H.—2o.

Several improvements have been made to the brickworks. A large clay-shed has been built to store clay in in wet weather to enable the machine to be kept going. The new trucking-system to convey the green bricks to the drying-sheds and kiln is now in working-order. A large number of double-pressed bricks are being manufactured very satisfactorily. These bricks are pressed by two new presses that were received early in the year. The number of bricks made during the year was 1,926,608. The number sold was 1,465,149, and the number in stock at the 31st December, 1925, was 858,005. A working model of the brickworks and also other exhibits from Wi Tako Prison have attracted a considerable amount of attention at the Dunedin Exhibition. The proposed extra addition to the prison should have early attention as there is not sufficient cell accommodation, nor is there any proper place to hold Divine service. Twenty acres of land have been fenced and mostly cleared and laid down in vegetables. There is also a large area in mangolds and swedes, and all are looking well. The Defence property under lease has had the ranges cleared of gorse and rushes, and other parts of this property has had similar attention. The conduct of the officers on the whole has been good. •We are indebted to the following gentlemen : Rev. Mr. Holmes, Rev. Mr. Kendrick, Rev. Father Kelly, and the Salvation Army officers for conducting Divine services for the various denominations throughout the year. We are further indebted to the Rev. Mr. Holmes for arranging Christmas cheer and a concert held on the 19th December for the benefit of the inmates of this institution. Thanks are also due to the Salvation Army, the Honorary Justices' Association, and several gentlemen for their generous gifts at Christmas-time. Prison for Women, Addington Reformatory. At the beginning of the year there were 15 inmates in the institution ; 55 were admitted during the year, making a total of 70. 37 were discharged on the expiration of sentence, 2 released on probation, 4 released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board, 10 on remand, 2 transferred to other institutions, leaving 17 inmates at the 31st December, 1925. The inmates work consists of sewing, mending, domestic work, milking, feeding poultry, and attending to the flower and vegetable gardens. The majority of the inmates are elderly, and therefore are not capable of doing much useful work. In fact, on admission they need a great deal of care and attention, especially the short-sentenced inmates, so no special occupation could be undertaken. Books, papers, and gramophone-records are well supplied to the institution by the many friends that take an interest in the work, concerts have been given every week, and the general life in the institution has been much brighter this year. The social work amongst the ex-prisoners is still being carried out, but there were very few this year who required help. Religious services are held regularly by clergymen of the different denominations. Borstal Institutions. Invercargill Borstal Institution for Males. At the beginning of the year there were 187 inmates in custody. During the year 187 males and 1 female were received, and 213 males and 1 female discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving 161 males in custody on night of the 31st December, 1925. Of the number in custody at the end of the year 153 were Borstal inmates under the Prevention of Crime Act, and 8 were inmates of the Invercargill Prison. The health of the inmates was remarkably good, very little sickness of any nature being recorded. There were 5 admissions to the public hospital, none of the cases being of a serious nature. The conduct of the inmates has been very satisfactory, very few punishments for breaches of discipline being found necessary. There were no escapes from custody during the year. Concerts were held frequently in the schoolroom, and were much appreciated by the inmates. The Institution Band continues to make good progress, and application by inmates for admission to it are in excess of the vacancies. Great benefit is still being derived by the gymnastic and drill instruction class conducted by the Physical Drill Instructor. Thanks are due to the local Rotary Club for the ; r continued interest in the welfare of the lads. Members of the club visited the institution frequently and mixed with the association class in the evenings, also attended the evening bricklayers' and carpenters' classes, and expressed themselves as pleased with the instruction imparted. The association class continues to justify its existence, and admission to the class is eagerly sought for on account of the extra privileges allowed. The social evenings were continued throughout the year, and cricket and football in season were indulged in on Saturday afternoons and holidays on the institution recreation-ground. The swimming-pool, which was opened towards the end of the year, has proved to be a very popular addition to the benefits received by the inmates, and should be the means whereby a number will be taught to swim. The spiritual welfare of the inmates was attended to by ministers of various denominations regularly throughout the year, and by the Salvation Army. The ladies' committee of the local Prisons Aid Society kindly supplied a large quantity of cakes to the inmates, sufficient for Christmas and New Year, and the local Rotary Club donated a quantity of cigarettes.

3—H. 20,

17