H.— 20

12

The conduct of the staff has been excellent: no officer has been reported or punished, and all ranks have taken a keen interest in their respective duties. In referring back to medical-treatment cases, I wish to point out the inconvenience and annoyance that they cause to their fellow-prisoners when in their delirium, and suggest that provision be made for their treatment in some outside accommodation, so that they may be entirely separate from those prisoners who have been at work all day and who require a night's unbroken rest. At present it is impossible for prisoners to obtain sleep when they are occupying the same wing as that in which a D.T. case is confined The ventilation of the prison has been greatly improved, a matter which has been much appreciated by the prisoners, and at present it leaves nothing to be desired. Additions and improvements to several of the prison cottages have been carried out, and 1 hope that by the end of the coming year all the quarters occupied will have been renovated and made more habitable. New quarters were erected for the Assistant Matron, and those vacated by her are now used for accommodating female prisoners. A new wash-house and a bathroom were built, giving greater capacity for coping with the laundry-work, and expediting the bathing of the female prisoners. A photographic studio has been built, and this no doubt will be of great assistance to the. photographer in producing a clear and distinct photograph. First Offenders' Probation Act. There were 5 males and 1 female on the probation register at the beginning of the year. Fifteen males were admitted to probation during the year. Five males and 1 female were received on transfer from other districts ; 11 males were transferred to other districts, and 1 male transferred to Otekaike Training-school. Two males were discharged from probation, having carried out the terms of the conditional liberty in a satisfactory manner. One male was gazetted as an absconder, and so far I have not been able to get any trace of him. There were 10 males and 2 females on the register at the end of the year. I have, &c, S. G. Millington, The Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer.