Report of the Inspector of Prisons.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 11, 13 July 1885, Page 4

Report of the Inspector of Prisons.

The fifth annual report of the Inßpeotor of Prisons has boen presented to Parliament. During tho year ending the 31st December, 1884, Captain Hume visited 13 of the larger and several of tho smaller prisons of the oolony, and 'on tho whole he is very satisfied with the manner in whioh theso institutions are oonduotod. The health of the prisoners, though not bo good as during the previous year, was fairly good, the daily average showing an inoreaso of 27 maleß and I' 2 females on the sick list. The deaths numbered 9, and were confined ' to prisoners in the Lyttelton and Auckland gaols. At the oommenoemont of the past year there wero 503 male and 102 female prisoners in the 13 larger prisons, and at the close of the year there were 525 male and 97 female prisoners. The total number of prisoners who passed through these prisons during the year was 3855 males and 992 females, being an inoreaso' on the previous year of 33 males and a dooraase of 67 females, the total increase being 34. The average nnmber of prisoners to population was '099 per cent., or a deorease of '04 per oent. on the previous year. This result is looked upon as satisfactory when it is considered that a 'large inoreaso of short-sentence prisoners might reasonably have been expeoted under the Police Offences Aot passed last session. There was a inorease of one female and six male debtors, and 19 male and eight female lunatios detained in gaol during the year. The prisoners were maintained last year at a gross cost eaoh of £55 9s 9d, and a net cost of £44 14s sd, eaoh against £55 11s 6d and £45 9s 7d respectively the following year. In the gross total cost per prisoner, Hokitika is highest at £111 17 7d. and Mount Cook the lowest at £39 8s 2d. Of the , total nnmber of prisoners passing through the gaols, 503 maleß and 174 females were nnable to read or write. There was a Blight decrease in the number of juvenile criminals reoeived. Captain Hume is gratified at being able to report a marked improvement in the work done by prisoners, and that what is termed the "Government stroke" has now almost disappeared.

The Home correspondent of the Sydney Mail furnishes some interesting statistics respecting the revised version of the Old Testament just issued. The paper on whioh it has been printed bos been manufactured at the Oxford University's mills, at Wolveroote, near Oxford, and 375 tonß of rags have' been oonsumad in making 250 tons of paper tor this issue. This would cover 1\ square miles, or would go round the world in a strip of 6 inohes wide. The sheets piled in reams as they leave the mill would make a oolumn ten times the height of St. Paul's, or, folded into books before binding, a oolnmn a hundred times that height. The copios, whioh are being prepared for the Oxford University press alone, would, if piled" flat one upon another, make a oolumn more than 14 miles high, or if piled end on end would reaoh 74 miles in height. An immense number of sheep and goat skins have been required for binding the copies. It is estimated that 1560 goat skins have been used in binding the copies which will be presented among the American Committee of Revision. A special Aot of Congress has been passed to admit these oopies into tho Uniteff States free of duty.