H.—2o

5

General Work. As previously stated, the position «-ith regard to the various works being carried cm by the Department is fully dealt with by the Gaolers in their reports, and I do not propose to deal with the matter on the present occasion. Staff. The Gaolers, Acting-Gaolers, and their staffs have rendered efficient service during the rear. and mv thanks are due to them for the assistance they have given me in my work. There have been three retirements of officers on superannuation since the last report was written —viz., Messrs. T. li. Pointon, Gaoler at [jytteltonj J. Coyle, Gaoler at New Plymouth; and Principal Warder Fuller, of Napier. They were all officers of long service, and performed valuable work for the Prisons Department during their many years of office. Mr. Covle's retirement ivas caused through ill health, and I much regret to say that he succumbed to the illness that incapacitated him immediately after he relinquished the duties of his position. General. Health of Prisoners. —A reference to the second division of Table A indicates that the daily average number of prisoners on the sick-list was slightly higher for 1913 (1.V47) than for 1912 (1405), but this is partly accounted for by the fact that a number of the prisoners were ill on admission, and had therefore to be treated in the public or prison hospitals. There appeal's to have been no sickness arising from preventible causes within the prisons themselves. Deaths. —Ten persons died in prison during 1913, as compared with 15 in 1912—1 at Auckland, 1 at New Plymouth, 2 at Wellington. I it Addington, 3 at Lyttelton, I at Dunedin, and 1 at Invercargill. Escape*. —There were 10 escapes during the year, exactly the same number as in 1912— 4 from Kaingaroa. 1 from Waipa, 3 from Wellington, 1 from Auckland, and 1 from Opotiki Police Gaol. First Offenders' Probation Act. Table J shows that 136 persons were placed on probation, as against 7!) in 1912. Of these. 22 have so far satisfactorily carried out the terms of their licenses and been discharged. 4 have been rear rested, 4 absconded, and 106 still remain under the supervision of the probation officers. The amounts ordered to be paid by the various Courts towards the costs of prosecution amount to £495 13s. 10d., of which the sum of £287 11s. 9d. has already been collected. I have, &c, C. E. Matthews.

EXTRACTS FROM GAOLERS' REPORTS FOR 1913. AUCKLAND PRISON. Sra,— H.M. Prison, Auckland, 18th March, 1914. 1 have the honour to submit my annual report on the working of this prison for the year ended 31st December, 1913. At the commencement of the year there were 251 males ancT 1!) females in custody, 22 of the males being habitual criminals and 50 for reformative treatment. During the year,.1,698 males and 129 females were received, of whom 11 males were declared habitual criminals, 23 were ordered to be detained for reformative treatment in addition to a definite sentence, 32 to reformative treatment only, while 10 males undergoing reformative treatment were received from other prisons, and 2 habituals, again convicted, had their licenses cancelled. During the same period 1,690 males and 132 females were discharged or otherwise disposed of, viz. : Males on remission, 74; at expiration of sentence, 1,165; admitted to bail, 20; acquitted and after remand, 232; transferred to other prisons, 103; handed to Police, 11; habituals transferred to New Plymouth when definite sentences had expired, 13; debtors, 17; on probation, 32; to Mental Hospital, 8; released on the recommendation of the Prisons Hoard, 9; died, 1; committed suicide, 1; to Bmnharn Industrial School. 2; to Weraroa 'I raining Farm, 1; Takapuna Industrial School, 1. On the female side, 8 were discharged on remission and 84 at expiration of sentence, 5 were transferred to Addington. 2 to Mental Hospital, 32 acquitted after remand, and 1 admitted to bail. There were remaining in custody at the end of the year 259 males and 16 females, 22 of the males being habitual criminals and 67 detained for reformative treatment. The prisoner who committed suicide was on remand, and there was nothing in his appearance or manner to indicate that he required any special supervision. He was found in the early morning hanging from one of the bars of his cell-window, life being extinct. The usual inquest was held.