H.—2o.

Paparua Prison. (Superintendent, Mr. W. T. Leggett.) There were in custody at the commencement of the year 154 males. During the year 580 males were received, this number representing 513 individual prisoners and being a decrease in receptions of 21 compared with the previous year. The discharges during the year numbered 600 males, leaving 134 males in custody at the end of the year. The daily average number of prisoners was 13442, against 15194 during the previous year. The greatest number of prisoners in custody at any one time was 189 males, and the least number 120 males. The health of the prisoners generally has been good, and no deaths were recorded during the year. Only one case of venereal disease was received into custody during the year. There were eleven cases of illness requiring treatment in the Public Hospital. Two of these required operative treatment for appendicitis, the others requiring other minor treatment. There were five individuals transferred to Sunnyside Mental Hospital during the year suffering from mental disorders. The conduct of the prisoners generally has been good for the year, twenty-six individuals requiring disciplinary punishment by the Visiting Justices. There was one attempted escape by a prisoner who ran away from his party, but he was promptly recaptured and has since then done quite well. The industries of the institution have been fully maintained, and all prisoners have been fully occupied at work of a useful and instructive nature. In connection with the farming operations, there has been an additional 83 acres of agricultural Crown land added to the prison property, and this will prove helpful for rotation cropping. The Farm Manager (Mr. H. J. S. Wilson) reports having had a good spring season with good growth in crops, pastures, and lucerne for hay, but this has been very much nullified by an exceptionally droughty summer, which will cause lower yields in cereals and root crops for this season. The crops harvested during the year after a dry season included wheat, 46 bushels per acre; peas, 16 bushels per acre; and Western Wolths grass-seed, 27 bushels per acre. The root crops produced 50 tons per acre in mangels, tons of table potatoes, and 40 tons of swedes. These, with about 30 tons of lucerne hay, provided ample winter fodder for the live-stock. In cultivation, an additional 40 acres has been sown down in lucerne during the year. The Corriedale sheep flock of 1,000 ewes produced an average of 12 lb. of wool per fleece, as against 10-6 lb. in the previous year. The 1,000 ewes also produced 1,205 lambs, representing a lambing of 120 per cent., and this was very satisfactory. A feature of our sheep section has been the production of early lambs, which early in the season realized up to £2 4s. Id. per head, and topped the Addington market on several occasions. The pig section is still at a low ebb on account of market conditions, and the young stock produced have been sold as porkers, stores, and weaners. In connection with the farm, new steading buildings have been erected, also a new tank-stand for garden and steading purposes. The employment of the prisoners has been chiefly at farming pursuits, gardening, manufacture of concrete fencing-posts and paving-slabs, also the production of sand, gravel, and road-forming material for highways and local-body requirements. The spiritual and social welfare of the prisoners has again been well attended to by clergymen of the various religious denominations by regular Sunday services and individual visits. A monthly Mission service has been continued during the year by Mr. and Mrs. D. T. Smith. Mrs. J. C. Holmes and party have again provided regular monthly concerts, which have been fully appreciated by the men. During the winter months the Workers' Educational Association has provided Saturday evening lectures of an interesting and instructive nature. The institutional school of the full primary course has been continued with satisfactory results under the direction of Mr. R. G. Hampton, M.A. In conclusion, I desire to mention that the officers who instruct and supervise have shown themselves resourceful and have given excellent results in the farming and industrial sections, and the staff generally have performed their duties very satisfactorily. Rangipo Prison. (Officer in Charge, Mr. A. Banks.) At the beginning of the year there were 44 males in custody. During the year 31 were received, 13 transferred to other institutions, and 25 discharged, leaving a total of 37 in custody on 31st December, 1934. One man escaped from custody, but was recaptured and returned to the prison. The health of the prisoners has been good, there being no admissions to public hospital. The spiritual welfare of the prisoners was attended to by Rev. G. A. G. Griffin, Rev. Father Langerwerf, Rev. J. Laughton, and Mr. Moffatt. The following is a summary of work carried out during the year: 164 acres of virgin country stumped of manuka and tutu, cleared of fern, ready for ploughing; 364 acres ploughed and harrowed; 222 acres sown in permanent pasture; 224 acres of temporary pasture converted to permanent pasture; 50 acres of turnips, 20 acres of oats, and 3 acres of potatoes sown; 2,166 acres top-dressed; and 219 chains of fencing erected. A good supply of hay was harvested for winter feed. The vegetable garden has been a success, maintaining the prison with ample vegetables during the year. The officers performed their duties in a most satisfactory manner.

14