1) Foresight of early planners has given us benefits today.

As can be seen by the first plan for the township of Levin (and earlier in the Maori proposal for the township they preferred to call Taitoko) there was liberal provision made for the setting aside of land for parks, schools and other amenities.

2) Hotel reception was unthinkable.
Mayor entertained his distinguished guests and visitors at home.

What was it like to be daughter of Levin's first mayor? Mrs. C. Bennett, of Devon Street, was only about 10 years of age when her father was elected mayor of the newly-formed borough.

3) The : "Town Hall".

It was only in 1942 that Levin lost one of its old landmarks known as the Town Hall. This was situated in Queen Street West, next to the Bank of New Zealand, where the district nurses' rooms now stand.

1) Story of Mangahao. Levin streets were lit by electric power before official turn-on.

Levin's streets were lit by electric power a month before electricity was available to householders or other users. This was recalled by the town clerk, Mr. H. L. Jenkins, during an interview.

2) Levin well served by town clerks.

Mayors and councillors come and go but in the background there is always the town clerk. To him falls the task of routine administration and the implementation of the various policies decided upon by each incoming council. He can be a steadying influence - a curb against enthusiasm swamping economic considerations.

3) Talkies come to Levin.

In 1929 the De Luxe Theatre (later the Regent) became the 40th house in New Zealand to be equipped with the "talkies." It must have been one of the first small towns to have such an amenity and the first along the coast.

4) He made the sound effects.

Seeking some more information on the earliest motion pictures in Levin "The Chronicle" went to Mr. Hector McDonald.

1) Meant to name Levin Taitoko,

Under the earliest conditions governing the sale of the Levin Block to the Government, the name of the settlement was to have been Taitoko. It was intended that a garden or park of 100 acres be one of the features of the new town.

2) Borough Councils down the years

A total of 89 citizens have served on the Levin Borough Council in the course of its 50 years. There has only been one woman on the council, Mrs. H.E. Bowen, who served 12 1/2 years from May 1935 to November, 1947, when she retired. There have been 10 mayors and five town clerks.

1) High jinks on new year's eve in the early days.

It was a New Year's Eve in Levin in the early days when 100 peopele was a big crowd for the town. On the Post Office side of the street was Dick Butt's butchery business, a wheelwright's shop and W.M. Clark's drapery. There was an alleyway between the shops. All the young people were in the streets with the same high spirits as the night demands today.

2) Levin "Buys" train.

Levin made railways history in 1930 when the proprieters of the De Luxe Theatre (now the Regent) decided to "buy" a train to bring patrons from as far north as Palmerston North to see the talking "Broadway Melody." Levin got the picture when it was still screening in the main metropolitan theatres.

3) Groceries tendered for theatre in naming of town streets.

Patrons attending a matinee performance of "Girl Crazy", a musical comedy with Wheeler and Woolsey as the chief fun makers, paid for their entrance to the Regent Theatre in Levin by tendering a parcel of groceries.

4) First Mayor overlooked in naming of town streets.

Early indentities, counties in distant England, wartime leaders of Allied countries and forces, and a past mayor or two are recorded for the posterity in the borough of Levin. But residents today can search in vain, as the writer did, for the name of Gardener above any street in Levin.

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.

1) A. and P. Association shows mirror wealth of district.

If any single influence can be highlighted as stimulating the growth of farming development and through it the prosperity of the district as a whole, then that influence came from the Horowhenua Agricultural and Pastoral Association.