H.—3o.

4

The hospital is a miserable makeshift; it is a low room directly over the kitchen, the heat and noise from which, and also the odour from cooking, make it altogether most objectionable for such a purpose. At present there is no proper place for holding Divine service. One of the mesa-rooms is used for the purpose, but it is too small, and utterly unfit for many reasons. Such a building ought to be separated into compartments for the purpose of classifying the prisoners. The sanitary arrangements are very defective; there is only one cold-water bath for the whole prison. For the purpose of health there ought to be one for each ward, supplied with hot as well as cold water. The supply of hot water could be easily established by means of steam pipes from a small boiler placed in the kitchen, which could also generate steam for cooking purposes by connecting pipes from boilers to coppers. It would be very necessary to provide better lavatories. At present the prisoners wash at wooden troughs which are divided into compartments. The troughs are placed in the yard, but not under cover. There is no proper system of sewerage, and, indeed, it is difficult to establish one, as the prison is situated on low ground. It is, therefore, necessary that the earth-system at present in use be continued, but in a more efficient manner; for instance, two or three pits might be formed in suitable places, the sides and ends built up with stone or brickwork, and the bottom covered with 6 or 9 inches of earth. The pipes from scullery, lavatory, &c, could discharge into the pits, and the refuse of vegetables to be thrown in every morning and evening and covered with dry earth, which would deodorize the whole and form a valuable manure. The water would perlocate through the bottom into the ground and so escape ; but it would be rendered innocuous by passing through the earth in the bottom of the pit. The ground being mostly of loose scoria, the water would escape freely. It would also, in my opinion, be very desirable to establish a garden in a portion of the Gaol reserve, where all the potatoes and vegetables required for the Gaol might be raised, the surplus, if any, to go to the other public institutions —viz., the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum. The manure from the pits before mentioned could be removed to the garden, say, once a week, or oftener if necessary. The whole of the garden-work could be done by the prisoners, and, as the labour would be lighter and more agreeable than quarrying, the older prisoners could be more profitably employed at it, or it might be made a premium for good conduct at the discretion of the Governor of the Gaol. The prison, called the new division, is outside the stone wall, and is used to confine females, debtors, and persons awaiting trial, and is totally inadequate for the number of persons confined, and unsuitable in respect to persons awaiting trial, some of whom ought to be imprisoned within the stonewall enclosure, being charged with the gravest offences, and being often desperate characters. With regard to the female prisoners, they are simply "huddled" together; there are no cells, and not even a separate room for the sick; so that it may be questioned if proper discipline is possible under such circumstances ; certainly no classification is possible. There is a great deal of laundry-work done by the female prisoners for the Hospital, Gaol, and Lunatic Asylum, but the appliances for washing, &c, are sadly deficient, and of the most primitive character. If proper washing and laundry appliances were furnished, this department might be made more remunerative. If the whole of this prison or new division were set apart for females only, by a small expenditure work-rooms, cells, infirmary, and classification could be established, which would meet the wants for some years to come. To draw off the debtors and persons awaiting trial, as suggested, and to relieve the over crowded state of the Gaol within the stone wall, it is absolutely necessary to build a new ward, say No. 1 wing on sketch-plan. As the present buildings can only be looked on as temporary, it is desirable that all future erections should be of a permanent character, and should form parts of a general design, as indicated in the accompanying sketch-plan. There is an extensive quarry of excellent stone in the reserve, and the prisoners could be employed quarrying and dressing all the stone required for the new buildings, and also assist in the erection. Water Supply. —I think that a supply of water for washing and general purposes ought to be provided from the Kyber Pass reservoir ; it should also be made available in case of fire. To render the water supply effective in case of fire, stand-pipes should be placed in the yards, and stop-cocks with hose in the several corridors. The hose for the stand-pipes could be kept in the turnkey's room. , If the design shown in the accompanying sketch were adopted, the several parts except No. 2 wing, could be built from time to time without disturbing the present structures, until sufficient accommodation would be provided in the new buildings. The last wing could be erected to provide for future accommodation. I consider the sketch-plan furnished by the Governor and Gaoler, Mr. O'Brien, a very good one; but I think that the few alterations I have suggested, as shown in the accompanying sketch-plan, would be an improvement, as all the cells would then have perfect ventilation; a thorough circulation of air would be established in all the corridors, and all the cells and mess-rooms would be rectangular. The chapel would be the same area as the bottom storey —namely, about 37 by 70 feet. A suitable building for an infirmary ought to be erected as soon as possible; it need not be expensive, and could be placed where shown on plan. If the proposed design were approved by the Government, all matters of construction and detail would have to be worked out and shown in drawings and described in specification, which I shall be glad to do, and superintend the erection, if employed for the purpose. I have, &c, His "Worship W. J. Hurst, Esq., Edwd. Mahoney, Mayor of Auckland, Architect. Chairman of the Gaol Commissioners.