all times open to the suppression of abnße, I wish to draw public attention to one that is now rampant in Chrlstohuroh, bat before doing so I would put your readers in mind, although some time has elapsed since through the columns of the Globe you denounced the usage of luncheons at olty auction sales where malt liquors were mod, whereby people are falsely stimulated to buy goods at more than their value, and often times articles they do not require. But, sir, another evil has sprung up in our midst to gull an unsuspecting public Some unprincipled auctioneers in Ohristchurch have a habit of advertising goods under distraint for rent or bill of sale, when such is not the case, and where the fraud comes in People go to those sales, believing that the goods are for positive sale. The goods, to all appearance, are sold, but the portion that does not btirg its value Is knocked down to some of the auctioneer's followers, of which they have many. Well, Sir, disease of any description requires a remedy. _My prescription to eradicate the growing mischief would be to force the bailiff to do his duty by reading the document that brings goods under the hammer ; then, in the absence of a bailiff, the pabllo would know the goods were not from under the hands of the Court. In Wellington, Auckland, end Danedin, the bailiff or auctioneer reads before the sale commences the document which brings goods under the hammer. The law enacts that such Bhould be tho oase, and why Is it not carried out in Chrlstchurch ? Yours, &c , aN EX-AUCTIONEER.