MR. WILLIAM GEORGE ADKIN

Chronicle (Levin), 16 September 1946, Page 4

MR. WILLIAM GEORGE ADKIN

The death occurred on Friday last of a widely-known Levin resident, Mr. William . George Adkin, of Queen Street East, at the age of 89 years. He would have reached the age of 90 in about a month's time. Born at Diseworth, Leicestershire, in October 23, 1856, the late Mr. Adkin came of an old English yeoman family. When 21 he went to London and served liis apprenticeship in a large emporium there. ■ He emigrated to 'Austraiia in 1881, was in business for about a year and then came on to New Zealand, his original destination. He arrived in Wellington in July, 1882. For 16 years he worked there as a member of the firm of Warnock, Kelly and Adkin, later Warnock and Adkin. He gave up the city life in November, 1898, when he first came to Levin. In 1889 the HorowhenUa Block had been ballotted for, and Mr. Adkin was successful. He later acquired other properties in the district. He gave the narrie "Cheslyn Rise" to his homestead in Queen Street, "Cheslyn" being associated with his birthplace. Mr. Adkin assisted in the development of the town by erecting a large block of buildings, at the same time as the construction of the Municipal Buildings. Mr. Adkin was in many ways a pioneer in farming practice in the district. He took great pride in laying down good pasture, and was one of the first to fatten lambs on crops to any extent. He was also one of the first to adopt topdressing. A member of the Methodist Church, he was a regular attender of services and a member of the Church Trust. Apart from these interests, farming was both his business and his hobby, and he retained his love of the land to the end. ' The late Mr. Adkin is survived by a grown-up family, nine grandchildren and three great-grand-children. His second son, G. D. Adkin, was killed in World War I: the other sons, Messrs G. L. and C. Adkin, and two daughters, Mrs. J. C. Gardner and Mrs. R. J. Law, still live in this district, while there are two other daughters, Mrs. Broomfield (Wellington) and Miss Vivian Adkin (Feilding). His wife predeceased him in 1917. The funeral took, place at the Levin Cemetery yesferday, a large number of relatives and friends oeing present.