Market Town Flavour

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29382, 8 December 1960, Page 22

Market Town Flavour

With the trip to Christchurch being almost an adventure in the early days of North Canterbury’s development, it is little wonder that Rangiora soon became the market and business centre of the area, with regular stock sales being a feature of the town’s business and social activities.

Not only was market day the occasion for selling or buying stock and buying provisions for the family, but it was a grand social occasion as well.

For the scattered farming comjnmiity the day was an opportunity to meet in Rangiora and fxchange news and frequently there were so many travellers on the roads converging on Rangiora that they formed almost a procession. For the women, it was * chanc* to don their Sunday best while the men took pride in vying with their neighbours in the manner in which they turned out horses and gigs. Stock Markets Although stock markets in the town were discontinued in 1954, Rangiora is still essentially a market town serving as the commercial and trading centre for a ■wealthy rural district. Stock and station firms are well represented in the town, several of then having offices and the others having resident representatives. The town is also a banking centre for a wide sector of North Canterbury and two banks are represented. Indicative of the town's close relationship with the surrounding rural areas is the fact that there are several industries in the town closely allied to primary production. These include flour mills and seed dressing Arms, machinery manufacturers, and large scale transport operators, and for a town with a population of 5400 Rangiora has what at first sight appears to be the surprising number of more than 13 commercial motor garages. Parking Facilities Traditionally a trading centre for North Canterbury residents, Rangiora has been gaining popu. larity also as a shopping centre for residents from other areas, who find the town has many advantages to offer.

Foremost ••• amongst the advantages extolled by businessmen in the town are the parking facilities available close to the shopping centre. Although a 60 minute parking limit applies on the section of High street in the central area, unrestricted parking is available on nearly all the side streets but a short distance off the main thoroughfare. The provision of parking facilities does not stop there, however, for several business firms and the borough council have made off-street parking areas available within about 100 yards of the commercial centre. Access to these areas is gained tram Victoria street, Alfred street, and Percival streets.