H.—2o.

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Dunedin Prison. H.M. Prison, Dunedin, 12th January, 1907. I have the honour to report that during the year 1906 the conduct and industry of the prisoners has been good. They were employed at Harrington Point, Taiaroa Heads, constructing a concrete power-house for electric light, quarrying and stone-breaking. Only three prisoners were punished for four minor offences ; the punishments show a decrease of four prisoners and four offences on last year. No aggravated prison offences occurred during the year. The health of the prisoners was very good. There was no sickness except those received suffering from intemperance. Whatever may be said against prison life, it is an incontrovertible fact it is conducive to good health ; regular living, with plain wholesome food, tells its own story. Divine service has been held every Sunday. Thanks are due to the ladies and gentlemen who kindly give their services as organists. Two hard-labour prisoners were removed to the mental hospital. In each case their sentence expired while detained in that institution. Two boys of sixteen were received on remand for sentence for breaking and entering. One was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon; the other, a Burnham School boy, was sentenced to three years' hard labour on each of three charges, concurrent, he having been twice previously convicted but not imprisoned. The supplies received from the contractors have been of a good quality. There have been no complaints. There were two reports against officers—one for disobedience of orders, and the other for being absent without leave. I regret to have to report the death of two Visiting Justices—viz., Hon. Hugh Gourley, M.L.C., and James Muir, Esq. Both deceased gentlemen took keen interest in everything pertaining to the prison, and devoted much time to their duties. First Offenders' Probation Act. There was lon probation on the Ist January, 1906. Six males and 1 female were placed on probation during the year ; 1 female was received from another district ; 2 males were discharged, and 3 transferred to other districts, leaving 2 males and 2 females on probation at the end of the year. J. H. Bratby, Gaoler. Hanmer Springs. H.M. Prison, Hanmer Springs, 2nd February, 1907. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year 1906. In custody on the Ist January, 25 males. Twenty-one males were received during the year and 15 discharged, the average number in custody being 24-39. One prisoner escaped, but was speedily recaptured, and five others were transferred to Lyttelton during the year. The health of the prisoners has been good, no sickness of a serious nature having occurred. The rations have been of good quality and regularly supplied. Owing to the scarcity of potatoes, rice and peas were, for a time, issued as a substitute. The conduct of the officers has been good. One warder was transferred to Dunedin Prison and replaced by a probationary warder from Dunedin. The following is a summary of the work done during the year : The telephone was extended from the post-office to the prison, a distance of 60 chains ; 396,000 pits were dug, 160 acres of scrub cleared, 40 chains of road formed, 94 chains of rabbit-proof fencing completed, and a building 30 ft. by 12 ft. erected. Trees planted: Larix europea, 199,000; Pinus austriaca, 92,000; Pinus laricio, 81,000; Pinus ponderosa, 11,000; Pinus muricata, 12,000; Pseudo-tsuga taxifolia, 41,000; Picea excelsa, 40,000 ; Picea sitchensis, 500 ; Betula alba, 4,500 : total, 482,000 : trees planted to replace blanks, 19,000 : total planted for the year, 501,000. J. T. Reid, Principal Warder and Acting Gaoler. Hokitika Prison. H.M. Prison, Hokitika, 10th January, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual return for this prison for the year ending the 31st December, 1906. I was appointed Gaoler here on the Ist September last, and commenced my duties on the 19th of same month. At the commencement of the year there were 10 male and 2 female prisoners in custody. The admissions during the year were 48 males and 3 females. During the same period 2 males were transferred to other prisons, 36 males and 4 females discharged, leaving 20 males and 1 female in custody at the end of the year. The general health of the prisoners has been remarkably good, no cases of sickness beyond trivial ailments having occurred. There were 5 males received during the year on remand for medical treatment, suffering from alcoholism, but all recovered within a week except one, who was a raving lunatic for several days and had to be further remanded, but ultimately recovered and was discharged.