PROGRESSIVE LEVIN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 18, 22 January 1916, Page 4

PROGRESSIVE LEVIN

A DISTRICT OF GROWING IMPORTANCE

Levin, of:the chief country towns situated on -the, Manawatu line, about thirty, miles south .of Palmerston North, and fifty-nine miles from the Empire Cityy-is1 »'fine example, of municipal enterprise, "iindvwrth; it 4 abundance of profitable dairying land, and as a pleasant residential centre, it is destined some ■dayite We/the envy of town's of greater proportions. It is interesting to look back ; over, a-period of twenty years and Miote'the transformation of a bush-clad flat into, an up-to-date, well regulated town, with something like twenty-four miles; of nicely-formed' and metalled streets, and all modern conveniences, including a"; high-pressure water supply capable of. providing water for a population of 15,000 people ; gas works, public baths,, free "library, numerous gardensand" reserves, and many other- facilities ■which go to make the town one of considerable- importance. It ateo goes to show, the gerierous public spirit of the ]HgßrWho for years past have.gladly given of their time to the supervision of municipal matters. ; As a holiday, resort the country around Levin is not without its attractions, and the. trout fishing to; be obtained in. the Ohaii River and "several other streams .in the .district. ..has proved a source of great pleasure to visitors. There is also the beautiful - Horowhenua -and Papaitonga. Lakes, s and the Hokio .sea;beach, where: many of the prominent local residents have, cottages and 'take up their abode during; the..summer months of, Ihe year,."and enjoy seabathing and fishing to.their-hearts' content. / The; town .and district are provided with every.:: requirement; there are' two. Post Offices, one* at Weraroa, adjacent to the railway station, a,nd the main one in the town.; All the principal, auctioneering firmshave branches here also, and sales are held every . week. In fact, Levin is becoming a very important stock sales centre for buyers from the Empire City and all the.district in between. The Government Experimental Farm of 600 acres in extent is situated within a icouple of miles of the town, while the i'oys' Training Farm, under the supervision of Major Bnrlinson, is also within cavy i distance of the town, and its importance may be gauged from the fact that there.! aje nearly always 300 lads at th\is institution. ' ' -." .-•'.•• . -' TJIE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. The Horowhenua A. and P. Association's show- is ; held annually on the racecourse adjacent to the Weraroa Railway Station, and this -year's fixture, which takes place on Wednesday of next week," will be a very important gathering. Great interest is manifested in this by the breeders-of the district, who patronise" ii in strong force, and it is Tfgoal to ,see som© of the finest displays

of sheep, cattle/horses, and pigs that could be.found at any show in the country. The entries this year are not so numerous as last year, nevertheless they are well up'to the general average, and given fine weather there is sure to be a record attendance of the public, who, no doubt, will fully appreciate the splendid programme provided by the association. The {secretary (Mr. Wallace) is a very live business man, with the true interests of the association at heart, and to him and his energetic committee is due in no small measure the great success that has attended their efforts during the past few years, and Wednesday's fixture will be no exception to the rule. THE EX-MAYOR.. Since the formation of the borough in 1906 Mr. B. R. Gardener held the position of Mayor up''till the end of November of 1915, a record of ten years' faithful services, and it can be.said that no town in the Dominion could boast of a more energetic citizen. During the period mentioned he devoted his time and thought to laake Levin the ideal place to reside in. All the public works carried out and enumerated above were done under his guidance, and the people of Levin recognise the great amount of time .and energy expended by Mr. Gardener in his efforts to advance - Levin and the distinct around it. 'Outside of borough matters Mr. Gardener held several important positions, amongst which was district representative on the Wellington . Hospital Board, ' and •' few ■persons in the Dominion are more con.versant with the hospital question than ■he.' One question' that' he fought for ■years was what lie termed the unfair; treatment to the H'orowheriua County by ibeing attached to the Wellington Hos- ] pital ' district'; insttad of.' to Palmerston 'North, and with characteristic energy he battled against 'groat odds to his retirement a few montLs ago to take up the position of Town Clerk. Mr. Gardener was also a member of the Foxton Harbour Board, and was strong in hi* advocacy of the board having complete control of the wharvus.. As a director of the -Levin Co-operative Dairy Company for many years, he did valuable service, and with other prominent men founded the Horowhenua A., and P. Association. In fact, for twonty odd years Mr. Gardener ha-s been associated with the progress of the town, and has materially assisted to build it so as to make it the most important town between Palmerston' North. and Wellington,. and in his present-day position of Town Clerk will no doubt continue to render valuable services to the town of Levin. The present Mayor and councillors are as follow :—Mayor, Mr C. Blenkhorn; Councillors, Messrs. A.. Dempsey, M. FO3--sella, Hi B. vFrance, J. Robertson, E. M. Herrick, \T. G. Vincent (Expeditionary Force), S. Jones, J. Harvey, and Dr. H. A. B. Davies. Gas manager, Mr. A. Burrell* Town clerk, Mr. B. R. Gardener.

[Published by Arrangement. ]