H,— 2o

Gisborne Prison. (Gaoler, Mr. H. N. Richardson.) There were in custody at the beginning of the year 3 males. During the year 74 males and 1 female were received, and 74 males and 1 female discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving in custody on the night of 31st December 5 males. The health of the prisoners has been good, very few cases requiring the attendance of a medical officer. No prisoners were sent to the public hospital during 1935. The men have been employed at gardening, laundry work, repairing clothing and blankets, &c. Divine service has been held here during the year, Messrs. D. C. Morris and D. Heffernan, J.P., conducting same. Repairs to buildings and painting parts of roof has been done, also repairs to grid over yard have been carried out. Hatjtu Prison. (Officer in Charge, Mr. T. Banks.) On the Ist January, 1935, there were in detention 73 prisoners, and 56 were received during the year; the discharges were 9 on camp remission, 43 on probationary license, while 15 were transferred to other prisons, and one prisoner died, thus leaving 61 prisoners in custody on the night of the 31st December, 1935. The greatest number of prisoners in custody during the year was 75; the least 60; the daily average being 66-9. The conduct of the prisoners as a whole has been quite satisfactory. One prisoner escaped on the 23rd November, 1935, but was recaptured about twenty miles north of the prison four days later. He was later brought before Court and a further term of imprisonment imposed. The Visiting Justices visited the prison on a number of occasions and dealt with prisoners charged with breaches of the prison regulations, and meted out appropriate punishment. The Department is indebted to the Visiting Justices for their helpful assistance to the activities of the institution. The health of the prisoners throughout the year was very good. There were no admissions to public hospitals. One prisoner received an injury to his hand while at work, and after receiving first-aid treatment from the District Nurse he was motored through to the Medical Officer's surgery at Raetihi, where further treatment was given. After a few days on the injured list the prisoner resumed work. On the 26th June, 1935, one prisoner died suddenly. Heart trouble was the cause of his death. The Medical Officer, Dr. W. J. Feltham, made frequent visits to the institution and gave every attention to inmates requiring treatment. Full advantage was taken by the inmates of the usual facilities provided for dental treatment. Religious services were again provided during the year by visiting chaplains from Waihi, Taupo, and Taumarunui. Ample reading-matter for all the men is available in the prison library. Donations of useful books and periodicals come to hand regularly from the Mayoress's War Memorial Library League, Auckland. Our special thanks are due to the Reverend J. Laughton, Presbyterian Minister, Taupo, and to the Christchurch Branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform, for their donations of cake, butter, lollies, and cigarettes made available to the prisoners at Christmas-time. The extra allowance of tobacco made available by the Department was issued to the men on Christmas morning. The rations supplied during the year were of good quality. Various kinds of vegetables were obtained from the institution garden, and beef, pork, and mutton issued for rations was obtained from the farm. A new laundry and bathroom was erected during the year, and provides good facilities for the purposes intended. Towards the end of the year a new woolshed and sheep-pens were erected, and their value was recognized during recent shearing operations. Farm activities during the year were restricted principally to maintenance and general farming of the area already under cultivation. In addition to the erection of new buildings, the only work carried out involving capital expenditure was in connection with fencing. Subdivisional work was carried out in some of the larger paddocks, and some of the existing fences were made sheep-proof, The various industries pursued on the farm are as follows: Raising of fat stock; sheep-farming; pig-raising; breeding horses; and cropping. A wool-clip of 36 bales (net weight 5 tons 17 cwt. 81b.) was obtained from 1,385 sheep; 598 lambs were reared; 450 sheep were sold; and 264 sheep slaughtered for rations. During the year 105 head of cattle were sold at market or transferred to other prison farms, and 39 head of cattle were slaughtered for rations. Pig-raising is not at present carried on on an extensive scale. Our activities in that direction are confined to raising weaners for transfer to other prison farms. During the year 46 weaners were sent to other prisons. With the increased number of breeding-sows now on the property an increase in the numbers of weaners available for the farms is expected this year. The following crops were harvested during the year: 150 tons ensilage, 150 tons hay, 40 tons oaten sheaf, 35 tons potatoes, and 700 tons of swede turnips.

20