7

H.—2o

Four males and 1 female were sent to the District Hospital immediately after sentence. The prisoners at Taiaroa Heads are employed excavating for Q.F. guns and magazines and other necessary works. In the town prison matmaking is still continued, and employment is found for the men in keeping the prison, grounds, Supreme Court, and police-station in order. The rations supplied by contractors are good, and there have been no complaints. In connection with the delivery of rations, I wish to thank the Harbourmaster and Board at Dunedin for the assistance given by conveying stores and rations, &c, to Taiaroa Heads during the time .the Defence steamer s.s. " Lady Roberts " was undergoing overhaul and repairs. Services were held every Sunday by the Chaplain, Prisoners' Aid Society, and clergymen of the various denominations. First Offenders' Probation Act. There were 4 males on probation at the commencement of the year, 4 males were placed on probation at the Supreme Court, and 2 received on transfer from other districts, making a total of 10 dealt with during the year. Six males were discharged from probation, having satisfactorily performed the conditions of license. One male who had had his license extended last year failed to comply with the terms of his 'probation, and was arrested and sentenced "to four months hard labour. Three males remain on probation at the end of the year. J. C. Soanlon, The Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer.

HANMER SPRINGS PRISON. H.M. Prison, Hanmer Springs, 11th January, 1910. I have the honour to report on the working of the prison for the year ending 31st December, 1909. There were in custody at the commencement of the year 24 hard-labour prisoners; received during the year, -SI ; transferred to Lytteltori, 7. One escaped, and was recaptured shortly afterwards. One died in camp, Dr. Little Baldwin and the Matron from the Sanatorium being in attendance. Mr. Day, S.M., held an inquest. The huts have been altered and made into single cells, which is a great improvement. The rations have been of good quality and regularly supplied. The work consisted of clearing scrub, planting trees, and general maintenance of the plantation. Following is a summary of the year's work: Area cleared, 309 acres; grubbing, stumping, and gorse-cutting, 70 acres; filling in. blanks, 8,500 alder and 8,500 birch—total, 17,000 trees; pits dug, 158,568; trees planted—l2B,6oo Laricio, 54,000 Menziesii, 18,215 ponderom, 217,750 larch, 204,205 Douglassii, 118,256 Muricata— total 841,076, grand total 858,076 trees. J. Down, Principal Warder, The Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington. Acting-Gaoler.

INVERCARGILL PRISON. H.M. Prison, Invercargill, 30th March, 1910. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ended 31st December, 1909. In custody on the Ist January, 1909, 28 males and no females; received during the year, 82 males and 7 females; making a total of 110 males and 7 females dealt with during the year, being 9 males less and 3 females more than for 1908. Discharged during the year, 74 males and 7 females ; leaving in confinement at the end of the jrear 36 males. There were no reports against officers during the year, all having carried out their duties satisfactorily. Three male lunatics were received during the year, also 2 males suffering from the effects of drink ; but, owing to the very satisfactory arrangements made here for dealing with such cases, all were removed to the Public Hospital for curative treatment. This humane method of dealing with such cases continues to work most satisfactorily. The rations supplied by the contractor have been very good; consequently there has been an entire absence of complaints. The conduct of the prisoners has been uniformly good, only 6 prisoners having been punished for minor breaches of the prison regulations. The prisoners have been employed during the year preparing material for and building the new prison, also in levelling the site and getting the grounds into order. The building of an officers' residence has also been completed, and the residence is now occupied. The new prison is almost completed, and will be ready for occupation soon. The building has been constructed almost entirely by prison labour, and under the supervision of prison