The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1890.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 5, Issue 409, 4 July 1890, Page 2

The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1890.

The tenth annual report of the prisons branch of the Department of Justice, as presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, says that during the past year t!>ere has been a very considerable reduction in the number of persons who have been confined in the different prisons, with only a small increase in cost per head ; that discipline has been maintained with fewer punishments ; that there has been less sickness amongst the prisoners, with a very la’ge diminution in the number of escapes; and, though last, by no least, there has hern a very satisfactory decrease in the number of juvenile offenders who have passed through the prisons of the colony. As regards the First Offenders’ Probation Act, the Inspector says:—“ I cannot speak too highly of its usefulness, and 1 have no hesitation in stating that many a young and tlioughtless offender has been rescued from a career of crime through its intervention. The Act continues to work smoothly and satisfactorily, and is proving year by year one of the most useful measures ever passed by any Legislature.” In the year 1888 there passed through the prisons 1242 males and 938 females, whilst during the past year the numbers were 3872 males and 802 females, being a substantial decrease of uo less than 370 males and 130 females, giving a total decrease of cases dealt with of 500. When it is remembered that in 1888therewasadecrea.se of 243. and tins is again followed by such a satisfactory diminution as 50G, the rejKirt urges it may with justice he claimed for the system of administration now m foree in the prisons of the colony that these statistics prove beyond a doubt that prisons are more and more becoming dreaded places of resort by the rising generation, and in some cases at least attempts to reform criminals are succeeding. The report also deals with thecost of maintenance of the prisoners, amounting this year to £45 15s per head, as against £44 8s last year, and adds—’* That local prisons can he made self-supporting ie a fallacy winch no sensible person at all well versed in prison matters would for a moment attempt to adopt.” Referring to juvenile offenders, the report says : —“ During the )>ast year there has been a very considerable reduction in the number of juvenile offenders who have passed through the gaols of the colony, those under the age of ten years being 14, as against 22 in 1888; whilst in those from 10 to la years the numbers are 61 as against 88, and in those from 15 to 20 years the numbers are 219 as against 241, giving a total substantial decrease of 57 in young persons under the age of twenty years. This is very satisfactory as far as it goes, and is in a great measure due to the Probation Act; but it does not go far enough, and the colonists should not rest content to find that, with the Act just referred to in full force, and with the Industrial Schools and similar institutions open in the colony, there have been imprisoned 4 fourteen children of such tender ages as under ten.” The r*|K>rt concludes by recommending a less liberal ratioa scale for long-sen-tence prisoners. The Inspector says : —" That the scale of rations is far too hlieral 1 gather from the fact that, as a genera! rule, prisoners increase in weight considerably during their sentences, and further, from the amount of food which is not eaten, hut thrown to waste daily by the prisoners.” The report on the h irst Offenders’ Probation Act shows that of eightv-three probationer.-- dui ing the year fifty satisfactorily carried out the conditions of their licenses, and were duly discharged. Two were re-arrested and imprisoned, on* absconded, and thirty remain still working out the conditions of their obligations successfully. The administration of the Act costs absolutely nothing, and during the year has saved the expenditure of £2373. Since the Act came into force, on the Ist October, 1886, 288 persons have been placed on probation. Of these 222 have been discharged on satisfac-

tonly completing the conditions of l their licenses, forty-nine arc still on probation and ten bat* oeen re-ttrreeled and brought to justice, and two only managed, by eluding the vigilance of the Pmliauon Officer and police, to eecaj>e so far unpunished The report concludes by lecnniniending some extensions of tiie Act to cases not at praseul included in it. To-morrow, if line, should be an exceedingly busy day in l’ahistiia. At the last meeting of the County Council it waa decided to set apart Saturday, the sth July, as Arbor Day, on which occasion the newly.formed portion of the main road through the township should be planted wutu trees. Since the meeting Messrs .V.evens £ Co. have been busily engaged in making frames to go around the trees to protect them from cattle and horses, and tnese names have now- been erected in their various positions, ready for the reception of the trees. I‘ahiatua must present s very peculiar appearance to strangers coming m just now ; at a short distance the frames do not look unlike a graveyard, but in a few years tune, when •he trees have grown up and the frames are removed, the town of Paluatua will present a most allrsc.ive appearance. We do not say that it is not attractive now, bat it will be more so by and by, when not only trees but tine buildings hare growu up on each side of the road. Cr Miller is to be congratulated oil having taken the initiative with regard to Arbor Day, and we trust both town and country settlers will join in the interesting proceedings that have been arranged for to-morrow.