H—2o

A very enjoyable day was spent on New Year's Day, when all the prisoners were taken to the Trentham Camp recreation ground for a day's cricket. Sweets and drinks were supplied by the Y.M.C.A. in the camp. During the year motion pictures were screened by the departmental projectionist, and twice by Mr. Curl, of the Tory Street Mission, Wellington. The Optimists Club paid a visit to the Prison during the year and gave a splendid night's entertainment, in the form of a concert and a community sing. The Heretaunga Boxing Club and the Valley Physical Culture and Wrestling Club visited the prison and gave an excellent display of physical-culture exercises, weight-lifting, boxing, and wrestling. As usual, ministers of various denominations and laymen visited the prison and conducted services. On the whole, the food-supplies have been of a very good quality, with a plentiful supply of fresh vegetables from the prison garden. All bread requirements were produced at the prison bakehouse, which was of an excellent quality. The mutton and beef required for rations was killed at the prison slaughterhouse. In addition to the parcels received by the inmates at Christmas, gifts of fruit and cake were donated by the Upper Hutt Mission and the Howard League, Wellington. The gifts were greatly appreciated, and helped to vary the diet during the Christmas period. Apart from minor repairs and painting, the prison is in reasonable repair. Paint is on order for this job, and it is hoped to be in a position to carry out this work early in the New Year. An old building that was being used as a carpenter's shop and bootrepairing shop was destroyed by fire during August. A new boot-repairing shop has been erected, and a building which was used for a bag-store has been turned into a good carpenter's shop. This replaces the building that was destroyed. Owing to the rifle ranges and a large portion of the farm being subject to Army activities throughout the years of war, and the uncertainty of the property being taken over by the Housing Department, the maintenance of the farm on the whole has suffered to a large extent. Buildings, fences, and ditches require immediate attention. It will take considerable time and labour to bring the property up to full carrying-capacity as a big percentage of the pastures have run out and are overgrown with rushes. Some of this work, however, is already under way. It is hoped that in the future the brick-kiln will be demolished and all the area cleaned up. A very good return was made from the dairy during 1947. Milk to the value of £2,115 Is. 3d. was supplied to the Wellington City milk-supply, and sales to the staff amounted to £ll5 18s. sd. Transfers of milk to the calves amounted to £5l Is. 3d., and to the kitchens for rations, £63 Is. 3d. At the beginning of the year some rams were sold at a local sale, and were replaced by younger animals. During the year 143 lambs were sold for the sum of £212, and 238 sheep were killed for rations. The rearing of pigs for sale as baconers has been very successful during the last twelve months. The actual cash received during 1947 for baconers sold was £1,624. Plans are being made whereby it is proposed to make improvements in the existing piggery. A new area of ground in the vicinity of the piggery has been cultivated for a garden, and the old garden is being sown out in permanent pasture. A further area of 5 acres, also near the piggery, has also been made into a garden, and the vegetables from this area are for sale to the Army at Trentham. As usual the prison kitchen was supplied with vegetables from the prison garden. Two sheds have been erected on the garden site for the purpose of a shelter, tool-shed, and store. The total strength of the staff at the end of the year was 17, including the Superintendent. The retirement of Superintendent A. P. Jordan took place during the year. In conclusion, I should like to record my thanks and appreciation to the staff for their co-operation and loyalty.

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