ThE PRISONS REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 11

ThE PRISONS REPORT.

The seventeenth annual report of the In« spector of Prisons has been laid on the tablo of the House. Colonel Hume states that the result of his visits of inspection have been very satisfactory. The First Offenders' Probation Act continues to work well. Its application has been most valuable in checking crime. During the past year, owing to a riso in prices, some of the contractors for supplies have thrown up their contracts, but no difficulty was found in getting fresh contractors. The health of the prisoners has been good during the year. At the close of tho year there were 603 males and 71 females in prison. The report says this is an increase of 100 and 71 respectively, but evidently there is an error here, for the increase in female prisoners should only be 21. During the year 1897, 3518 males and 648 females passed through the prisons, an increase of 238 males and a decrease of 12 females. This increase is to some extent accounted for by the incarceration of 100 Maori prisoners for illegally ploughing up settlers' land in tho North Island. The gross cost of maintenance has increased from £47 per head to £49. Of those passing through the prisons last year, 247 males and 37 females could neither read nor write. The receipts for prison labour, road metal, bricks, etc., amounted to £8783. The difficulty of dealing with juvenile offenders is discussed, but without any practical sue<?eslion being made. The prisoners at tho three centres and at Lyttelton have been principally employed on v/orks connected with the fortifications. Good progress has been mado, but there is still a good deal of work to be clone. The new prison buildings at Dunedin have been occupied, but there is much need for a gaoler's residence. One wing of Mount Cook prison at Wellington has been occupied. The prison, the inspector says, is very much required, as the Terrace Gaol is obsolete, and the only way to make imprisonment deterrent and reformatory is by cellular separation. Colonial Hume says tl.at the time has not yet arrived for separate prisons for women, ono in the North and the other in the South Island, though the time may come when they will be necessary. There are not sufficient female prisoners to fill ono prison, and as far as punishments are concerned, visiting justices are not required. The present classification of officers in regard to rank and pay is not working satisfactorily, and in some instances entails hardships, and a scheme to put all the subordinate prison officers on a scale of pay regulated by length of service, instead of by the class of prison they are located in, is ready for submission. Owing to the abolition of penal servitude and various other causes the inspector thinks the time has arrived for a revision and amendment of the prison regulations, and he wil' be prepared to submit a scheme shortly.

Jadoo, for potting plants, raising seeds, etc. Jadoo increases the size of flowers, prolongs their season of bloom, and is indispensable for the garden or nursery.— Nimmo and Blair, Dunedia