H.—2o,

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prisoners in the South Island prisons, besides a considerable number of boots and shoes for use in mental hospitals, are being manufactured in the boot and shoe factory attached to this Prison. The growing of lucerne for feeding the stock kept on the property, as well as the raising of potatoes, horsefeed, &c, all provide useful and profitable work for the inmates of this institution, and at the same time lessens the cost of maintenance to the general taxpayer. Now that the main buildings connected with the Invercargill Borstal Institution have been completed, also the building of the necessary embankments required under the agreement with the Invercargill Borough Council in connection with the reclamation scheme, it has been found possible to devote more time, to the prison farm. During the year much valuable work has been done in the way of improving this property, and the results up to the present have been such as to fully justify the large expenditure of labour involved. Much yet.remains to be done before this valuable property becomes fully developed, but the results so far obtained are distinctly encouraging. During the year work has consisted chiefly of grassing, draining, fencing, and reading operations, and the erection of necessary buildings. Up till the end of last season an area of no less than 900 acres had been burnt off and iaid down injgrass, and|many miles of fencing erected. During the coming season it is expected that the dairy herd will be increased to fully a hundred cows, while a considerable, number of store cattle have been purchased for fattening and ultimate sale. This property is of great potential value, and, providing it is properly managed, should ultimately return a substantial revenue to the State. No doubt the work connected with the bringing into profitable, use of this property has been, and still is, of a somewhat unpleasant and arduous character, yet as time goes on these unfavourable conditions will disappear, and the whole of the inmates of the institution will be employed at general farming and agriculture. Apart from the farming operations and the developmental work in connection therewith, the inmates have been employed during the year in the construction of an extensive embankment to provide a new riiie range, for the Defence Department. Very good progress has been made with this work, the main embankment having been completed for half the, required length. The Department is carrying out this undertaking on a daily-wage basis, and the value of the work performed as per Public Works Engineer's certificate amounted to £3,670 for the financial year. From the foregoing it will be seen that much valuable and useful work is being carried on by the inmates of our prisons, and that the old system of employing prisoners in many instances on useless and unreproductive work has entirely disappeared. To even the most casual observer it must become apparent that this must have an uplifting effect upon the prisoner, as it enables him to feel that although in prison he is yet of some use, to the world at large, and that the experience he is gaining will be- of some value to him when the day for his release arrives. I have, &c, M. Hawkins, Acting Inspector of Prisons.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENTS, GAOLERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF INSTITUTIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1918. ADDINGTON REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN. The conduct of inmates has been good with few exceptions ; their health also has been satisfactory. The work consists of vegetable and flower gardening, sewing, knitting, darning, laundry, cleaning, and cooking. The Red Cross work carried on in previous war years was continued, the list of articles made by the inmates during the year being as follows : 462 pairs socks, 432 pairs pyjamas, 435 flannels, 360 pillow-slips, 360 slings, 5,784 handkerchiefs, 136 face-cloths, 54 dressinggowns, 11 pairs knee-caps, 12 towels, 48 treasure-bags. Supplies of rations —meat, bread, milk, fish, &c. —have all been of excellent quality. The usual concerts and lectures have been held at intervals throughout the year. Official Visitors have visited the inmates and advised them respecting future work and effort to live good and useful lives. In the regrettable death of Mr. T. I. Smail, who represented the Prison Gate Mission, and for many years had been associated with important humanitarian work, a loss is experienced that we can scarcely hope to quite, replace. Divine service has been held by Canon Bean, Father Long, Mr. Smail, and the Salvation Army, to whom our sincere gratitude is due. The usual extras in the form of sweets, cakes, &c, were amply supplied for Christmas, and much appreciated by the inmates. The staff gave, every help in work and time, decorating and making the necessary arrangements to brighten Christmas for them. Mr. Scanlon, Gaoler, H.M. Prison, Lyttelton, has visited weekly in his usual capacity.