f1.—20

10

The conduct of the officers throughout the year has been most satisfactory. One officer who was on probation at the commencement of the year, having passed his examination satisfactorily, was appointed on the staff permanently. First Offenders' Probation Act. There were two persons admitted to probation during the year —one a Maori boy over thirteeD years of age, who was after a few weeks on probation arrested on a charge'of breaking and entering, and committed to Wellington for sentence. There was one received on transfer. Two who were on probation at the commencement of the year completed their term satisfactorily and were released, leaving two still on probation, and who are carrying out the terms of their license. S. G. MILLINGTON, Gaoler, Probation Officer, and Manager. The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington.

WAIOTAPU PRISON. H.M. Prison, Waiotapu, 7th January, 1908. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ended 31st December, 1907. Two prisoners escaped, and, after spending a night in the rain, were recaptured and sentenced to additional terms of imprisonment. The health, conduct, and industry of the prisoners have been good. The conduct of the officers has been good. Summary of work done: Area cleared, 850 acres; pits dug, 1,218,025; road formed, 122 chains (15ft. wide); 6 miles of fence erected; concrete reservoir constructed; new camp-site graded; trees planted—larch 1,489,400, Pinus Austriaca 226,650, Pinus Beuthaniana 55,825, Pinus Burrayana 8,000, Pinus laricio 621,475, Pinus ponderosa 172,225, Pinus strobus 8,750, Pinus rigida 6,200, Pinus contorta 2,100, Pinus excelsa 200, Thuja giganle.a 400 —total, 2,591,225; trees planted to replace failures in gums, 268,680; total planted for the year, 2,859,905 : total planted since 1901, 6,932,929: total area planted, 2,547 acres; cleared, 3,321 acres. A. W. Roberts, Principal Warder and Acting-Gaoler. The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington.

WAIPA PRISON. H.M. Prison, Waipa, 11th January, 1908. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year 1907. In custody on the Ist January, 1907, 24 males; received during the year, 26 males; discharged, 20 males; in custody on the 31st December, 1907, 30 males. The daily average was 2469. Two men were transferred to Auckland Prison during the year. The health of the prisoners has been good, and the rations supplied were of good quality : there were no complaints. The officers have carried out their duties in a satisfactory manner. The following is a summary of work done during the year : 97 chains of road and 227 chains of fire-breaks were formed; 70 acres were cleared for planting; trees planted—Larch 332,375, Oregon pine 22,225, Pinus laricio 557,625, Juniperus Virginiana 670; blanks planted—larch 95,000, eucalyptus 46,070, Eucalyptus Sluartiana 32,160, Pinus muricata 800; total number of trees planted, 1,086,925. There was also a considerable amount of work done repairing roads and fences, digging drains, grubbing gorse, weeding and digging around trees, making harness, planting bags and tents. E. Bybne, Principal Warder and Acting-Gaoler. The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington. s"

WANGANUI PRISON. H.M. Prison, Wanganui, 18th January, 1908. The number of persons received during the year was 227—viz., 196 males and 31 females; being an increase of 10 males and 7 females. The increase in males may be fairly attributed to the Main Trunk Railway, 43 having come from there. Of the 31 females, 23 came from Palmerston North, 5 from Wanganui, and 1 each from Feilding, Marton, and Auckland. Of the males, 18 had been in prison more than onee —viz., 1 four times, 2 thrice, and 15 twice; of the females, 2 had been in prison four times and 3 twice : thus reducing the actual numbers by 31. There were in custody on the Ist January, 20 males and 8 females; on the 31st December, 27 males and 8 females. The daily average was 22"74 males and 444 females. The conduct of the prisoners has been good, there having been only 11 punishments, as against 16 last year. The prisoners have been employed during the year forming a recreation-ground at the upper part of the town. There have been no escapes during the year, which speaks well for the officers in charge of the gang, considering the places where they were working. lam glad to say they are now working in an open place where there are no trees, and where escape is next to impossible.