(a) The duties of the clerk shall be as assigned by the chief magistrate.

(b) The authority of the clerk of magistrate court shall include the power:

(1) To administer oaths and take affidavits in all cases permitted by law or where such authority is not confined to some other officer;

(2) To receive the amounts of all costs due in the court of which he is clerk and to receive other sums whenever required to do so by law or by order of the judge, and not otherwise; and

(3) To advertise under the same rules and restrictions as apply to sheriffs.