The Evening Post of 23 September 1895 reported:
Fire At Shannon.
This morning, at about 2.30 o'clock, Mr. Oldfield's billiard saloon in Balance Street was seen to be on fire. Nothing could be done to save anything, as the fire had too strong a hold, and the premises were destroyed. Frank Brand, who occupied the hairdresser's room at the back of the building, does not sleep on the promises, so the whole of the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. All was loft safe yesterday afternoon, and the only supposition that can be advanced as to the cause is that of a defect in the chimney. The saloon has been built two years, and was only partly insured.
The office of the Manawatu Farmer newspaper and Mr. Richards' butcher's shop, both of which are close to the scone, had a narrow escape, but fortunately no wind was blowing at the time.