A NEW GAOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2164, 13 April 1908, Page 2

A NEW GAOL.

SITE TO BE SELECTED. Colonel Hume, Inspector-Genoral of Prisons, arrived in Gisborne on Saturday to inspect and report upon a suitable site for a new prison. On arrival, tho Colonel was met by the Mayor (Mr. John Townley), and was driven to the site in Childers road recommended by tho Borough Council, and arouud the district. Interviewed by a. “Times” reporter, Colonel Hume said he had boon shown four sites, and would report upon all of them, and recommend one, which ho thought suitable, to the Minister of Justice, but he was not prepared to say at present which site lie favored most. As a rulo a hilly position was chosen, as the prisoners were there best under observation, and such-a site was usually healthy. In Gisborne proximity to the wharf would have to bo taken into consideration for convenience in transhipping prisoners. As soon as a site was decided upon, ho would recommend that a new goal be built, and the old site handed over to the Police Department. A new gaol was growing more and more necessary owing to the increasing population of tho district, and tho inconvenience to the police of having to take convicts to Napier. He was pleased to say that crime was not increasing in proportion to the growing population. Accommodation would be provided for about twenty men, and those sentenced to hard labor could be found work in building an esplanade, road making or on other public works. Colonel Hume left for Wellington by tlio Monowai last evening.