PROGRESSIVE LEVIN. GROWTH OF HOROWHENUA'S CAPITAL. "A MODEL OF THE COUNTY TOWN." THE ANNUAL SHOW. ENTRIES INCREASE FROM 250 TO 500.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 25, 31 January 1911, Page 10

PROGRESSIVE LEVIN. GROWTH OF HOROWHENUA'S CAPITAL. "A MODEL OF THE COUNTY TOWN." THE ANNUAL SHOW. ENTRIES INCREASE FROM 250 TO 500.

[fbom otjb sh "" Between .'Wollinßton and Palmcrston \ North, there is one town on the Mana- "■ watu line thai- jinpsossos- the. observer V above all others" "This is Levin, a sort '" of half-way house on the railway, and ~ the centre of the rich and flourishing "' district of Horowhenua. Backed by the : great masses of the bush-dad Tararua .: Ranges, and facing the sea, it has a " beautiful situation naturally. The eingu«lar energy and local patriotism of the .'< citizens of Levin have made the best of Hhe natural advantages, and to-day •" Levin, with its gas and water supply, . itands as a model of the county town. J ITS ORIGIN AND GROWTH. '- The town of Levin received its name .from the late Mr. W. H. Levin, who .. was .at that time one of the directors of {the Manawatu Railway Company. Few "• towns in the Dominion have made such - rapid progress. Twenty years ago one * may say thatT the township was nothing •more-than a- mass of- bush, with- hardly -' a street formed, ana 1 , at the ' outside *; estimate, np.t nijpre than^a dozen build- " ings erected: Compare the position at -that time with to-day, and wo find that "theft are at least 500 buildings, and " f manv more are to follow. Some of the ■^structures of recent date are public T buildings, including two post offices, one at the south end and one in the centre of the town. The public school accommodates between 500 and 600 chil- '" dren, and to this inetitution is attached ."a fine secondary department. Other * public buildings are the_ courthouse, ~ training farm establishment, and two banks. ~ ''thj.shjef magistrate. Z In "BOS the" town was formed into a -borough, and Mr. B. R. Gardener was "elected to the mayoralty, a position * "which he has occupied ever since. It ;ivas a fitting recognition of the splendid 2work done by him for the town, •as from "•the commencement^ jii his > career in — some twenty years ago — he has placed his best services at. the disposal 2of the residents, ' and with whole--heartedness has been unremitting in his Efforts I ta- push- the,- "town along. His vfill'long be remembered in con--nection with Levin's progress. H THE BOROUGH WATER - _ WORKS. . •; , •, " Since* the " formation of the borough progressive works have been untHertaken, amongst these being a highpressure water service. In carrying 'out 4his scheme a loan of £24,000 had to be -raised. The water is brought from the Dhau River, , a , distance «of eight miles. necessary lands, had •to be purchased *for the watershed, and Levin 3sow has «ne of the^Sest- supplies in the 3)ominiorir one "sufficient" for 10,000 "per30ns. ~_ ~ MUNICIPAL GASWORKS. 'gas.v«sCs waT^ribther 'undertaking that cnt^e3Tthe*'councirs attention. It has jjgw' been? about eighteen month's. The" cost was"£10,000. The enterprise has_ proved not only a great public convenience, but also a thorough financial success t6 the borough." The works', are -under -the capablo management of Mr. Shaw. ..The gas manufactured for the last twelve .months amounted to -nearly 4,000,000-leet. The streets are lit in a manner that does considerable credit to those responsible for the administration of the town. PUBLIC .LIBRARY. A public librarjris about to be erected ftt'acost of- £1500, and this institution will no' doubt be highly appreciated by . the, people. Other matters that are engaging the attention of the council are the erection of abattoirs' and swimming .baths, j The area of the borough is about 1250 ' seres, the capital valuo of which two years ago was £250,000. Municipal: leases "are destined to prove a- very- valuable- asset to the borough in the near "future. The land is -situated in # 'the centre of. "the business* portion of the town, and sold by public auction a few weeks ago brought 33s per foot. 1 -THE HOROWHENUA LAKE. ~A picturesque spot, situated about one arid a Ealf miles from Levin, is tho b6autif«l.".HorowJienua lake, which is a source of great attraction to the visitor, and a splendid asset to the town. A number of boats, yachts, and motor launches ply on the lake, which is 'about three miles longhand one mile across. It is hoped that* before long these- waters will -be opened for fishing, as there are known to be large quantities of trout, but' owing fo native fishing rights little can be done in the interests of the white angler at present. THE BOYS' TRAINING FARM. Situated about three miles from Levin is the Weraroa Boys' Training Farm. There are at the present-time some 170 lads receiving training there. This institution is under the management of Mr. J. M. Burlinson, who does his utmost to encourage his young charges both at work and play. The institu-

ECIAL KEPOETEB.I tion possesses a very good brass band, which meets with high praise when it appears in public. THE EXPERIMENTAL. FARM. The State farm at Weraroa contains some 800 acres. It is visited from time to time by large numbers of farmers in quest of new methods of cultivation. The farm is situated on thei outskirts- of the borough, and possesses some of the bessb land m the district. Mr. Jas. Drysdale, the farm manager, is . always anxious to make any necessary explanation to the visitors. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. It is to the dairy industry that Levin owes a great deal of its prosperity.^ Some twelve years ago the Co-operative Dairy Company built a butter factory, and later a cheese factory. Mr. James Prouse is the chairman of directors, a position he has held for several years past with credit to himself, and profit to the company. His general knowledge of the industry and his business ability ' are two important factors in the welfare of the company. Some idea of the value such an industry is to a town may *be gauged from the fact that over £20.0C0 is paid out annually to suppliers io Levin, and the great development- that has taken place in the dairying industry of recent years has natulally increased considerably the land values. Some of the farm properties, which are to-day changing hands in and around Levin at from £30 to £40 per acre,- were dragging in the property market sixteen years ago at £6 and £7 per acre. There is to-day an ever increasing demand for farms in the Horowhenua of about ss> acres in extent, and pressure is being brought to bear on the Government to acquire some o! the surrounding large holdings for closer settlement. Should this agitation prove successful the district would be immensely benefited. PROSPECTING THE RANGES. A prospecting association has lately been formed in the district. Four hundred shares at £1 each were quickly taken up by the public, and, with Government assistance, it is hoped that parties of prospectors will soon start work. It is generally believed that gold and other minerals can be found, but whether Levin will ever become ah El Dorado is another matter. HOBOWHENUA A. AND P. SHOW. Amongst the many progressive move- j ments started in Levin few have proved more successful than the A. and P. Show. The chow was established in 1907, and at once it became a strong combination. One and all have used their influence to make the qhow the .success it ( has proved. The show is always held on the Levin racecourse, ' "which is splendidly situated both from a public attendance point of view, and for tfif* display of stock. A good ring has been made in front of the stand, and the grounds present a striking picture to the visi.tor. The association caters only for horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep, and finds that with one day no time has to be wasted, in. getting through the necessary judging and competitions. PIGS AND CATTLE. The pig class last year was one of the . most striking exhibits at the show. It can " safely be said that no better or more "valuable lot of animals has ever been seen at any show in the Dominion. There were no fewer than 80 entries. The first show held had a total of 250 entries in all classes. The number had increased to 450 lajt year, and to-mor-row's show will be the record in point of numbers. There are 500 entries iv •all, classes. The association is' doing its best to encourage the breeding of good sound cattle, and for this reason purebred classes were added to the schedule this year. Keen competition 'is taking place among the- farmers in connection with the dairy classes, and as the cows have to be milked on the ground before the judging takes place, a busy time may be expected. The sheep classes have filled exceedingly well. There is a total of 60 entries in these classes, while 120 new pens have had to be erected for the_ accommodation of other stock. Competitions are always a special feature of the Levin shuw,- and this year is no exception to the rule. There are 13 competitions to interest the public. This includes four jumping events. THE PRESIDENT. Mr. John Kebbell, the well-known Ohau settler, fias occupied the presidential chair for the past three years. Ho has an excellent committee of 40 members, elected from all parts of the district, to assist him in making the show in every way successful. One of the most interesting exhibits at to-mor-row's show will be that embracing both stock and, produce, to be made by the Government Experimental Farm. Visitors will find amplo to interest them to-morrow, for the committee intends to spare mo effort in making them feel at home. The pecplo of Levin district deserve to be cong 'atulated on the advance made during the last few years.

Mr. N. C. Holdaway, proprietor of the above premises, is recognised an «m expert tradesman, and visitois 10 fio Show tn-inonov \>ill ha\e ,<n oppoitunity of inspecting some \eiy fine work in th.' coi'chbuildins; line carried out by him From an inspection of the ps onuses during the pingioss of vehicle eoiistmction and painting, it is readily undeistood why Hold.iway's tiaps and other con\eyances meet with such ready sale. The amount n f detail put into each 10b would astonish the average individual, and the les^dents of the Horovhenua district are to be- congratulated -ou having a thoroughly competent tradesman in their midst. For strength, lightness of draft, and finish, Holdaway cannot be i\iproached. The -great number of orders he receives from distant parts of tfhe district is a convincing proof that his work is good and reliable. An insgectwa of it on the grounds to-morrow is invited.