Progress In Rangiora

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 24

Progress In Rangiora

For long the headquarters of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Rangiora is a rapidly expanding residential, commercial, and industrial centre serving a wide sector of North Canterbury and even further afield.

Last year, building in the borough set a record, and the figures for this year indicate that the record is likely to be broken again. As well, considerable development has been taking place in the neighbouring areas of the Rangiora County. Further major building projects are being planned.

The district is well served with schools, secondary education being provided by the Rangiora High School, which has a school farm associated with agricultural courses. Next year a new primary school will be opened in the borough. Primary education is provided also by a Roman Catholic convent. The town has industries dating back to the early days of the settlement. Some of these grew out of the need to meet the demands of the early settlers, including flour mills, engineering works, and seed dressing plants. A clothing factory has been in the town for many years; more recently plants have

been established to produce light-weight structural beams and precast re-inforced concrete building units. Another firm has bought a site with a view of transferring its light engineering activities from Christchurch and inquiries have been received from a firm at present in Invercargill. Fork lifts and front end loaders are other units being produced in the town for distribution throughout the country. The town is the headquart-

ers for several heavy transport and earthwork contractors, one of them being among the largest in the South Island. Several commercial firms and the borough council provide off-street park facilities. Also the borough council has discussed proposals for longer term planning for the provision of off-street parking. Rangiora has most of the facilities found in larger centres, including an Olympicsize swimming pool.