RANGIORA CELEBRATES ITS JUBILEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 4

RANGIORA CELEBRATES ITS JUBILEE.

THE FIRE BRIGADE. The fire-fighting plant of the Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade is in itself an excellent exemplification of the progress of the town, which is celebrating its jubilee. Formed in 1874, its first plant consisted of two little’ engines, the gift of the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company, one of which is still in use by the Southbrook Brigade. The year following a large manual engine was provided at a cost of £240, and four years after the borough was constituted a steam fire engine was added to the plant. Finally, two years ago, the council raised a loan of £2OOO, and provided the brigade with a large Leyland motor pump and installed a street call box fire alarm system throughout the town, with a powerful electric siren, and telephones in the firemen's homes. MR WILLIAM BUSS. There can be no gainsaying the assertion that the weekly market has been the greatest factor in the progress and prosperity Rangiora has experienced, and the fact that Mr William Buss made

the market entitles him to be regarded as one of the town’s best benefactors. Mr Buss arrived in Lyttelton by the ship Roman Emperor in 1860, being then twenty years of age. Two years later he had well embarked on his auctioneering career in the young set-

tlement. The main difficulty he had to contend with for some time was finance, his principal asset being his voice. He had no banking account because he had no security to offer. However, he felt confidence in this district as a coming business centre, and working hard early and late he gradually built up an extensive business. The time soon came when the bank was willing to give him assistance, and he passed that on to his clients. Ultimately the bank people used to send the farmers to him for financial assistance and, backed by the bank, he was able to give what was asked, to the mutual benefit of all.

For forty-two years he wielded the auctioneer’s hammer and although his position was assailed time after time with rivals in the business, he held his own. Amongst his competitors was Mr \V. H. Percival, who established a quarterly fair on January 7, 1866, for the disposal of live stock and produce, something on the lines of the county lairs in England, but the venture failed to compete successfully with Mr Buss’s sales and it was abandoned before the end of the year. Mr F. M. Rickman also conducted stock sales for some time, but failed to establish himself permanently in the business. In the beginning of 1900 there was stronger rivalry with the Central Market, set up by the North Canterbury Saleyards Company, which started business in the western part of the town, but it, too, \vas only short lived. Sheep were often bought in these yards on account of Mr Buss and were immediately taken to his own yards, where they were sold at an advanced price, thus demonstrating to the farmers that the old market was the one thsft served their interests best. The end of Mr Buss's career was brought about by a breakdown in his health, and he disposed of his interests in the saleyards to the North Canter-' bury Co-operative Stores Company as from January 18, 1902. Although Mr Buss had a very busy life he found time to act as secretary and treasurer to the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association for several years, but he took very little active part in public affairs. After he retired from business he never regained good health, his death taking place in Christchurch on October 16, 1908.