The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1906. THE HAMILTON MARKET.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8080, 17 December 1906, Page 2

The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1906. THE HAMILTON MARKET.

Il is extiemely satisfactory to learu that the local auctioneers arc so confident nf the stability ami the possibilities of the Hamilton stock markers that they 11a\ l- decided tu in-.-•t it ute, wit • i the new year, regular weekly sales. l'he \\ aikuto lias lor nuuiv years pro\ided one ol the m>itinlest market* uf the euluiiy. and as the country becomes mole closelv settled, improved roading facilities are provided, and railways extended, the local market must increase in importance. It is the dream of many that some day the market of the Waikato will be the principal market of New Zealand. The principal market of the North Island it is destined very shortly to become. Here, as anywhere else, tin- extension of markets bevond the district iscoutniL'i'iil upon tlic extension and improvement of theratlwa\ system, ami for tltis reason, with the completion of the .Mam Trunk Line, we ma;, look for a groat accession ol Inn iuess, not only in the live stock markets, but m other hraliehe.- ol commerce a; well When the \ a.- ' trie ' ■ ol couutiy as yet impellectly ,-ettled are brought tinder the plough, the produce won Inou thein, and the stock they can bring to such perfection, will naturally be sent for disposal to the nearest and the best market,. That must lie found in the Waikato, and where else in the Waikato but at Hamilton ? The commendable enterprise of the ratepayers in establishing municipal salcyards will be amply rewarded bv incensed business, and the-e is no need to fear that the. experiment will be a complete success from every point of view. EUmiitoa will be

equipped with the most convenient yards in 11 it> district, perhaps in the 1 Province. The establishment by the Corporal ion of saleyards is au in- j teresting development in municipal socialism, and one we believe that has not been embarked upon in other parts j of the colony, where such institutions are usually controlled by the j auctioneers usiug them, or by com- ; panics. The profits accruing from j saleyards tire large, where sales are frequently held, and Hamilton should [ reap a rich return on the outlay in- j volved. The departure of conduct- | ing weekly sales will be watched for a while with interest, but the step has been well considered,and there is no reason to fear that the innovation will not be met with the success it merits. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS. Tin: latest returns from the Commonwealth, which we publish in another column, leave the position more clearly defined. The Socialists seem to have secured a large augmentation of votes in several districts, but the decisive victory they were expected to achieve does not so Jar seem likely to come to pass. The political leaders are practically all safe. An important feature of the election in \ ictoria is the defeat of .Mr .McLean, who was a member of Mr Ueid's last Cabinet. Neat ly all the anti-Socialists of Victoria were followers of Mr McLean, 'whose defeat, as one of Saturday's cables said, heightens the interest in the situation. The polling does not appear to have been particularly heavy, but this is accounted for by the fact that in the face of strong protest, election day was lixud in the midst of the harvest season, when a number of country electors could only record their votes at the cost of extreme inconvenience. The light polling, therefore, is not altogether

due to lack of interest in affairs of State. When the linal results are posted, some important changes are looked for. and it seems probable that a period of political disquiet is in store for the Commonwealth.