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Prisoners have also been employed for the Lyttelton Borough Council, quarrying stones and building retaining-walls, forming and levelling a recreation reserve, and building a small cottage in close proximity to it. Some months ago an application was made by the West Lyttelton School Committee for prison labour for the purpose of levelling the school grounds and building a retaining-wall. This work was commenced late in December, and will take some months before being finished, if the Committee's programme is carried out, which is considerably in excess of what was originally stated when the application for prison labour was made. However, it is a very necessary work, and will, when finished, be a great boon for the school-children. The men employed in the prison shops are kept very busy in order to keep up with the requirements of the various prisons and the tree-planting gaols. A new industry, in compliance with your instruction, lias been started here—that of mat-making ; and, although the men employed at the work had no experience of this class of work, still they are turning out very serviceable mats. The conduct of the prisoners has been fairly good : 42 punishments were inflicted during the year on 17 prisoners. 4 of whom, without any cause, conspired to give as much trouble and annoyance as possible. The contractors for prison supplies have given entire satisfaction, resulting in no complaints. The conduct of the warders has been very good, not a single report being made against any one of them. Mr. Smail, who visits here twice weekly, takes a very great interest in the welfare of the prisoners, in obtaining a home and employment for many of them. First OFFENDERS , PROBATION ACT. { have had only one probationer, but he was transferred to the Christchurch district on the day he was nlaeed on probation. M. M. Cleary, The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer. NAPIER PRISON. H.M. Prison, Napier, 6th February, 1909. I have the honour to forward annual report on the working of this prison for year ending 1908. In custody on Ist January, 30 males and r> females : received during the year, 300 males and 26 females; discharged, 288 males and 28 females; in custody at the end of the year, -12 males and .'5 females. The health of the prisoners has been good, and their conduct satisfactory. There were several cases of helpless drunkenness, but after the usual remand and treatment they were turned out cured. A Native woman received on remand for lunacy was found to be so badly burned about the body that she had to be sent to the Hospital, but after a few weeks she got better, and returned to her people. Another woman on remand for drunkenness was in a very low state, and the Gaol Surgeon ordered her removal to the Hospital, where she died next day. A short-sentenced prisoner who showed symptoms of typhoid was sent to the Hospital ; but as there was no typhoid, he was returned to the gaol in a few days. There were only seven punishments for slight breaches of discipline. The rations were very good, and I do not remember a complaint from any prisoner. This prison has been visited weekly by a Visiting Justice. There is a service for Protestants at 9.30 a.m. every Sunday, and for Catholics at 2 p.m., and at 2 p.m. a Maori service is held. A lady visits the femalu prisoners at 10 a.m. on Sundays. The officers of this prison have been very steady and attentive to their duty. One officer retired on superannuation. The Prisons Branch of the public service are grateful to the present Government for the provision they have made for old age. First Offenders' Probation Act. I beg to forward my report on the working of the First Offenders' Probation Act for the year 1908. On the Ist January 7 males and 1 female were reporting themselves : 15 males and 3 females were placed on probation during the year ; 3 were received on transfer from other districts ; 7 males and 1 female were transferred to other districts ; 2 males and 2 females finished ; and 3 males who failed to fulfil the conditions of their probation were brought before the Court and again released on probation. There are at present 13 males and 1 female reporting at Napier. I have again to acknowledge the great assistance I have received from the police in carrying out this Act. Michael Flannery, The Inspector of Prisons. Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer. NEW PLYMOUTH PRISON. H.M. Prison, New Plymouth, 7th January, 1909, 1 have the honour to report on the working of the prison for the year ending 31st December, 1908. There were in custody at the commencement of the year, 24 hard-labour and 1 habitual criminal, male ; no females : received during the year, 162 males and 7 females ; of the males, 33 were merely passing through to the various tree-planting stations ; (145 males and 5 females were discharged ; leaving in custody at the end of the year, 42 males and 2 females, including 3 males and 1 female detained as habitual criminals.