Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink: “P 53”

Written below pictures 1 and 2, as caption: “The whares left by Mr P. Bartholomew after the removal of his sawmill. 11.1.14.”

Written below picture 3, as caption: “The old sawmill site from the terrace near the main gate leading into Leighton paddock. 11.1.14.”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen - The Bartholomew sawmill occupied this site by the Makahika river from 1906. Late in 1913 the machinery was removed to a new site near the Makaretu junction with Ohau. G.L. Adkin renovated the whare next the low knoll (The ‘Kopje’) so that he could camp there while developing North Block. After he had married Maud Herd ( in December 1915) they spent nearly three months living here while ‘Woodside’ homestead was built on Section 42, Queen Street East. They called it ‘Sonoma’, after ‘The Valley of the Moon’ in Jack London’s novel of that name. (Adkin Coll, A.T.L)

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

Three photographs of the old sawmill site, Makahika River, Horowhenua, 1 November 1914. Picture (1) top – Whare (door open) and saddled horse. Picture (2) centre – Same whare (left) and 2nd whare (right). Picture (3) bottom – Remains of sawmill site & the whares.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted (composite)

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

1.Manawatu railway company's vision speeded Levin district's development.

The saga of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's pioneer railway enterprise which, more than any other single act of private enterprise, expedited the opening up and development of the Manawatu, must always hold a place of pride in the history of Levin and the Horowhenua district. In those far-off days there was no Welfare State, as we know it today, and in many fields of progress the pioneers had to be prepared to back up their visions and faith in their new country with their own hard-won savings.

2. Levin personalities in earliest days.

The first Dairy Factory in Levin was situated in Weraroa Road between where the Horowhenua College now stands and Queen Street. The manager was Mr, A. J. Galishan. He was probably also the first cyclist in the area.

3. This date would have made firemen town's pioneers.

A slightly perplexing exhibit recently came to light during a hunt for early records. This is a copy of the by-laws, rules and regulations of the Levin Fire Brigade, printed in Wellington in 1921.

4. Maoris missed their train after night-long vigil.

A group of Maoris waited at the Levin Railway station, then at Roslyn Road crossing.

5. Weraroa at the turn of the century.

In the years round 1900 Weraroa was the main centre.