Inscription on reverse reads: “With the complements of the season from Leslie Adkin Xmas 1913”.

Lake Horowhenua – view of islands 1 Sepia tone print, mounted View of the south-western corner of Lake Horowhenua taken from Te Maai Ridge showing two artificial islands and bush on shoreline. A boat with two sets of oars is visable to the immediate right of the tree in the foreground. In the centre of the photo a boat with a white sail is featured, and to its right is a wooden boat with four people aboard. Inscription on reverse reads: “With the complements of the season from Leslie Adkin Xmas 1913”. Taken from almost the same position as 2000.363.0001

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

Inscriptions on reverse read: “Lake Horowhenua 1920 showing 2 of the 6 artificial lake-pa islands constructed by the Muaupoko tribe to protect them from Te Rauparaha. (E G Adkin collection photo copied from the Dominion Museum collection). It has been suggested that 1920 is inaccurate because it was thought to be clearer of bush by then. This photo has subsequently been seen in a 1910 publication – ‘Knights Horowhenua & West Coat Guide’ Sept 1910”. Also “Islands left: Roha o te kawau, right: Waikiekie”.

View of the south-western corner of Lake Horowhenua taken from Te Maai Ridge showing two artificial islands and native bush on shoreline. A boat with two sets of oars is viisbale to the immediate right of the tree in the foreground. In the centre of the photo a boat with a white sail is featured, and to its right is a wooden boat with four people aboard. Inscriptions on reverse are: “Lake Horowhenua 1920 showing 2 of the 6 artificial lake-pa islands constructed by the Muaupoko tribe to protect them from Te Rauparaha. (E G Adkin collection photo copied from the Dominion Museum collection). It has been suggested that 1920 is inaccurate because it was thought to be clearer of bush by then. This photo has subsequently beenseen in a 1910 publication – ‘Knights Horowhenua & West Coast Guide’ Sept 1910”. Also: “Islands left: Roha o te Kawau, right: Waikiekie”. Taken from almost the same position as 2000.364.0001

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

Yachting on Lake Horowhenua. There are several yachts on the lake and many on the shore. A number of people are on the shore and a small car and a van are parked on the foreshore. The shadows in the photograph indicate the time of day to be late afternoon. The macrocarpa trees to the left on the far side of the lake indicate the site of Te Rae o te Karaka Pa. In the centre background is Moutere Hill, the highest sand dune in the southern hemisphere.

1 Colour photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.163.0005 (colour postcard).

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

When Dr. Ted Gillies and I arrived in Levin to join Dr. Jim Thompson in
General Practice we realized that it was imperative that we took an interest
in horses. The Levin Races were being run on this particular weekend. And
Jim persuaded us to go. “It is just a family outing” he said. So I bought a
beautiful new hat with red roses round the crown.

Well at 8.30 AM on that lovely Saturday morning Ted was called down to
Otaki Maternity Home to deliver a baby. 12 noon arrived and still no Ted.
So I decide to wear my HAT around the house.

At 3.30PM Ted returned from Otaki. SO that was our one and only
DAY at the RACES.

Mr Laurie Robert who was a Mayor of Levin at the time was a patient of
Dr. Ted Gillies. And on one occasion when he had visited the surgery he was
tempted on his way out to pick up a lovely looking apricot from our drive.

“I will have this one on the Doc” he told us afterwards. Getting into his car
he decided to have a bite of the ill-gotton fruit.

The Mayor confessed later that it was the most bitter mouthful he had ever
tasted. The apricot looking fruit had fallen from our flowering almond tree.
And you know what they taste like!!!

I don’t suppose many Levin people are acquainted with the fact that Dr. Ted
Gillies was instrumental in acquiring the permission from the Maori owners
of Lake Horowhenua for sailing, rowing, and Sea Cadets etc.
Ted made dozens of trips to Wellington to meet with the Muaupoko iwi.
Time and time again he would return home so frustrated because one
Member was not present or available and another date would be set.
Ted would often return home only to find that he had to turn around and go
back to Otaki as fast as possible to deliver a baby. There were no cell phones
in those days.

Dr. Gillies also formed the Levin Branch of the Navy League, which made
it possible to have a Sea Cadet unit in Levin. It was imperative that they
had the Lake for training.

Ted was President of the Sailing Club for many years and our two sons had
P Class yachts which they used to tow behind their bicycles all the way to the
Lake each time they wanted to sail. They still tell me what a long hard ride it
was up the Queen Street rise.