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ment is rapidly increasing in the neighbourhood, it is important that the erection of a high enclosing fence or wall should be proceeded with at an early date. This Gaol is only used for prisoners serving sentences of three months and under, and even within that limit a transfer is effected if a prisoner appears likely to become dangerous. Greymouih. —This is a recent building replacing the old Hokitika Prison. It has accommodation for six male and two female prisoners. It stands in the same category as Gisborne in regard to the prisoners confined there, being limited to those with sentences of three months and under three months. Palmerston North. —This is a police-gaol, but owing to the central position of the town it is used more frequently than any other police-gaol in the Dominion. The building is of wood, and the greater part of it has been in existence for a considerable time. The arrangement of the cells and yard is bad, and, when funds permit, a more modern structure should be provided. Police-gaols. —The police-gaols that were visited during the year were in sufficiently good repair for the class of prisoners confined in them. The Police-gaol at Picton requires to be rebuilt, and a vote having been taken for this purpose, the work will be put in hand at an early date. Peogebss during the Year. The development of the prison system is necessarily gradual, as is also the provision of new and more modern buildings to replace those that have become obsolete or those that have been built in unsuitable localities. Still, since the last annual report was written two important departures have taken place in the general system of prison management —viz., the commencement of farming operations at Waikeria and the opening of a prison for females at Addington. Waikeria. —The development at Waikeria is dealt with elsewhere in this report. Addington. —The principal block of the Addington Prison, which is situated in an area of 10 acres of level land which is admirably adapted for gardening, was erected for its present purpose over thirty years ago, but was apparently vacated on the completion of the Lyttelton Prison. It was occupied as a Samaritan Home for women for many years, and reverted to its original purpose in May last, when the female prisoners from the Lyttelton Prison were transferred. Although the structure was erected for prison purposes it had never been completed, and in process of time had fallen into some disrepair. In addition to this it was surrounded by the prison buildings of a still earlier period, most of which were in a state of decay and had to be pulled down. The property had also to be enclosed with a high fence to shut it ofi as far as possible from the public, and the grounds required placing in order and preparing for gardening operations. The greater part of this work was carried out by prison labour supplied from Lyttelton under the supervision of officers from, that Prison, and the result has been eminently satisfactory. Some expenditure will still be required to complete the main building, but the additions that are necessary are not of a very extensive character. The provision of this separate institution for women prisoners, who are as far as possible being drafted to Addington from all the other prisons, will enable the Department, by classification and other means, to deal more satisfactorily with female offenders than has hitherto been possible. Regulations. —During the year the question of revising and modernizing the Prison Regulations has been dealt with, and a complete set of regulations drafted to replace those that have been in operation since November, 1883. They came into force on the Is" February, and are already having a good effect in bringing about uniformity in the management of the prisons of the Dominion. Regulations have also been prepared to carry out the intention of section 26 of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, in regard to the payment of wages to habitual criminals and offenders and to prisoners undergoing sentences of reformative detention. It is hoped that these regulations will be in full operation in August. Probation Officers. —A further departure has been made recently by the appointment of gentlemen connected with the Prisoners' Aid Societies in each of the centres as Probation Officers under the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910. The probationers are required to report monthly to the Probation Officers, and they in turn report to the Department at stated intervals regarding the conduct, industry, and progress of the men under their charge. Formerly this work was carried out by the Gaolers, but although these officers carried out their duties satisfactorily, the fact of their holding the position necessitated the probationers calling at the gaols to report themselves, and for many reasons this was undesirable. In any case, the Gaolers are fully employed without having extraneous duties cast upon them. The five gentlemen who now hold the positions have all had long experience of social work, and the interests of the prisoners and of the Department should be safe in their hands. Physical Drill. —The instruction of the prisoners in physical drill was commenced at Invercargill some time ago, and arrangements have recently been made for a class to be established at Auckland under the instruction of one of the staff. Similar arrangements will be made at other prisons when it is practicable to do so. Education. —The system of evening classes for the prisoners having proved successful at Invercargill, preparations are now being made to carry out similar instruction at Auckland and Lyttelton. In both places matters have been much delayed owing to structural difficulties, but these are now