BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 129, 15 June 1880, Page 3

BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

auctioneers’ act, 1880. The above, writes our Parliamentary correspondent, is the short title of a Bill introduced for the purpose of consolidating the variousprovincial Acts hitherto in force. It was read a second time at midinght on Wednesday evening, and stands committed for Friday, on the understanding that if necessary it will be further postponed to admit of suggested amendments being received from the Auctioneers themselves. Its provisions are these—A penalty of £ICO is provided for any person exercising the trade or profession of an auctioneer, unless duly licensed in the terms of the Act, Licenses to he issued hy the Treasurer of any County or Borough, on payment of a fee of £4O. The person applying must have his sole or principal place of business within the County or Borough for which such Treasurer is appointed. The license takes

effect on the clay of issue, and remains in force for a year from that date. Such license authorises the holder to conduct sales in any part of the Colony. Publicans are disqualified from holding a license ; also bankrupts until discharged. The hours of business are restricted between April and September to 5 p.m., or by artificial lights and during the remainder of the year to 7 o’clock. No music or riotous conduct allowed in the sale-room, under a penalty not exceeding £lO. Any person not a licensed auctioneer, having the works “auctioneer” printed or written on or above his house, window, or premises, is liable to a penalty of £2O, and not exceeding £IOO. In all parts of the Colony, outside Boroughs and Counties, the Governor may appoint persons to issue licenses.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT AMENDMENT. The above provides—Not less than tvothirds of the burgesses of any Ward of a divided Borough, or the majority of an undivided Borough, representing not less than one-sixth of the total number, may petition the Governor for severance, and miles" a counter petition by not less than one-third of the burgesses of the other Wards in a divided Borough, or one-third of the total number of burgesses in an undivided Borough, within two mouths, the Governor may, hy proclamation, sever such portion of a Ward or Borough respectively from the Borough, and annex the same to an adjacent Borough, County, or Road District with which the portion so severed forms one continuous area. Clause 10 provides for the establishment of a special fund to be kept in separate accounts. Small Boroughs may pay increased interest oil loans, not exceeding 8 per cent, where the total annual revenue does not exceed £IOOO. Machinery is also provided for raising larger loans, in place of the sums originally authorised. Inspectors of Nuisances are empowered to perforin the same duties with respect to private lands as to public places. Tho Council may declare private streets to he public, streets, and the Council may abate nuisances on private property as if it were public, and may recover the costs thereof from the owner. The Conncil may likewise require private lands to be levelled to the permanent level of the adjoining street. In addition to the powers of Councils in respect of liye-laws—(l) for regulating the sale of meat and perishable provisions ; (2) for licensing and inspecting lodging houses ; (3) for prevention of Sunday traffic ; and (4) for dealing with hedges, prohibiting the planting of furze or any other material of an inflammable nature. The Corporations may have more than or.e hank ; not liable where streets are formed to permanent levels ; may lease hy public tender ; borough rates made a preferable claim on bankrupt estates ; and hy clause 29 it is provided —section 39 of the Act is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is enacted as follows :—“ Except as provided hy the said Act, every burgess shall be entitled to vote at every election occurring in the borough, or in any Ward in which he is enrolled, hut each burgess shall have one vote and no more.” Clause 30 enacts : “ The sub-section of section two hundred and ninety-two is hereby repealed, and in lieu thereof it is enacted as follows : ‘ Where gasworks have been at any time established for the supply of gas in any borough under the authority of an Act of the General Assembly, it shall not be lawful for the Council to establish any other gasworks to supply the same locality or any part thereof until after the Council has offered to purchase the said gasworks at a price to be agreed upon, or, failing agreement, at a price to he fixed under the provisions of Part 111. of ‘ The Public Works Act, 1870,’ and tho offer thus made lias been refused by the owner or owners of the said gasworks.’ ”