HANMER PRISON CAMP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14440, 5 February 1909, Page 5

HANMER PRISON CAMP.

(Khosi Our, Own Cokkespondknt.) CiroiCTCIIUfiCIJ, February 4. The men who for their sins or misforturws are giving compulsory free service to Ihe country at the 1-lan'inc.r l'r.wa Camp are engaged in the production of an artilivi.-il .oicst. The camp .is not. of very ini-.-it-m esta'olis-hmtnt," but for all Hint, writes a press representative who lately visited Haumei', the face of the w.Unlry has been completely changed bv l-lic process of trivj-pkinthi;. Tlio site of the camp is, perhaps, a ii'ttle over two iniks from tiia townsitip, .the road wiudhug and iindtilating through most altractive country. The prlfow* are at woik during the day, but after the evening meal they arc allowed opportunities for recreation. Certain boundaries a'-c defined, to the limits of Winch the prisoners may go, but no further. Tlie .Saturday "a-fteajioors are

"days off," a,r.d llw rm'e is 1.-eguikd vivlt cricket matches against any team, semfch or organised, which may evince a desire to try conclusions. On .Sundays there are church services, and the day is spent in the restful fashion approved by a paternal State. The men's huts are, on the whole, models of cleanliness and neatness. Each accommodates tw'o men, and the occupants appear to combine to vie -tvil-h the men in the other huts in the matter of decorations. Some of the v.vdU arc almost covered with pictorial cuttings and post-cards. There is an " Australian " wbaie tenanted by two sons of the Commonwealth, who display "Advance Australia" einblnjwiid on a banner as their chief decoration. There is a "Maori" whore, occupied by two Xnfivcs. Anoflier wfeire is u,-:ed as' a library, and reading room, and still another :>s a. billiard room. The billiard table is a very ingenicuslv-cosstvnet-.d all'air, and it-' is slid that Kinio Itnuvelkms breaks have been made on it. The table was the invention of two young Maoris. Tli" actual industrie,! side of the camp is represented by the cook shop, the blacksmith's shop, and the bootmaker's shop. The bootmaker is a young fellow who learned the trade as a luwiivorkkg bookmaker. He I urns out a hand-made bcoi, watertight, strongly made, and eminently suited for men engaged in field .pursuits. 'The " s.'nilliy i' is also in iha.rgp of an ex-perl. The cook is an artist in his Ike. There are only 21 prisoners in the caino at prercnt. though tic-re is aeconnncla'tion fur mere lh;ni di.ul.le that number.