OBITUARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2217, 18 December 1920, Page 2

OBITUARY.

The death look place at Levin yesterday of Mr ,B. R. Gardener, Town Clerk, and ex-Mayor of Levin. The deceased gentleman had a seizure in hi* oliice some weeks ago, hut a relapse occurred last week. The late Mr Gardener was horn d 7 years ago in Oldham, Lancashire, where he gained commercial experience with his parents in (he ironmongery business, lie came to New Zealand in 1879 hy the ship Halcione, and spent some time in business in Wellington and the Wairarapa. Finally deciding to settle in Levin in 1891, he established the Ma nawatu Co-operative* Store, which speedily bet-ame an undertaking on a huge scale, and was carried on for many years hy Mr Gardener.

Early in his sojourn in Bovin, the late Mr Gardener turned his attention to municipal life. He was prominent: in the work of forming the Levin Borough in the year 100(5, and after this had been successfully achieved he became the first mayor. A progressive municipal policy was instituted right away, with the result that in 1907 a loan of £3,000 was raised for street'improvements, and a loan of £.10,000 to inslal the gas works. This achieved, Mr Gardener turned his attention to the equally important matter of a highpressure water supply for the town with the Oluiu River as the source of supply. This, too, was brought into being, loans of ,£25,000 being raised for the work.

Tiie,deceased was responsible for the erection of the Carnegie Library and public swimming baths. He took a keen and active part in patriotic affairs during the war. -While Mayor of Levin he represented the Ilorowhemm County on the. Wellington Hospital Board, and was subsequently one of those responsible for merging the Ilorowhenua Comity into the Palmerston Hospital district. He was a keen supporter of athletic sporls. He wasvalso actively connected with the Druids’ Lodge and Masonic fraternity. He leaves a widow, sou and daughter to mourn their loss.