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The quarry has shown a considerable financial return this year, and the prospects for future sales are good. The pig industry has continued to prosper and, owing to the ample quantity of offal received (rom the public hospital, in addition to that from our own kitchen, we have been able to bring a number of pigs to the baconer stage and to dispose of them to the bacon factory. In addition, a considerable number of weaners were sent to the Wellington Prison. At the end of the year we had on hand 1 boar, 13 breeding-sows, 6 baconers, 5 porkers, and 9 weaners. The revenue from nies totalled £208. 6 The cooking and hot-water arrangements continue satisfactory. The meals throughout the year have been first class, and the menu varied. Fish was provided when obtainable and always is a welcome change in the dietry scale. Apples were supplied from Waikeria Reformatory in season, and were purchased locally as long as prices were reasonable after the Waikeria supply was exhausted. Store cows for rations were purchased from the same source throughout the year, and were killed as required for use by prison labour. The meat has been uniformly good and the price reasonable. All meat before consumption was inspected by an officer of the Department of Agriculture. Hides were salted and sold to Messrs. L. A. Nolan and Co. The revenue received from hides amounted to £63. We are fortunate in having a prisoner who is a first-class baker, and who is making excellent bread, which is very satisfactory. Wheat-germ bread is still being made and is much enjoyed. Sufficient hay was harvested from Marsland Hill and the prison property to provide winter feed for our cows, in addition to bedding for the pigs. Our prospects for hay this year are good, the haymaking being now in progress. A considerable quantity of soap has been made from our surplus fat and lias provided more than sufficient for our own requirements. Work in the laundry keeps several men occupied throughout the year washing prisoners' clothing. Large numbers of blankets were also washed for the Army Department, but this work has now eased off. 1 he general maintenance of the prison has been attended to, and the buildings and cottages have been kept in a good state of repair. All cottages were painted with two coats of paint during the year. Ample supplies of milk for rations have been obtained from several cows which have been grazed on Marsland Hill and. prison property, an average milk yield of about 1,500 pints per month being obtained. Our social and recreative activities have continued with much benefit to all. A further series of concerts by the men, to which the public were invited, were highly successful, the total amount now obtained from that source for patriotic purposes amounting to nearly £600. The public of New Plymouth generally are very appreciative of the men's efforts and show their appreciation by providing numerous concert parties and other entertainments throughout the year. In addition to the above social activities, we had drill on two evenings each week and badminton once a week. Classes in first aid and home nursing were also held regularly once a week, and in the examinations held at the end of the year all candidates passed very satisfactorily, several with honours. Card evenings were held regularly once a week and have proved very popular. Two visits were paid by the Tui Cribbage Club to the institution, who engaged the inmates at cards. Mr. Morrison continued his interesting lectures on world affairs, and was much enjoyed. The war news is displayed in the yards at the week-ends, and the radio is made full use of and is much appreciated. Papier mache work for the Red Cross Society was carried on regularly on one night each week. Large quantities of utensils for the hospitals and for sale at the Red Cross rooms for patriotic purposes were made. Departmental pictures, which were always very popular, were not shown quite so frequently as in former years, due, no doubt, to the difficulty in obtaining films and also to travel restrictions. The relaxation derived from all these social activities has a very beneficial effect on the men and improves considerably the relationship between them and the staff. In addition, it tends to make their confinement less irksome, and control by the staff much easier. The majority of the men are very appreciative of any extra privilege extended to them, but there is always a very small minority from whom, it is impossible to obtain any gratitude for what is done for them. We were again fortunate in receiving a bequest from the Gordon Bequest Fund, which makes it possible to provide the usual Christmas party with many extra items of good cheer. The general health of the prisoners has been good. There were seven admissions to the public hospital, and one death in the public hospital from heart-failure. There were two men in the public hospital at the end of the year. The general conduct of the prisoners has been good. There were no escapes or attempted escapes. The staff have carried out their duties very satisfactorily throughout the year. The Medical Officer (Dr. Sydney Allen) has visited the prison regularly throughout the year and has attended to all cases of illness. In addition, all men on admission are subjected to a psychological and medical examination . Mr. Woodward, S.M., and Messrs. Bellringer, Weston, and Nicol, Visiting Justices, visited the prison in the course of their official duty during the year, and continue to take a great interest in the welfare of the men and the prison generally. It is with deep regret that I have to record the death of Mr. C. E. Bellringer, who had been a Visiting Justice of this prison for a great many years. Mr. Bellringer always took a keen interest in the work carried out at the prison, and his advice was always readily given, and. will be sadly missed. The sympathy of the Department in their bereavement was conveyed to his relatives, and a floral tribute was made by the prisoners and placed on his grave. The ministers of the various denominations visited the prison and attented to the spiritual welfare of the men. Mass for the Roman Catholics and Communion for the Church of England men was celebrated regularly. Papaeua Prison (Superintendent: Mr. C. E. Spittal) On the Ist January, 1944, there were in custody 98 male prisoners ; during the year the receptions totalled 349, while 370 were discharged or otherwise disposed of, thus leaving a total of 77 prisoners in custody as at 31st December, 1944. The greatest number in custody at any one time was 104, the least 75, and the daily average over the year 91-35. The above statistics are in marked contrast to those for the previous year, when the daily average number in prison was 108-36, and is, in fact, the lowest average since 1939.

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