H.—2o

12

Hautu Prison (Land-development Camp), Tokaanu. (Officer in Charge, Mr. T. Banks.) At the commencement of the year there were in custody 47 males ; during the year 33 were received, 18 were discharged, 7 were transferred to other institutions, and 1 man escaped, leaving a total of 44 in custody at the 31st December, being a daily average of 46-37 prisoners in custody for the year. The health of the prisoners has been excellent, there being a few minor cases of colds, &c. The general conduct and industry of the prisoners have been satisfactory. The majority of them take a keen interest in the farm-work, only four being punished for breach of regulations. In the course of the year an additional thirty single huts have been erected, allowing of all prisoners having each a separate hut, which has considerably improved the moral tone of the camp. The building previously utilized as a dormitory has been converted into a social room. During the year a sports and social committee has been formed, the bulk of the prisoners taking a keen interest in the various games and concerts. A tennis-court and sports-ground have been laid out, which have been keenly patronized, causing a clean sporting rivalry amongst the men. The prisoners have also evinced keen interest in the development of a flower-garden, adding considerably to the appearance of the camp. The spiritual welfare of the prisoners has been well attended to by the local ministers of the various denominations. The prison vegetable-garden continues to be a success, the vegetables grown being more than sufficient for local requirements, the surplus being sent to other institutions, and also used for feeding live-stock. Owing to the increased development of land during the year, considerably more cattle and sheep have been purchased. The sheep purchased last year as an experiment did remarkably well, the lambs from this flock realizing top prices at Westfield Market, and killing out at 66-4 lb. average. The following is a summary of the work carried out during the year : 660 acres stumped of tutu and manuka, and cleared of fern and burned ready for ploughing; 500 acres ploughed; 700 acres sown down in temporary pasture, 150 acres in turnips, and 2 acres in potatoes. Forest-trees consisting of 10,000 Pinus radiata were planted out on various parts of the farm for the purpose of shelter-belts. One and a half miles of subdivision fence has been erected, consisting of four posts to the chain and seven wires. A stock-yard and crush has been erected, also a shearing-shed. The conduct of the staff has been very satisfactory. Napier Prison. (Gaoler, Mr. W. R. Cook.) On the first day of the year under review there were 29 males and no females in custody. During the year a total of 214 were received, of which 208 were males and 6 females, showing a gratifying decrease of 24 on the previous year. The principal work at which the prisoners were employed was quarrying—the product of this industry being sold to the Napier Borough Council and to private customers. Other work, such as extending the vegetable-garden, painting and repairing the prison buildings, erecting a retaining-wall on the Clyde Road part of the prison property, cleaning and keeping in order the Borough Reserve at the foot of the prison property overlooking the Marine Parade, was carried out by that class of prisoner not suited physically for the heavier quarry-work. During the year the social side of prison life has not been overlooked, and our thanks are due to Messrs. J. P. Thompson and P. W. Peters, the Rotary Club, and others who assisted in presenting a splendid Christmas and New Year's dinner for the men, and to the Misses Ellison and the Cosmopolitan Club, who have contributed books and periodicals for the use of the prisoners. The conduct of the officers has been good. That of the prisoners has been fairly good, and only offences of a minor nature had to be dealt with. No cases of serious sickness occurred, and there were no deaths or admissions to the hospital. In conclusion I have to express my thanks to all those ladies and gentlemen who have during the year assisted me in finding employment for discharged prisoners. Excepting in the wool season, work has been hard to get for these discharged men, and it is only with the co-operation of local social workers that I have been able to succeed in placing the men. New Plymouth Prison. (Superintendent, Mr. W. Dineen.) Nothing of an unusual or extraordinary nature happened during the year. Probably the most outstanding event in the work of the year has been the installation of a baker's oven and equipment sufficient to enable the Department to bake the bread necessary for this and the Wanganui Prison. Since July the purchase of bread from outside has ceased here, and the prison-made article is giving every satisfaction, and there has been no complaint as to the quality of the bread. For the last two months Wanganui Prison has also been supplied, and the Gaoler has written to say that the quality and condition of the bread received at Wanganui from here compares more than favourably with the purchased bread. The saving in the aggregate is considerable. The erection of the bakehouse in what was known as the association cell has rendered necessary other alterations to compensate for the accommodation lost thereby. The two cells (one in the south wing and one in the east wing) which were being used as bath rooms have been refitted as cells, and two new bathrooms have been fitted up adjoining the laundry.