H.—2o.

of making good—in fact, quite a number liave been placed in employment shortly after release. Mr. Moreton spares no effort in giving sympathetic consideration to the many and varied calls which are made upon his services throughout the year. Staff Captain Holmes, of the Salvation Army, has also at all times shown readiness to assist the prisoners, and has done much good work in this direction. Other social workers have, of course, contributed their share of assistance, and their efforts are likewise to be commended. The conduct of the staff has been excellent, and consequently a high standard of discipline has been maintained throughout the year, enabling the various industrial activities, as well as the general prison routine work, to be executed as smoothly and economically as possible. The call made by the Department for the continuance of the practice of economy in every possible direction met with a ready response, and the officers directly in control of the several prison industries are to be commended for their co-operation. The clerical work of the institution has been dealt with efficiently by the office staff. Gisborne Prison. (Gaoler, Mr. H. N. Richardson.) At the beginning of the year there were 5 males in custody ; during the year 110 males and 4 females were received, and during the same period there were discharged, or otherwise disposed of, 114 males and 4 females ; leaving 1 male in custody at the end of the year. Two prisoners escaped together during the year, but were recaptured within thirty-six hours and returned to the prison. These men were sentenced later at the Supreme Court and received twelve months hard labour in each case. The health of the prisoners has been good, very few cases requiring the attention of the Medical Officer. No prisoners were sent to hospital during 1933. The garden has supplied vegetables for prison rations throughout the year, with the exception of potatoes. The men were employed during the year at gardening, laundry work, repairing clothing and blankets, &c. I wish to thank hral people who have helped me to place discharged men in employment during the year. Greymouth Prison. (Gaoler, Mr. 11. Robinson.) At the commencement of the year there were 3 males in custody. During the year 80 males were received and 79 males were discharged or transferred, leaving 4 males in custody at the end of the year. The daily average being 3-23. The health of the prisoners has been good and there was no case of serious illness during the year. The quality of the rations for prisoners' use has been very good, and good wholesome food has been provided during the year. The prisoners have been employed during the year keeping the prison clean, washing and repairing clothing, and general work about the prison and prison garden. Owing to the incessant rainfall and thunderstorms during the month of November and also December the prison vegetable garden has suffered considerably, there being very little growth, and the young plants were cut down by the hail. The conduct of the prisoners has been very good. Hautu Prison. (Officer in Charge, Mr. T. Banks.) At the commencement of the year there were in custody 92 males. During the year 76 were received., 65 were discharged, and 1.1 transferred to other institutions, leaving a total of 92 in custody on 31st December, 1933. The daily average number in custody during the year was 85-14. The health of the prisoners has been very good, there being no cases of serious illness. Two prisoners were sent to hospital for treatment. The conduct and industry of the prisoners has been, on the whole, satisfactory, the men taking an intelligent interest in their work. There were no escapes during the year. The spiritual welfare of the prisoners has been well attended to by the local ministers of the different denominations. The vegetable garden has again been a success, maintaining both camps with ample supplies of fresh vegetables throughout the year. The following is a summary of the work carried out during the year : 867 acres stumped of tutu and manuka and cleared of fern ready for ploughing ; 697 acres ploughed, 480 acres sown down in permanent pasture ; 150 acres sown in turnips ; 40 acres in oats and 4 acres in potatoes ; 100 acres of grass was mown for hay ; 3,151 acres of pastures were top-dressed; 80 chains of new drains were dug ; 240 chains of new fencing erected ; 70 chains of road formed ; 4,940 posts were split and carted out of the bush. During the year the farm was systematically poisoned and approximately 28,000 rabbits destroyed. The conduct of the staff has been very satisfactory. Napier Prison. (Gaoler, Mr. T. Stocker.) At the beginning of the year there were 17 males in custody. During the year 197 males and 5 females were received, while 203 males and 5 females were discharged or transferred, leaving 11

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