FIRE AT COOPER'S CREEK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1814, 10 November 1888, Page 2

FIRE AT COOPER'S CREEK.

Mr B, P. Bartrura’s woolshed at Cooper’s Creek, with the whole of his plant and a large quantity of wool and skins, was totally destroyed by fire between seven and eight o’clock on Wednesday evening last. The cause of the fire is a complete mystery, as when Mr Bartrum left the shed at 6.15 p.m. everything appeared to be perfectly safe, and half-an-hour before the discovery of the fire the servant was in the office for pen and ink and there was then no sign of fire. Between seyen and eight o’clock, however, the servant came running into the bouse, saying that the shed was on fire, and on Mr Bartrum going out be found that the dames bad got a firm hold of the building, With the assistance of some neighbors Mr Bartrum made a desperate fight to get the flames under, but their efforts were unavailing and the building and its contents were completely destroyed. Unfortunately Mr Bartrum bad a considerable quantity ( of scoured wool (about 15 bales), 4 bales packs. £SO worth of sheeting, about 1000 full-woolled skins and a large patent woo press in the shed. The only articles saved were the scales and a few wool packs. The building, which was 60ft x 30ft and two storeys in one part, was quite new, having only been erected about nine mouths ago, There was an insurance upon it of only £2OO in the South British office, and the loss is estimated at between £4OO and £SOO. The accident happening just now is particularly unfortunate for Mr Bartrum j as it is just the commencement of the , busy season in the wool trade, 1