The Feilding Star of 9 February 1898 reported:
Fire at Levin.
A fire broke out at Levin Town Hall at 2 o'clock this morning and spread to the premises of Levy (chemist) the County Council Office Fitzherbert. (solicitor) James' (bootshop) Keen, (hairdresser) Pink, (bootshop) Barnard, (watchmaker), which were all totally destroyed. The Levin Hotel and Fosella's stock were saved with difficulty.