Serious Fire at Levin.

Manawatu Herald, 10 February 1898, Page 2

Serious Fire at Levin.

SIX EUIL:3L?GS DtSTR j ED.

A serious fire occmved at the town ship of Levin, on the Welling. fcon-Manawatu Railway line, early yesterday morning, and resulted in the destruction of six buildings in Oxfoid street, the main thoroughfare. It commenced in the Public Hall, and destroyed that and the two shops in front of it, which were occupied by Mr Ernest F. Levy, cheini3t. Mr Levy's stock, valued at £500, was not insured. He had his siock in one of the shops, and used the other as an office. The County Council office, consisting r * oae large room, was destroyed with its contents. The safe, when seen after the fire, was smoking, and this led to the inference that the books and documents which it contained had seffe.'ed from the great heat. Nezt, Mr T. James* shoemaker's shop was burned down. The stock was saved, but some tools and machinery were lost. Mr Frank Keen's billiard saloon and barber and tobacconist's shop succumbed to the flames. The office of Mr H. Fitzherbert, solicitor, shared the same fate. The door, however, had previously been buret open and the books and papers removed to a place of safety. Mr Fitzherbert was ij Wellington at the time. The last place to be destroyed was Mr F. Pink's bootmaker's shop. Fortunately the goods had been removed. It was with great difficulty that Mr M. Fosella's shop was saved from destruction. The Lsvin Hotel, which adjoined the hall, also had an extremely narrow escape. In sach danger was it that the wall-paper was burned in some of the rooms. It is said that only changes of the wind saved the hotel and Mr Foeella's store. The Te Aro House branch was nearly destroyed as well. The meage water supply handicapped the efforts of those who endeavoured io check the progress of the fire. There had been a tea .meeting in connection with the Juvenile Foresters' Lodge in the hall on the previous evening. When th!s was over an attempt was made to hold a dance for adults, but it was not a success. The hall was vacated at about 11 p.m. The leorefcary of the Foresters

Bays he saw all lights out. It is stated by Mr Hopkins, the sanitary contractor, that he saw a light in tUd hall between li o'clock and mid* night, but did not consider it extraordinary, knowing that meetings were held there. Mr Lsvy, who courteusly supplied the above information, has arranged to start business again on Monday in premises placed at his disposal by Mr Brown, hair-dresse** pending the ereofcion of new premises. — N.Z. Times.

established in" the weight-throwing competitions. There is an average oi ten competitors in the running events and twelve in the cycling.