GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14393, 7 January 1911, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS.

AUCTIONEERS' LjGENSES. '4n interesting question in regard, to auctioneers' licenses came up *t yesterday's meeting of Mackenzie County Council. The chairman ca;d that under the old Act it was "»he «;rsfcomi of the auctioneers to take cut their licenses in Timaru, as the c a ttro of South Canterbury, for it was provided that these should be taken out where the headquarters of the companies -were. For .some years there ii-d been an. agitation to have this a'tr-n-d, and in reading 4 'Hansard" he Lud tcticed that some amendment had 1 een carried, and now it was competent for the auctioneers to take out tneir licenses wherever they liked. He had vritten to the "Stock Auctioneers' ,As- coi ciation" suggesting that the Mackenzie Council was at least entitled to two licenses of £4O each, considering the business done within its boundaries. A reoly had heen received from the Association suggesting a conference of representatives of local bodies on zhe ~rbject. so as to get an equitable sion of the fees. The lioensfs for the present year had heen all'taken out. with a few exceptions. He bad in the Timaru "Herald" that the amendment came into force on ternary Ist. There were 13 stock air■*»*!»eers in Timaru. and the Borough C<*i'nc»l there derived a large revenue from this source, even though most of tb'-* business was done outside the i -wn limit. Tt was decided to writs further to the Stock Auctioneers' Association, agreeing to a conference, but s:i2"i'*stine that that bodv would be m the best position to allocate the fees. COURT RETURNS. The Timaru Court returns for the quarter ending December 31st, are as follows: CIVIL BUSTXFRS. Amount sued for. £IO9O 19s 4d. Amount recovered. £77S 18s lOd. -Applications heard, 4. Orders made. 4. . Plaints entered. 176. Distress Warrants. 10. Orders on Judgment summonses. 2 Summonses served -within 2 miles, 153. Do. over 2 miles. 23. Civil fees paid in stamps, £35 ISs. licensing fees. £4 10s,

CRIMINAL BUSINESS. Persons taken into custody, 175 males and 12 females. Discharged for want of evidence, 15 males and 1 feiuale. Dismissed on the merits—l 4 irwles and 3 females. Committed for trial or sontence, 2. . Summarily convicted, 141 males and 8 females. • Fine 3 imposed on S4 males and 4 females. Imprisonment in lieu of fine, •■>. < Orders made (including prohibition orders), -3. . Convicted and discharged with a caution, 2j. _ Criminal fees paid in stamps, s. I os. Finos, £36 10s. 1 OLD AGE PENSIONS. _ Number of pensions granted, 14. Refusod nil. Pending 8.