Community Contributed

Fires in Levin

Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:51:57+00:00
Fires were a big threat to early New Zealand towns ...

... and were the reason many buildings did not survive until the present day. Papers Past provides newspaper reports of many of these fires - some of these include:

Date Location Premises Reported damage
23 Feb 1894 The whole of Levin Many dwellings affected by a bush fire
Mr Ryders boot shop endangered
Mr Smithson's bakery endangered
Mr Gardener's shop endangered.
23 June 1897 Weraroa "Weraroa Township was burned down".
Hamilton's store, Weraroa Hotel and blacksmith's and painter's shops adjoining

Destroyed.

28 Dec 1897 Levin Butcher's shop and dwelling of Richard Butts

Only £20 damage resulted.

9 Feb 1898 Fire broke out in the Levin Town Hall and spread to the premises of Levy (chemist), County Council Office, Fitzherbert (solicitor), James' (bootshop), Keen (hairdresser), Pink (bootshop), Barnard (watchmaker)
The Levin Hotel and Fosella'a stock were saved - "with difficulty".

Not stated - Inquest found that fire was suspicious.

"Stock saved".

21 Feb 1898 Levin General store of John Hamilton and two adjoining premises.

"Destroyed".

31 March 1899

Levin Hotel set fire to. Court proceedings against Thomas Sidey.
24 Mar 1901 Ohau

Small grocery store - property of Messrs. Geary and Bassett

"Destroyed by fire".
12 April 1906

Hall's drapery shop,
Clarkson's "Byko",
Wilson's fruit shop,
Smith's stables,
James's bootmaker shop,
Staveley's office

"six places of business" destroyed.
Others "much scorched: - Jones (plumber) and Newman and Devine (butchers)
Wilson's furniture shop "was broken up .... to make a gap to stay the fire"
17 April 1907 Ohau

Ohau School

Totally destroyed.
17 Oct 1907 Oxford Street

Levy's chemist, Lozer's jewellery shop, Grappers (grocer),
Pink's (bootmaker)

Contents burned. Some stock saved.
1 June 1909

Butt and Co's butchery and part of Tee's fruit shop.

"Burned".
25 Oct 1909 Oxford Street

Levin Railway station

"Destroyed".
11 May 1910 Oxford Street? Three shops in the centre of the town: P.Stevens, grocer, Wheatley, stationer, Campbells millinery emporium Buildings badle damaged.Contents destroyed.
31 May 1910 Oxford Street Dominion Private Hotel also known as
Cheeseman's Hotel
"Severley damaged"
14 March 1912 Weraroa Weraroa Hotel "Burned.
10 Nov 1912 Levin Scott (pastrycook), Thompson (bookseller) Building "was badly gutted".
3 Oct 1914 ??? O'Neill and Diack, Tailers and an adjoining empty shop. "Completely gutted"
11 Dec 1912 Oxford Street Arcadia Hotel "destroyed"
5 Oct 1915 Oxford Street Ladelle (photographer), Lucas (bookseller). "Destroyed".
Damaged the fronts of two other shops.
21 Oct 1915 Kuku Dairy Factory "Destroyed".
19 May 1918 Levin

W. Martin's boot store and Grey Phillip's offices

William's refreshment rooms

Destroyed.

Damaged.

21 July 1922

Mrs. Merritt, restaurant keeper, and Mr. Lemmon, butcher.

"Gutted".

11 Jan 1924 Porotawhao Manure works owned by J.M. Milne

"Completely destroyed"

26 Feb 1924 Ohau General store of Mr. H.J. Parsonson.

"Totally destroyed".

4 May 1926 Levin

Wisteria Lodge, private hospital and boarding house.

"Destroyed".

24 Aug 1927 Levin

People's Picture Theatre

"Extensive damage".

4 Nov 1927 Oxford Street Billiard Saloon "building was destroyed"
7 Oct 1928 Levin Ince and Co., drapers, G.D. Hamilton, accountant,, V. Henderson, tailor, Miss Williams, dressmaker "The stocks and building are a total loss."
19 Feb 1931 Levin Shop owned by Mrs. Herrick and occupied by W. E. Monk's, tailor "Destroyed"
14 Nov 1935 Levin Horowhenua Electric Power Board's store "Totally destroyed" and "the whole of the stock was destroyed".
4 Aug 1936 Koputaroa Koputaroa Public Hall "Completely destroyed".
14 May 1939 Oxford Street Three shops damaged:
H. Foley, painter and paperhanger
Fuen Ley Leong, Chinese fruiterer
W. Stannard, bookseller
"Extensive fire and water damage:.
29 Aug 1942 Ohau Ohau hall "Completely destroyed".

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