GOVERNOR'S BAY FIRE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20491, 9 March 1932, Page 3

GOVERNOR'S BAY FIRE.

HOUSEHOLDER, CHARGED. ;' Another outcome of the 'fir® which destroyed a house and contents oyneuby Daniel James' McCallum atGoveJv nor's Bay, on October 28th, lsßl, and which was the subject of a magisterial enquiry recently, was- the hearing: of • charge of making a false declaration ■ against MeCftUujai in 'the Magistrate's Court yesterday, b«for«°Hr 'B. D. Mos-' ] oy- .-/A- - , . . The charge was thas ifcCallqim made 1 < a that would amount" tp perjury if made on oath jLn a judicial { proceeding i>y falsely declaring that:-?-(1) That the articles enumerated in a schedule of loss belonged to-him* and no ona else had an: interest in them' , except for an amount of £SO owing to - the New Zealand Expatriation Deport- - ment; and (2) that the insurance'risk on the articles had never been declined by any other company. * * s Henry Thomas Harrison Graves, fire adjuster said that on October 29th last lie commenced investigation of a fire in. a house occupied by the accused ■ at Governor's Bay. . McCallum was given a schedule of loss to fill in.. He told witness that the risk on the house had not been declined by any other office. He also said that "the property in the schedule of loss was his own, and 1 . that no one had any interest in it,ex- , eept the Repatriation Department. These statements he incorporated at the request of witness, in" tne declaration of loss. John Alexander Cairney, a clerk employed in the State Fire Insurance • Office, gave details of McCallum's application for a cover for £6OO on fais , house -at Governor's .Buy. The particulars 'supplied by McCallum showed . that the property was not covered by < any mortgage or chattel, security. The application for insurance was granted. The house was destroyed by fire sixdays .later. Walter-Basil- Orange, another clerk, stated that McCallum had said that the total value ©f the house and, contents had been £7OO. Further'police evidence was called to > show that McCallnm< had - purchased i various articles from -firms— including i and a gramophone and re- , cordsr-on hire-purchase agreements, , and had still owed inonev on sbem at , the time of the firfc. Evidffwe also given to shot? that a oovetr on ac- \ cused's property had T»een refurad by one office. 1 After the hearing,of further evidence. ' McCallum pleaded not guilty; and was committed to tjie Supreme- Court t« r ' trial. Bail of £IOO, with one surety » of £IOO was allowed. -