BIG FIRE AT BLENHEIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 1

BIG FIRE AT BLENHEIM

LEVIN’S BUILDINGS BURNED TO GROUND DAMAGE OVER £35,000 Press Association BLENHEIM, To-day. Damage estimated at £35,000 and £40,000 was incurred as a result of a serious outbreak of fire in Levin and Company’s stores in Horton Street at two o’clock this morning. The building, a great rambling structure of corrugated iron, occupied an area of about half an acre, and was the largest store of its kind in Blenheim. Part of it was devoted to the firm’s wholesale grocery trade, and contained complete stocks of groceries, wines, spirits, tobacco, etc. The rest of the building was used for the storage of grain, seeds, wool, manures and cement. The building was equipped with several seed-clean-ing machines, and other valuable plant, the total value of the building and plant being roughly estimated at £15,000. The grocery department’s stocks were probably worth another £15,000, and produce of various kinds about £IO,OOO. Twenty-five bales of wool were destroyed, but 270 bales had just been shipped to Wellington. The fire made a clean sweep, the whole place being reduced to ashes, although there was an excellent water supply and the brigade fought valiantly. As a result of the splendid work of the brigade Eckford’s Wharf and stores adjoining were saved, though Eckfords lost about £250 worth of ship’s stores. Included in the fire was a rake nine railway trucks which had been left on the siding in the building. Some were completely destroyed and others were very badly damaged. It is understood that Levin’s stock was insured for £IO,OOO and the building for £13,000 in the Royal Exchange Office.