The early days of Levin are recalled in the death last Friday of Mrs. Martha Florence Procter, eldest daughter of the late "Granny" and Mr. J. C. Retter and wife of the late Mr. J. W. Procter.
The late Mr. and Mrs. Procter were well known citizens and in 1947 celebrated their diamond wedding jubilee, at which ceremony sporting and civic heads were in large representation to pay tribute to a couple who in their quite unobtrusive ways had earned for themselves a high place in the civic life of the town, the late Mr. Procter being particularly noted for his interest and work for rugby football. Mrs. Procter was for many years a tireless worker in the interests of the Levin District High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Procter were married in Levin on August 7, 1887, by the late Rev. Mr. McWilliams, of Otaki, at the homestead of Mrs. Procter's parents. She was, incidently the first white girl to be married in the district. It is interesting to note that Rev. Mr. McWilliams had to travel by train from Otaki to Heatherlea, where the station was situated, and here he was met by Mrs. Procter's father. They proceeded by gig, over a clay road, to where the business area now is and then walked over a rough track, through bush, to what was known as Te Rare, in the vicinity of Arawhata. The last stage of the journey to the house was made by canoe over the north-western corner of Horowhenua Lake.
Mrs. Procter was born at Wellington in 1866, and at an early age; went with her parents to Paraparaumu. On June 2, 1886, they came by coach down the coast to Hokio and thence inland by dray to the western side of Horowhenua Lake, where her father had in the preceding few months built, a house of timber slabs with a thatched roof. One of the most vivid recollections that Mrs. Procter had of her first days in that locality was the advent of a terrific gale one night about the time of the Tarawera eruption (June 10, 1886). The homestead was blown to a lean of six inches as a result, while the pataka, a store house on legs, was lifted bodily by the wind and deposited in an upright position some distance from where it had originally stood.
Mr. Procter opened painting and paperhanging premises. He carried on this business for several years and then took up farming pursuits on Beach Road, where he and his wife lived until their deaths.
The late Mrs. Procter leaves four sons, Messrs F. S. P. Procter (Kerikeri), C. G. S. Procter (Paraparaumu), J. S. Procter (Levin), and W. R. S. Procter (Levin), and two daughters, Mesdames C. A. Ginders (Paremata) and S. Hinton (Auckland).