H.—2o

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attempted to escape from the Governor's Bay works, but was speedily recaptured. This prisoner will be brought before the Stipendiary Magistrate during the current month and charged with the offence mentioned above. The health of the prisoners has been good. No cases were sent to the Christchurch Hospital during the year. The daily average on the sick-list was —males, 056 ; females, o'l2. A Chinaman, sentenced to imprisonment for being possessed of opium, committed suicide by hanging himself from the bars of his cell. An inquest was held, and the verdict was " Suicide by hanging." Another prisoner, a Frenchman, died suddenly on the works. An inquest was held, and the verdict was " Aortic aneurism." The rations supplied to prisoners were very good, and no complaints were made during the year. The conduct of the officers has been very good, with one exception, and he has been discharged from the service. A female probationer was"transferred from Wellington to here. She is living with her parents, and doing well. M. M. Cleary, Gaoler and Probation Officer. Napier Prison. H.M. Prison, Napier, 31st January, 1906. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ended 1905. In custody on Ist January, 1905, 39 males, 5 females ; received during the'year, 257 males and 39 females ; discharged, 258 males ancT36 females ; in prison 31st December, 1905, 43 males and 3 females : total in prison on Ist January, 1905, and received during the year. 340, male and female. The conduct of the prisoners has been good. There were only seven punishments for minor offences. There were no cases of sickness, and only a few of the prisoners suffered from colds. There were 7 remands for helpless drunkenness, and after a few days' curative treatment they were discharged. One male and 1 female, hard labour, were transferred to the Mental Hospital, Wellington, after being medically examined. Prisoners have been employed at quarrying and stone-breaking. The boundary-wall is finished, but there are other improvements about the prison which are being attended to. The rations have been very good, and there have been no complaints. There have been services held on Sundays at 9.30 a.m. for Protestants, and at 2 p.m. for Catholics, and a service for the Maoris. A lady visits the female prisoners on Sundays, and does a great deal of good. Several young girls who had nothing before them but the gaol were taken by her to the Bethany Home and kept till they got suitable situations. The officers have been steady and attentive to their duties. Two additional Visiting Justices have been appointed. They make weekly visits to the prison. Before concluding I would call attention to the need for warders' cottages being built close to the prison. The officers should live as near as possible to the prison, so as to be within call if required at night. First Offenders' Probation Act. Placed on probation, 15 males, 4 females ; transferred to other districts, 12 males, 3 females ; I male has failed to report himself ; 3 males and 1 female satisfactorily finished their terms of probation. The police give valuable assistance, and are most obliging in getting information as to the antecedents of first offenders. Michael Flannery, Gaoler. New Plymouth Prison. H.M. Prison, New Plymouth, 25th January, 1906. In compliance with circular memorandum No. 1900/8, of the Ist December, 1900, I have the honour to report as follows : — There were 13 hard-labour males and 1 awaiting trial in custody at the commencement of the year ; no females. Ninety-nine males and 6 females were received during the year, an increase of 7 males and 3 females on the preceding year. Although the total number received is slightly in excess of the preceding year, the daily average is less—viz., 2003 for 1905, as against 22-35 for 1904. Thirty-three males and 3 females were sentenced to various terms of hard labour ; 19 males were received on remand, 12 of whom were subsequently discharged at the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court; son remand as lunatics and committed to the Mental Hospital ; 18 passed through en route to Waiotapu Prison ; II hard-labour males were received on transfer from Wanganui and 3 from Auckland, 2 of the latter were old and infirm, quite incapable of working, and one was subsequently discharged on the recommendation of the Prison Surgeon as medically unfit; 6 were received for simple imprisonment; 2 for trial, lof whom was acquitted at the Supreme Court, the other is still awaiting trial; 2 awaiting trial (males) were received on transfer from Wanganui, and are still here. During the year 11 hard-labour prisoners earned their remission, accompanying gratuity, and were discharged —one on special remission ; 30 males and 3 females were discharged on expiration of sentence ; 5 male prisoners were committed to Wellington and one to Auckland for sentence. The health of the prisoners has been good. There was one admission to the District Hospital during the year. The unfortunate man had been for some months an inmate of the Old People's Home, and, having developed symptoms of insanity, was remanded to the prison, awaiting further medical