Penciled on back - A page from the booklet published to mark the official opening of the Peace Memorial Gates, April 11, 1923. Tues. July 6, 1971. (After demolition of the Peace Memorial in the course of Road widening).

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

Page 16 (left) has photo with caption - Miss Joan Bevan, Queen of the Mardi Gras, 1922.

Page 17 (right) has text with title – Early Men of Mark. and very brief biography of 3 men - Mr. James McIntyre. Mr. Hector McDonald. Mr. Richard Prouse.

Early Men of Mark

Page 17.

Mr James McIntyre

Was born in Auckland April 25th, 1867. He received his education at Mount Cook School, Wellington and later at the Teachers' Training College. He was appointed to Petone, after to Newtown. In 1892 he was given position of Headmaster at Levin then a small school of 58 pupils. He was in charge of this school for 30 years, and during that time the attendance had increased to 690 pupils, large and commodious school buildings had been erected, and a High School added with necessary teachers. Mr McIntyre was an enthusiastic sport, he was instrumental in starting football, hockey, cricket and tennis clubs in Levin; and when football and cricket became too strenuous he turned his attention to bowls.

He assisted in the formation of the Druids and masonic Lodges in this town. He was very popular with all and on his retirement, just three months before his death, on October 29th, 1922, he was the recipient of gifts and farewell tokens from every class in the community.

Mr Hector McDonald

Native agent and interpreter was born at Otaki on May 23rd, 1853, his father being one of the oldest settlers in the District.

As Native Interpreter appointed in 1892, Mr. McDonald dealt with most of the native land transfers in Levin and District, at this time almost all standing bush. It is not now possible to estimate the natives, but the progress of Levin compared to some other towns gives some idea of the value of his services at that time.

Mr McDonald was also successful in inducing the natives, who were greatly opposed to it, to allow the Europeans to use the lake and erect boating sheds on its shores.

Though a sufferer for several years Mr McDonald was not confined to his bed. A haemorrhage from the lungs terminated fatally on September, 1900. Mr McDonald was well known and greatly liked by Maori and Pakeha alike.

Mr Richard Prouse

Was born in Wainuiomata on February 3rd 1855, and spent his youth in the valley. He arrived in Levin in July, 1891. Having entered into the possession of a large tract of bush land, he for many ...

Go to Page 18...

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.