Levin’s Mayor Has Eightieth Birthday

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 5, 7 January 1937, Page 6

Levin’s Mayor Has Eightieth Birthday

MR. GOLDSMITH’S RECORD. (Special to “Times.”) LEVIN, Last Nig lit. To-day Levin's lirst and most 1 esteemed citizen, his Worship the Mayor, Mr. P. W. Goldsmith, is celebrating his eightieth birthday and the entire community will join in congratulating him and at the same time expressing the hope that he may live many more years m the town on whose behalf he has rendered a very active and widespread public service. Mr. Goldsmith was born in Norfolk, England, and came to New Zealand in 1880, lauding at Canterbury where he remained until 1891. lie later resided at Gisborne and 37 years ago came to Levin, accompanied by Mrs. Goldsmith, to take up the position of secretary to the Government Experimental Karin at Wcraroa, an ollice he he'd for live years. Mr. Goldsmith early took en interest in the welfare of the town and presided at the lirst meeting ol citizens in 1990 when the town board was formed into a borough. He was appointed lirst town clerk, which was then only part-time work, but he carried out the duties for ten years and then became couuty clerk. After seten years in this position he took up the secretaryship to the Horowhenua Electric Power Board upon its inception, resigning from that ollice in 1929. In 1919 his Worship was first elected to the Borough Council and he saw fou> years’ service. He was a successful candidate agaiu in May, 1927, and was a member of the council until June, 1932, when he succeeded to the mayoralty on the death of the late Mr. Charles Blenkhorn. Throughout the years of his residence in Levin, Mr. Goldsmith has given his whole-hearted support to every work tor the advancement of the town and tor the improvement of the facilities available to citizens. Apart from public service his Worship’s more definite preference may safely be said to Jio in a love of the beauty and usefulness of flowers and trees. As a member of the Levin and District Beautifying Society and the Levin Horticultural and industrial Society, Mr. Goldsmith has done a very valuable work, while apart from this he has been the force behind a great deal of tree planting which has very much enhanced the attractiveness of the town. Mr. Goldsmith has beer a true and faithful worker in the Levin Methodist Church, and in his position of secretary to the Church Trust has carried a large share of the responsibility attendant upon the activities of the church, notably during the new building project. In everything his Worship has been* ably assisted by" Mrs. Goldsmith, who for her kindness and thoughtfulness has earned the love and regard of every resident of the town and district. The possessor of quiet modesty, Mrs. Goldsmith is one who breaks down class and creed barriers with fellowship. During the Great War and when the Dominion was swept with the epidemic of 1918 the Mayoress did inspired service and this she has followed up uy visiting and comforting those on Tied? of sickness. Mr. T. fc>. Goldsmith, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Feilding, is a son.