7

H.—2o

No complaints were made about the rations, which were of very good quality. During the latter part of the year potatoes were not procurable; but the issue of more than treble the amount of mixed vegetables, supplemented on alternate days with rice and peas, made up for the deficiency, and was an agreeable change, and appreciated accordingly. With one or two exceptions, the industry and conduct of prisoners was good. One prisoner was punished for two minor and one aggravated offences, while, with a second, for four minor offences, sentence was deferred pending future good conduct. Work performed by prisoners has been chiefly on the Prison Reserve—getting in firewood, and breaking up fresh ground and draining same for potatoes for prisoners, and oaten straw for their bedding. A large amount of work, too, was done in the garden, where, as usual, the vegetables issued were grown. The cleaning-up and digging the Hospital Grounds and similar work at the Government Buildings and Cass Square has been attended to as occasion demanded. One warder was transferred from this to the prison at Wellington, and was replaced by a probationary warder from Wellington. The First Offenders' Probation Act. Under this head, the transfer of one male probationer to this from another district, and of his having carried out the conditions of his license satisfactorily, is all I have to record. Admitted, nil. On register at end of year, nil. F. R. Pointon, Gaoler and Probation Officer. Invercargill Prison. H.M. Prison, Invercargill, sth April, 1906. I have the honour to report as follows on the working of the Invercargill Prison during the year 1905 :— In custody at the beginning of the year, 16 males, 1 female ; received during the year, 137 males, II females ; discharged during the year, 133 males, 11 females ; leaving in custody at the end of the year 20 males, 1 female. The conduct of the prisoners, with one exception, was good, the exception misconducted himself in various ways, and finally attempted to escape, was caught in the act, and sentenced to the loss of one year's remission by the Stipendiary Magistrate. The health of the prisoners was very good. One prisoner—an old man, over eighty—had to be removed to the Hospital, where he remained till the expiration of his sentence. Another prisoner developed insanity immediately after being sentenced at the Supreme Court, and was transferred to the Mental Hospital. The supplies received were of good quality, and no complaints regarding them were made. I may here remark that the cost of the ration most in use (No. 1b male) rose Id. above the 1904 cost, which partly accounts for the higher average per prisoner. One prisoner was sentenced to death; the sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life; he was transferred to another gaol. The prisoners were employed draining and reclaiming the lowlying portion of the reserve, occasionally visiting the Post-office grounds to keep them in order. The gardening-operations were not so successful this year, owing to blight of various kinds. First Offenders' Probation Act. There were 2 on probation at the commencement of the year. Received 1 male from another district, who, after reporting his arrival, failed to further comply, and was arrested and dealt with in the district from which he came. Six males were placed on probation in the district—l of them was arrested on the same day that he was granted probation for an offence committed prior to the one for which he was placed on probation, and sentenced to one month's hard labour; four were discharged, having satisfactorily carried out the conditions of the'r licenses ; 1 transferred to another district; leaving 2 at the end of the year. This Act works very well here. Alex. Armstrong, Gaoler and Probation Officer. Lyttelton Prison. H.M. Prison, Lyttelton, 20th January, 1906. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ended 31st December, 1905. Received during the year, 552 males and 104 females ; discharged. 531 males and 95 females ; leaving 92 males and 22 females at the end of the year. Male prisoners have been employed during the year at the defence works and rifle range on the Sumner Road, and on the Governor's Bay Road, &c, building retaining walls and widening the roads. Ten prisoners have been transferred to the Hanmer and Waiotapu tree-planting prisons ; 2 prisoners were returned from Hanmer through ill health; 2 others escaped from there, but were soon recaptured, and sentenced to six months each additional at the Supreme Court, Christchurch. Prisoners employed at the prison workshops completed large orders for prison clothing and uniform for the various prisons of the colony. The female prisoners have been, as usual, employed in making, mending, and washing for the prison. There were 30 punishments during the year, 3 of which were for attempts to escape from inside the prison, which, as usual, failed. A prisoner who was returned from Hanmer through ill health