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the labour upon single works is followed, and with success. In some States they are employed in working coal mines, aud the result of their labour is that tho gaol costs nothing for maintenance. It is self-supporting. 1004. In your opinion is the scale of rations satisfactory ? —Yes. Some hold the opinion that wo ' feed them too well; but my own opinion is that if we are to got the same amount of work out of the prisoners we must give them tho same amount of food as we now give them. 1005. You think the ration scale is a satisfactory one ?—Yes. 1006. Is the general health of the prisoners good? —Yes; excellent. AYe have no hospital. 1007. Is tobacco allowed in the Dunedin Gaol? —Yes. I am glad I got that to be allowed. If the men behave themselves well it is allowed as a reward. 1008. It is not served out as a matter of course to all ?—No. 1009. It is given as a reward for good conduct ? —Yes. 1010. Aro the prisoners allowed to pass tobacco from one to the other ? —No; they would be severely punished if they did. 1011. The reason I ask is, that in one gaol we learn tobacco is served out to all—to non-smokers as well as to smokers —and those who do not smoke are allowed to pass their tobacco to others who do. Of course the result is that any man may have almost as much tobacco as he pleases? —If a man in our gaol was found with tobacco except what had been served out to him he would bo punished severely. 1012. There is no hospital connected with the gaol you say ? —No. You are much better off at Lyttelton than we are ; although the hospital there is, after all, a miserable affair. 1013. If prisoners are ill, then, they are attended in their cells ? —Y res. 1014. Do any clergymen attend the prison ? —Yes. Thero is a Prisoners' Aid Society iv Dunedin, which pays the clergyman the Government formerly supported for the purpose of visiting the gaol. 1015. Do the Roman Catholic clergymen attend? —The Roman Catholic clergymen never fail in their duty. They attend always, notwithstanding that they have been deprived of the usual allowance. 1010. Do other denominations attend ? —No. Some men would do more harm than good ; in fact, they would do no good. 1017. To what denomination does the clergyman employed by the Prisoners' Aid Society belong ? ■ —I cannot tell. When we invited applications for the post of chaplain, he was very strongly recommended to me by the Rev. Dr. Stuart. I was at that time acting as Deputy-Superintendent. I appointed him thereupon ; but 1 do not know whether he is a Methodist, or Presbyterian, or Episcopalian. I know that there are but few Christians like him ; he is devoted to his work. 1018. Have his visits had a good effect, do you thiuk? —I think so. Ho is a man in ten thousand; he is an enthusiast. 1019. AVhat books are read in the gaol ?—Any books we can give. 1020. Is there any library?—No; nothing deserviug the name. 1021. Is there any provision for the secular instruction of the prisoners?— There is a regular school. 1022. Is it held in the evening ?—Yes. 1023. They are taught to read and write? —Yes, and to cypher. 1024. Is good progress made at the school?— Yes ; the schoolmaster is generally a well-educated man, who unfortunately has found his way into the gaol. 1025. Aro any attempts at reformation made in the gaol ? —Rev. Mr. Torrance (that is the gentleman I have referred to) endeavours to assist the prisoners. I sometimes give very good advice, but I do not know whether it has any great effect. I may mention that when at Home I put the question to tho authorities in almost every gaol I visited, " Have you ever known a prisoner who has been really reformed? " and the invariable reply was "No." 1026. Is the effect of imprisonment in Dunedin deterrent? —Yes. 1027. Have you frequent recommittals? —Not often. AYe have of course some who are always in gaol; but, generally speaking, those who have been in the gaol for any time go away from the district. For instance, you now have in Canterbury one of our dangerous men, " German Charlie." He is a notorious character, though a good workman, and could always earn his 9s. per day. He was in our gaol several times. The last time he got out he went away to Timaru. 1028. Is any assistance given to enable prisoners to make a fair start when their term of imprisonment is ended?— The Government gives a small sum, and there is a Prisoners' Aid Society, but, unfortunately, that is nearly crippled by having to pay £240 a year for a chaplain to the gaol. That payment runs away with tho greater amount of the funds. The Government, in my opinion, was wrong in withdrawing the allowance from the chaplains. 1029. Have the prisoners much difficulty in getting work after leaving the gaol?— Not those who arc anxious to get work ; but most wish to gut away from Dunedin. 1030. As a rule, are the contracts for food-supply with one tradesman or with several? —With several. It is put up to tender. 1031. Each thing separate ?—1 think so ; except bread, which is made for the gaol in tho lunatic asylum. 1032. Do the prison officers get their stores from the same tradesmen ? —I can say they do not, 1033. Has your attention ever been called to the quality of the stores ?—I have never heard the slightest complaint as to the quality of the food. lam particular in examining it before it is cooked, and think it is very good. As to the bread, I will say this: it is the only good bread we can got in Otago, because it is unadulterated. 1031. Has your attention been drawn to any breaches of gaol discipline on the part of the officers ? —A Tery, very seldom. It is a very rare circumstance to have complaints; and, when any are made, they are generally of a very trifling character.

Son. Captain Fraser.

30th Aug., 1878.