French Auctions.
The French mode of conducting .uiotions is rather curious. In sites of importance the affair is placed in the hands of a votary, who, for the time being, become* an uuctioneer. The auctioneer if? prov<ded with a number of small wax taper?, eaih c»p*.b!e of burning about five minutes. As noon svj a bid is made, ode of tbcio tapers it placed iv full view of all interested parties, and lighted. If, before it expires, another bid is offered, ifc is immediately extinguished and a fresh taper phend ia its stead, and so on until oRe flickers and dies out of itself, when the lasb bid becomes irrevocable. Thi-s simple plan prrvenfcs all contention urn ijjg rivAl bidders, aud affords & reasonable time for rtfleitiou before making a higher offer , than the one preceding. By this meaus, too, tho auctioneer is prevented from exercising undue influence upon the bidders, or hastily accepting the bid of a favourite.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18951017.2.152.6
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 49
Word Count
158French Auctions. Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 49
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