PROGRESSIVE LEVIN

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 23, 26 January 1918, Page 14

PROGRESSIVE LEVIN

Levin is the chief town between Wellington and Palmerston North, and is situated on the Manawatu railway line, 59. miles from Wellington and 29 from Palmerston North. It was farmed into a borough in 1906, Mr. B. R, Gardner (now Town Clerk) being elected its first Mayor, a position he held for ten terms. On his retirement Mr. Charles Blenkhom was elected to the position, and was re-elected for a further term at the last elections. The population of the borough is estimated at 1700, and. the area is 1350 acres. HThe capital value of the borough is some £300,000. The business premises and dwellings number 600, and many of the shops and stocks would do credit to the Empire City. ■ The Horowhenua and Papaitonga Lakes are within easy reach of tho town, and possess scenic beauties besides historic associations, and good boating, fishing, and shooting are to be obtained throughout the district. In the neighbourhood of the town are thousands of acres of first-class dairying land and sheep country. The climate is bracing .without being severe, and there is an equable rainfall. The ■ industries supporting the -town, are 'dairying, sheep farming, and agriculture. The prosperity of the town is due to the energetic manner in which the public men have looked' after its interests.' ' Few towns have made tho rapid progress in which Levin has made, it being'only" a'little over twenty, years'since the site on which the town-now stands was dense bush, and which has been transformed into handsome business premises and residences. DAIRYING DISTRICT. This important industry is a big factor in the progress of the' town, and thousands of acres are devoted for the purpose of milking. The well-known Levin Cooperative Dairy Company has been established for many years, and its main, factory is erected on the borders of the borough. Tlie suppliers number two hundred, and the amount distributed last year was about £40,000. To show the rapid strides in which the dairying industry has made • during the last 16 years, it may be mentioned that dairy cattle have' increased throughout the district from 3000 to 10,000. CLOSER SETTLEMENT. During the last seven years the Government has purchased two blocks of land for closer settlement, and many other .properties have sold for the same purpose, prices realising ac high as £50 per ■acre, which eJiows the quality of the land. ,There'still remains fully 30,000 acres within a radius of six miles of the town that should and must be utilised for dairy farming. The' capital value of these lands run into at least £400,000, and when this large area of country is .utilised for closer settlement it will prove a great advantage to the town of Levin, and will mean 250 more farmers added to this locality. i It may be mentioned to show the 'progress in regard to the land value in the Horowhenua County during the last twenty years (the..local body governing the land outside of the borough) that the capital value has increased from £1,000,000 up to £4,000,000. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The public buildings consist of two post offices, courthouse, and railway station, borough,and county, offices, public library, 1 public school (at which 600 children attend), six churches. STOCK SALES. Large and commodious stock sale yards are erected in the borough, and three of the largest auctioneering firms in the Dominion hold weekly sales. The Levin sales are looked upon as the most important and largest along the coast. .: PUBLIC WORKS, ". The following municipal enterprises ;naVe been carried out successfully by ■the council since the' formation of. the -borough in 1906. WATERWORKS. . '■■ The- cost of these works was £26,000, and the supply 'is obtained from the Ohau River, distance some seven miles from Levin. The water is of splendid quality, and the supply is practically unlimited, pressure 1201b. The income derived from the undertaking for the year ending 31st March amounts to £1713, made up as follows: Rates £1022, outside supply and other sources £420, 'connections £104, power £167. • GASWORKS. '. The cost of this undertaking ran into '£10,000, and. tho borough has no regret for its establishment.. Since the installation of the works in 1909 steady progress has been made. The first year the make of gas amounted to about two million feet. For the year ended 31st March, 1917, over seven million feet were manufactured. The whole of the interest and sinking fund of the amount borrowed has .been paid from revenue, the ratepayers not being'called upon to foot the bill. Leivin is one of the few gasworks in the Dominion 'that has not increased the price of gas, in spite of the rise of over 25. per. cent, in the cost of coal during the past twelve months. It may bo mentioned that the works are in the able and capable management of Mr. Arthur Burrell, to whom a great measure of the success of the undertaking is due.,

ITS STEADY AND SOLID DEVELOPMENT

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. The building cost over £1500, the gift of Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Both the reading-room and the lending department are open daily from 10.30 a.m. till 9 p.m. There are 520 borrowers of books, and no charge is made-. The upkeep costs the borough some £200 per annum. The library contains about 9000 volumes of all classes of books. SWIMMING BATHS. A subsidy of £250 was obtained from the Government during the Coronation Year, and the balance, £350, was provided from general rates, bringing the total coat to- £600. The dimensions of the baths are 75ft by 40ft. They ara ■well patronised and greatly appreciated by the public. MUNICIPAL RESERVES. The borough owns two gravel reserves, containing over thirteen acres of land. Nineteen town lots are vested in the council, and at present bring in an in- • come of about £50 per annum. The borough has also a very valuable municipal reserve situated in the businesspart of the borough, and the portion already leased brings in annual rentals of £550. i BECREATION RESERVES. Few ' boroughs ara so well supplied with ' reserves as the Levin town. Situated inside the borough are two, one containing eleven 1 acres, and the other three and one-half acres. Both are used for all kind of sports. Independent of those mentioned, there are three others: 1. The Lake Domain, containing 13 acres, and also the beautiful Horowhenua Lake, with its 950 acres of water. 2. The Levin Domain, containing _42 acres, and on. this the board is making preparations for municipal golf links. 3. Last, but not least, a beautiful piece of native. bush, of 20 acres, which is called the. Scenic Reserve. All these -reserves are -more or less under the control of the members of the Borough Council, which.. body are using their best endeavour to beautify the several reserves mentioned. PUBLIC: GARDENS. A very pretty spot is the Gardens. Although the area is only., about two acres, they are very attractive, and are well kept, and are visited by a, large number of persons. 'FINANCE. Levin is one of the few boroughs in the Dominion which are free from overdrafts. At the' end of the last financial year, it finished up with credits of £76 10s 9d in the General Account, £1169 in the Water Account, and £597 in the Gas Department, making a total credit of £1888 for the year. The total income from all sources last year amounted to no less than £8500. LOANS. The amount due on money borrowed for Public Works on the 31st March, 1917, amounted to £38,463, which sum is repayable by instalments each year. It is anticipated that the whole of the amcunt mentioned will have been repaid in less than 25 years from date! GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS. In the neighbourhood of' Levin ther* are situated two important Government institutions, viz., the Central Development Farm and the Boys' Training Farm. .-'■'. CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT FARM. The farm contains some 800 acres of the best land in. the Dominion, and within five minutes' drive of the Levin Railway Station, and contains 2~0 acres of orchard and gardens, and the best inilking-shed , in the Dominion. The quality of the land -is proved beyond all dispute, and will compare with the E?st in the Dominion.. It has produced 80 tons of mangels and maize to the acre, and 87 tons of turnips. At tho present time many officers from the Agricultural Department have been transferred to the farm, and students from all parts of the Dominion are being educated and devoting' their time to the study" of agriculture. During the last twelve months new buildings have been erected, and the necessity of these proves the usefulness of the institution. BOYS' TRAINING FARM. This institution is situated within two miles of the Levin Railway Station, and contains 600 acres of firat-class land. A large number of youths are receiving an agricultural training, independent of other instructions. This farm is supplied with the high pressure water supply from the borough. One cannot speak too highly of the good an institution of this kind is doing. GENERAL. In conclusion fit might, be stated that many columns could be devoted to the advantages, progress, and beauty spots in and around Levin. Without doubt the town has been established on solid foundations, and nothing can keep its progress back. Surrounded by magnificent dairy country, its splendid climate, and its close proximity to the Empire City, are sure to assist greatly in its future welfare. Its productiveness is shown by its many municipal enterprises, and the soundness of the finances in connection with the different schemes.

The splendid business premises in the town, and the energetic manner in which the business community conduct their several businesses, make 1 Levin the purchasing centre for residents throughout the Manawatu district.