# Joseph Levien

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**John Henry Levien** (1810/1811 – 7 June 1876) [Esquire](/source/Esquire), JP was a [Freemason](/source/Freemason)[1] and [Mayor of Nelson](/source/Mayor_of_Nelson) in New Zealand from 1875 to 1876.

## Professional career

Levien was a merchant in both Australia and New Zealand. In 1837 he was in partnership in Sydney and in 1844 at [Wellington, New Zealand](/source/Wellington,_New_Zealand) acting as agent for the brigantine *Vanguard*.[2][3] In 1854 he was described as a Collins Street, Hobart merchant and in 1855 a resident of Melbourne.[4][5] By 1857 he was a merchant in Nelson.[6] He traded under the name J. Levien & Co.[7][8] Levien was also a shareholder in the Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company.[9] He was involved with the organising of a Gas Company to provide street lighting for Nelson, a Director of the Nelson Gold Mining Company, and a member of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce.[10][11]

## Political career

Levien's first foray into politics appears to have been in 1860 when he unsuccessfully stood for the Board of Works.[12]

He was actively interested in politics and public affairs, but only became prominent in 1875 when the municipalities affairs were in crises. Levien became Mayor of Nelson on 26 February 1875[1] after the Mayor and several Councillors resigned over a dispute with the Provincial Council and finance. The council's accounts were in a muddle according to its auditors and it had a large overdraft at the bank, and it went bankrupt in early 1875.[13] As a result of Levien's hard work he set the accounts in order, urged economy from the newly elected Councillors and returned the council to credit.[13]

At the end of 1875 Levien was asked by the Councillors to remain as Mayor for 1876, which he agreed to do.[14] Among the Councillors who called for him to stand for re-election were [Edward William Everett](/source/Edward_William_Everett) and [William Reid Waters](/source/William_Reid_Waters), the two subsequent mayors. As no one else was nominated he was consequently reappointed.[15]

Levien was appointed a [Justice of the Peace](/source/Justice_of_the_Peace) in March 1875.[16]

On 19 February 1876 the [Eastern Extension Australia and China Telegraph Company cable](/source/Submarine_communications_cable) linking New Zealand with Australia and the Far East was landed at Schroder's Mistake, Wakapuaka (now known as Cable Bay) 21 kilometres (13 mi) north of Nelson.[17] This significant event prompted Levien to invite the [Governor](/source/Governor-General_of_New_Zealand) ([The Marquess of Normanby](/source/George_Phipps,_2nd_Marquess_of_Normanby)), [Premier](/source/Prime_Minister_of_New_Zealand) ([Julius Vogel](/source/Julius_Vogel)) and ministers to celebrate the landing. He was politely declined by the Premier and derided in the [neighbouring province](/source/Marlborough_Province)'s newspaper.[18]

## Death

Levien died in office on 7 June 1876 after a long and painful illness aged 65 years. He was buried at [Wakapuaka Cemetery](/source/Wakapuaka_Cemetery) the following day.[1][19] He was survived by his wife.[20]

Robert Levien (1834 in London – 1893) decided in 1864 to settle in Nelson where his uncle Joseph Levien had already been for some time. Robert Levien was also a merchant and was first elected a Nelson City Councillor in the late 1870s.[21]

## References

1. ["The Nelson Evening Mail"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NEM18760607.2.11). *Nelson Evening Mail*. Vol. XI, no. 142. 7 June 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2010.

1. Classified Advertising, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Sydney, New South Wales, August 1837, page 1

1. ["Papers Past — New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian — 9 November 1844 — Page 1 Advertisements Column 4"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZSCSG18441109.2.3.4&srpos=19&e=-------10--11-byDA---0levien--). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160313141719/http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZSCSG18441109.2.3.4&srpos=19&e=-------10--11-byDA---0levien--) 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-09-06.

1. Advertising, The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, 30 March 1855, page 8

1. Petition to the Queen, Colonial Times, Hobart, Tasmania, 6 September 1854, page 1

1. ["Papers Past — Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle — 10 October 1857 — Shipping Intelligence."](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18571010.2.3&srpos=32&e=-------10--31-byDA---0levien--). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140714114741/http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18571010.2.3&srpos=32&e=-------10--31-byDA---0levien--) 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-09-06.

1. ["Mayoral Memorial Walk"](http://www.theprow.org.nz/assets/files/mayoralwalk.pdf). Nelson City Council. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["Notice to Debtors and Creditors"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NEM18670420.2.7.1). *Nelson Evening Mail*. Vol. II, no. 91. 20 April 1867. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. Public meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall - The Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company, Colonist, Volume II, Issue 120, 14 December 1858, Page 2

1. Proposed Gas Company, Colonist, Volume II, Issue 139, 18 February 1859, Page 2

1. Nelson Gold Mining Company, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 44, 1 June 1859, Page 2

1. Editorial, Colonist, Volume III, Issue 252, 20 March 1860, Page 2

1. ["Mayors of Nelson"](http://www.theprow.org.nz/mayors-of-nelson/). The Prow. Retrieved 25 October 2010.

1. ["The Nelson Evening Mail"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NEM18751127.2.10). *Nelson Evening Mail*. Vol. X, no. 316. 27 November 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["The Mayoralty"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TC18751207.2.9). *Colonist*. Vol. XVIII, no. 2002. 7 December 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["Local and General News"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TC18750311.2.10). *Colonist*. Vol. XVII, no. 1886. 11 March 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["Landing the New Zealand Cable at Schroder's Mistake"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TC18760219.2.13). *Colonist*. Vol. XVIII, no. 2038. 19 February 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["The Marlborough Express"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18760223.2.4). *Marlborough Express*. Vol. XI, no. 791. 23 February 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["Cemeteries database"](http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/cemeteries-database-2/). Nelson City Council. p. search for Levien. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

1. ["City Council"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NEM18760610.2.13). *Nelson Evening Mail*. Vol. XI, no. 145. 10 June 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

1. ["Death of Mr Robert Levien"](http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NEM18931025.2.10). *Nelson Evening Mail*. Vol. XXVII, no. 252. 25 October 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 5 December 2010.

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