H—2o

hundred volumes per annum for the office of the Commissioner of Patents. The? Secretary of the National Library Service recently wrote : " The quality of rebinding of those books which have been returned to this Service from your institution has been very satisfactory." Recently a printing machine powered by an electric motor has been installed in the department and it is expected that a considerable amount of specialized printing will be carried out on behalf of the Justice Department. New Buildings and Equipment.—Shortly after the commencement of the year a new cottage, upon which work had started four months earlier, was completed and occupied. Three other cottages were partially renovated, and towards the end of the year a thorough reconstruction and renovation of the oldest of the institution cottages was commenced. In the institution itself much building and reconstruction has been carried out with the purpose of providing added facilities with as little new building as possible. The entrance of the gymnasium was changed from the north to the south end, and the fixed stage removed so that the area could be used for basketball and other floor games. Provision was also made for better heating, and fluorescent lighting adds lustre to a very fine recreation-room. Five table-tennis tables and adequate facilities for cards and other games have been provided. Recently we have incorporated the Matron's quarters and Board room into the recreation area, providing a fine library and reading-room as well as a billiard-room for the association class. These additional facilities have changed the whole aspect of our evening programme and it is now possible to allow inmates to gostraight to the recreation-rooms after their evening meal without first locking them in their cubicles. The added recreational time and opportunities for freedom of movement met with a ready response from the inmates, so that there is much less misbehaviour and the esprit de corps of the Institution has shown a marked improvement. Work has been commenced on the new ablution block and the equipment for it, and the kitchen is coming to hand quickly. It is hoped that by the middle of the coming year the ablution block will be in use and the work on the kitchen well under way. New rooms were provided for the evening school and two of the rooms were equipped with new desks. Much-needed space for the expansion of the woodwork-shop was provided by building an extension to the institution store to make room for articles held for surveying and condemning. Plans have been made and some of the work already carried out for the provision of a-fall-sized football-field in the institution grounds. This will involve taking in almost all the experimental area and the whole of the north yard. The tennis-courts will have to be moved to the south yard. As has been mentioned above, the dairy buildings and equipment are in process of complete overhaul, and reconstruction and plans are in hand for making substantial additions to the piggery and shearing-sheds. Evening Classes. —As in previous years, these were divided into four groups, one of which took more advanced subjects at secondary-school stages. The class studiesincluded English, arithmetic, history, geography, and world affairs. The Southland and Otago branches of the Workers' Educational Association gave generous assistance, and in particular the drama classes under Mr. J. Marr proved most successful. The choir,, under the direction of Mr. Kennedy Black, reached a high standard and made a particularly fine contribution at the Christmas concert. Several successful concerts were presented, at the institution through the year. Vocational Classes. —Classes in life-saving and swimming, bookbinding, radio repairs, boot repairs, carpentry and joinery, and painting and sign writing have been conducted during the evenings by members of the staff and attracted the interest of large numbers of the inmates. Social Life and Entertainment. —Programmes of 16 mm. sound films have been presented weekly, being supplied by the National Film Library and commercial distributing agencies. Concerts were given by various organizations and a display of wrestling by the Southland Wrestling Club. One very successful function was provided.

32