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The officers carried out their duties satisfactorily. Three officers arrived on transfer, and three were transferred during the year. The quantity of fresh vegetables grown in the Prison garden was more than sufficient for the use of the Prison. A good crop of oats and hay was grown on the Prison farm, and provided sufficient feed for the Prison horses, sheep, and cattle, leaving a, surplus for the coming year. The 30 acres of grass mentioned in last year's report has come on well, and will be available for feeding stock during the coming season. An area of 25 acres was sown in oats during the spring, and, in spite of a very dry season, gives promise of a very good crop. An area of 2J acres war planted in potatoes and yielded 130 sacks of good tubers. About sixty pigs were bred during the year; nine were slaughtered for the use of the Prison, the market value at 6d. per pound being £33. Divine service was conducted periodically throughout the year. The medical officer paid regular visits to the Prison, saw all pi isoners, and made a general inspection of the Prison. LYTTELTON PRISON. The health of the prisoners has been good. One prisoner on admission was found to be suffering from venereal disease and was sent to the District Hospital, Christchurch; and one man received on remand from the Police Court, Christchurch, for drunkenness had to be sent to the Hospital, as he was suffering from heart-disease and dropsy. He died in the Hospital after his remand warrant expired. The conduct and industry of the prisoners has been good, there being only four minor prison offences, which were dealt with by the Visiting Justices, and one charge against a prisoner for assaulting an officer with intent to escape. This prisoner was brought before a. Stipendiary Magistrate and punished. The rations supplied were of good quality. The North and South Wings have been closed from the 31st December, 1919, and the East Wing was opened for the reception of prisoners. The party of prisoners employed at the Lyttelton Borough Council quarry was transferred to the Paparua Prison at the end of December. Divine service has been held on Sundays during the year. NAPIER PRISON. The conduct and industry of prisoners have been good, only four individuals being charged with minor prison offences. They were dealt with by the Visiting Justices. The health of prisoners has been good; no cases occurred requiring the urgent attendance of the medical officer. The rations supplied were of good quality, and. tho scale of allowances sufficient. The prisoners have been employed in the quarry, Coote Road. The sale of the material quarried realized £188 17s. 2d. for the year, and is the only source of income derived from the labour of prisoners at this Prison. Divine service on Sundays has been conducted by the clergy of the Church of England; no ministers of other denominations have visited to hold service. NEW PLYMOUTH PRISON. The prisoners have been employed on work similar to that of last year, such as quarry-work, gardening, building a piggery, and improving the approaches to the quarry so as to make it almost impossible for a prisoner to escape without taking an enormous risk. The quarry road has had a lot of labour and good material put on, and resulted in the teams and motor-lorries being able to work all through the winter without any inconvenience. Considering the narrowness of the road, and that parts of it seldom get any sun during the winter, and also considering the axle-weight of some of the loads would be 10 or 11 tons, the road stood the strain well. The cash returns from the quarry and garden show a substantial increase; and, as no credit is taken for the expenditure of labour and material on the quarry road, also the general upkeep of the reserve, the prisoners on the whole have done good work. There was an attempt to break prison by one prisoner. I believe the action of the man was more to satisfy his vanity and become a gaol hero without any expectation of remaining out of prison for any lengthy period. The Stipendiary Magistrate punished him severely, and probably the prisoner will not make another attempt. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been very good, and the majority, I believe, do their best to give satisfaction. The health of the prisoners has been very good, with the exception of one man who was diseased when he came into Prison. Ministers of the various denominations have under their plan conducted services every Sunday, and have gained the attention of flic inmates, and I do not know of one prisoner who had to be checked for any irregularity during the services. The prisoners were entertained by Mr. Bennett, Official Visitor, and several gentlemen who took part in a concert provided for the.benefit of the prisoners. I am sure the inmates were grateful to those who took part, also to the Department for the privilege,

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