DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LEVIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3855, 9 October 1928, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LEVIN.

At 10 o’clock on Saturday evening a fire occurred in the large drapery store of Messrs J. Ince and Co., Oxford. 'Street, right in the heart of the business area. The whole of the lower floor was occupied by Ince and Co., and the upstairs portion was sub-divided into offices occupied by Mr. G. Henderson (tailor) and Miss Williams (dressmaker). The alarm was given at about 10 o’clock when a dense volume of smoke was seen issuing from behind the two-storey front portion of the premises. The fire had a big hold and when the brigade arrived the rear part of the premises was a mass of flames.

Despite the big pressure of water the brigade could do nothing to save the building, but were successful in confining the outbreak to the block in which it had originated. High brick walls and a complete absence of wind assisted in preventing the spread of the flames to the large two-storeyed buildings on either side.

luce’s building was completely gutted from back to front and is practically a total loss and the same, of course, applies to the offices above. The place was stocked with all classes of drapery, and valued at above £SOOO. The premises were owned by the Stiles and Matheson estate (in liquidation). The insurances are not yet available. Mr. Hamilton’s records were kept in his strong-room and were all saved. Mr. Henderson and Miss Williams suffered complete loss of all their stocks.