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PRISONS AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS : EPITOME OF REPORTS OF CONTROLLING OFFICERS. Auckland Prison. (Superintendent, Mr. W. T. Leggett.) At the commencement of the year there were 1.80 males and 13 females in custody. During the year 1,415 males and 65 females were received, whilst 1,436 males and 74 females were discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving in custody at the end of the year 159 males and 4 females. There was an increase of receptions during the year of 250 males and 10 females over that of last year. Of the 1,415 males admitted during the year, 136 were received as second offenders, also there were 67 males admitted who were sentenced for being drunk in charge of motor-vehicles. The health of the prisoners generally has been good, sickness in most cases being of a minor nature and in a number of cases attributed to alcoholic excesses and other conditions of neglected health prior to reception. There were 18 males and 3 females received into prison suffering from venereal disorders and were cured before release. The Medical Officer has given every attention to all prisoners requiring his services, and consequently the daily average of 1-67 males on sick-list must be considered low, taking into account the number of derelict and physically unfit received here. As in the past, there has been full co-operation from the Medical Superintendent of the Avondale Mental Hospital in conducting examinations of prisoners indicating mental abnormality, and the specialist's opinion has been much appreciated in defining a suitable line of action in such cases. The conduct generally of the prisoners has been good, there being no escapes or attempted escapes. Disciplinary punishments for breaches of the regulations were administered by the Visiting Justices in a number of cases, and such offences were of a minor nature excepting in one instance when an officer of the prison was attacked and struck by a violent Maori prisoner. Prison labour has been fully utilized in the various industrial activities, and this greatly in connection with services to other Departments. The boot-factory, with modern equipment, has now met all the requirements of the Mental Hospitals Department and General Prisons Store for distribution to other prisons and prison institutions. The tailoring factory has worked full capacity in manufacturing Prisons Department and other Departments requirements in clothing, chair-cushions, and departmental clothing and uniforms. Several old darning-machines used in the repairing of mail-bags were replaced, and a total of 32,000 mail and parcel bags wore dealt with for the Post and Telegraph Department. 11l addition to the foregoing there were several thousand blankets laundered for the Defence Department, and with the installation of proposed modern laundry equipment much better results should be obtained in this direction. Tinsmithing and carpentering work has been carried out to meet the maintenance requirements of this institution, and a number of cabinets were manufactured for the Registrar-General's Department. The manufacture of tobacco for the whole of the departmental institutions has been carried out. Quarry and crushing metal screenings has been carried on, but to a much lesser extent than formerly, owing to the decreasing prison population. This industry is now only a medium of utilizing labour not suitable for our factory industries or transfer to country prisons. The vegetable garden has provided the whole of our requirements. Potatoes were supplied from Waikeria Reformatory and southern institutions as seasonably available. During the year interior renovations have been effected to departmental residences, and this work will be fully completed during the coming year. Renovation work has been carried out inside the prison, the offices and corridors receiving much-needed attention. The institutional school under the direction of Dr. Dale, M.A., and assisted by a member of the staff, has been continued with success, and the Schoolmaster reports as follows : " The aims of the school have not been altered since my last report, and it would appear from the remarks of the prisoners that once these are understood by those who attend they are worth while. In the routine class-work some of the Maoris have made considerable progress in the use of both English texts and their ability to use the language in written form. They have applied themselves well. The general attitude to education by the prisoners has been sound, and they have themselves contributed to the plan by speaking and developing their ideas. In continuance of the policy used a year ago with success, I have this year continued the use of visual aids, by moving films and strips, to enhance the value of both geography and history. The interest and discussion that arose from such methods show clearly that permission given for such schemes has not been wasted. Certain non-academic subjects related to agriculture have also been taken during the year. The central topic for civics has this year been methods of government, designed to stimulate thought along lines of conservancy." Additional educational lectures have been given from time to time by the W.E.A., and these have been most instructive. The first-aid class conducted by the St. John Ambulance Association has been continued, and the lectures were given by Dr. Nicks, assisted by Ambulance Officer Cummings and Rev. Moreton, and keen interest has been displayed. All but one of the class received creditable passes, and, in addition, 3 prisoners have qualified for medallions and one has passed four examinations.

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