Penciled on back - The Royal Horticultural Societys’ “Dictionary of Gardening” presented by the trustees of the former Levin Horticultural Society. Mr N.D. Broadbent, chairman of the societys’ trustees is seen with the librarian Miss D.E. Picken. Sat. Aug. 2, 1969.

Stamped on back with black ink - Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. 137 Date.

See also – #.0287

Book presented to Levin Public Library, 1969 1 B&W photo print

Book – “Dictionary of Gardening” (by The Royal Horticultural Society), is presented to the Levin Public Library by the trustees of the former Levin Horticultural Society. Left – Miss D.E. Picken (librarian). Right – Mr N.D. Broadbent (chairman, Levin Horticultural Society trustees).

See also – #.0287

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

1) Crate of fowls, canary and cats came too: pioneer's daughter recalls trek.

Mrs. Goldsmith, daughter of the late Mr. Richard Prouse, who turned 70 last November, came to Levin as a child. She cannot claim to be a resident of long standing as she returned only a few years ago when her mother died, aged 91 years. She lives in the old Prouse homestead, opposite the railway station.

2) Woman with kindly heart who likes to aid others.

Proud that 62 years ago she chose Levin as the place in which she would like to live, is Mrs. W. Lett, of Salisbury Street. In the years that have followed she has not changed her mind. She is proud to have watched Levin grow from a small community of 1893, when she came first here. She should be proud too that she contributed in no small measure to a wide variety of community interests and is still continuing a life of great activity.

3) As little girls they saw farms emerging.

The two Misses Parsons were born in the house round which their present attractive home has been built. Their father came to Levin first to survey the bush of Prouse's Mill. He came as far as Hokio by coach and the following day set out to walk from the lakeside to the eastern foothills. Owing to depth of the bush and tall timber he was overtaken by nightfall and bedded down for the night.

4) She set the type in early newspaper.

Mrs. Plimmer, residing at the corner of Churchill and Cambridge Streets, came to Levin as a young girl when her father. Mr. W. C. Nation, moved his newspaper from Shannon to Levin. Mr. Nation had previously run the Wairarapa Standard in Greytown and the Manawatu Farmer in Shannon. With the drift of population to Levin, he brought his printing press here.

5) Miss H. E. Bowen epitomises philosophy of the pioneer women - deeds not words.

In Karaka Lodge, the home of Miss H.E. Bowen, Queen Street, it is not difficult to recapture the atmosphere of 50 years ago.

6) Big rumpus when woman put in charge of new P.O.

When Miss H. E. Bowen's appointment as postmistress of the newly-erected Levin Post Office was confirmed in 1903, it "stirred up a hornets' nest in the Local Press".

7) Will complete her 70th year of residence soon.

Youngest member of the Retter family, who came to this district before the railway was actually functioning and who, besides the McDonald family, had only Maoris as neighbours, was Mrs. J. H. Gill, who lives now in Oxford Street. She was only three-and-half years old when she came here and in June of this jubilee year will have completed 70 years of residence.

1) First Plunket nurse made calls on mothers on foot or pedalled a bicycle.

The Levin branch of the Plunket Society came into being following a meeting on February 9, 1924. First president was Mrs. Hobson, the then mayoress, and Mrs. Shennan was secretary-treasurer.

2) Horticultural society wants Levin as garden city.

The Levin Horticultural Society is perhaps the oldest such society in the district. In 1902 a meeting of gardening enthusiasts was held and the society was formed. Unfortunately records of this meeting have been lost, but records of the second annual meeting in 1904 supplied the following list of officers: - Patron,Mr. W.H. Field,M.P.; president, M. J. Prouse; vice-presidents,Mr. and Mrs. R. Prouse and Mr. W.J. Reading; committee, Mesdames C. Nation, W.M. Clark, J. Prouse, Brown, Goldsmith, France, Perry, Messrs. F. Smith, E. Lancaster, Hunt, P. Arcus, J. Johnston, Fosella, T. Walker and McNickle; secretary, Mr. T. Brown.

3) How the Century Hall gots its name.

Levin's Century Hall, one of the oldest standing today, was built by Mr. P.L. Arcus in 1900, largely at the instigation of Mr. James Prouse, and it was planned to cater for the needs of the town as well as for use as a Methodist Sunday School, a function it still serves. In accordance with this idea it was built with a large stage and good seating.

4) Athletics and cycling in Levin date back to 1900.

Although the Levin Combined Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, as at present constituted, dates back at present only to 1935, organised amateur athletic and cycling meetings were held as early as 1900, and these are well remembered by one of the club's life members, Mr. R. E. Henderson. The meetings were held on the Weraroa Domain and large fields competed.

5) Swimming club has played big part in instruction and baths improvement.

The Levin Amateur Swimming and Life-saving Club dates back to 1912, when a meeting was held in Brewster's Byko, presided over by Mr. B. Hankins. Twenty-five attended . The first name suggested for the club was "Kawahai," but it was replaced by "Coronation Amateur Swimming Club". Subscriptions of 2/6 for seniors and 1/- for juniors remained the same until 1940.

6) Dress rehearsal.

"First into the water " was a competition marking the opening of the Coronation Swimming Baths. It involved a little more than was implied. To win the trophy, donated by the then mayor, Mr. B. R. Gardener, competitors had to wear coat, vest, trousers, lace-up boots and shirt with costume underneath. Apparently women were not catered for, and records do not reveal the winner.