H—2o

Excellent concert parties have been organized by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Miss Nicholls, and Miss Stevens. The Salvation Army and the W.C.T.U. provided Christmas and New Year tea parties, and many other friends contributed to our fund for Christmas cheer and recreation on other holidays during the year. We are indebted to the ministers who conduct regular Church services— Rev., P. Re veil, Rev. Father McCarthy, Salvation Army, and Miss Bennett. The Ladies of Charity have been regular visitors on Sunday afternoons. Employment has been found and clothing supplied to inmates who, on leaving here, are anxious to reinstate themselves. In conclusion, I wish to record my sincere appreciation of the loyalty and assistance rendered by the staff during the year. Auckland Prison (Superintendent: Mr. W. T. Leggett) At the commencement of the year there were 210 males and 10 females in custody. During the year 1,127 males and 57 females were received, whilst 1,104 males and 53 females were discharged or otherwise disposed of. There was quite a substantial decrease in reception of 130 males and 36 females for the year. Included in the male reception were 3 males intoxicated in charge of motor-vehicles; 24 soldiers; 13 naval offenders; 9 naval offenders from Civil Courts; 19 Air Force male personnel; 12 offenders under National Service Regulations.—viz., failing to report for military service, 9; assuming name, 3 26 from defaulters' camps were received for escaping and disobedience. The conduct generally of the criminal prisoners has been good, but the •defaulter prisoners have been very troublesome and militant by refusing to perform labour and other disobedience of the regulations. There were two escapes during the year—one being a Borstal detainee who while en route tO' Invercargill escaped at Frankton Junction (subsequently recaptured), and the other a female prisoner who left the Green Lane Hospital on three occasions and subsequently returned to prison. As the hospital authorities would not again admit her, she received out-patient treatment satisfactorily. The health of the prisoners generally has been very good and there has not been any general sickness. The daily average sick has been 5-16 males and 0-48 females. The cases of male sickness show an increase over last year, but this is accounted for by a number of the vagrant type and alcoholics who are in poor shape on admission and are on the sick-list frequently. There were 18 males and 3 females admitted to the public hospital during the year. There were 24 males and 8 females suffering from venereal disorders admitted during the year, and, of these, 12 males and 6 females were suffering from gonorrhea and 12 males and 2 females from syphilis. There were 7 males transferred to a mental hospital during the year; and again the Mental Hospital medical staff have given valuable assistance by making 53 alienist examinations, both for the information of the Courts and as a guide to institutional treatment. Prison labour has been as fully utilized as possible in the various industrial activities, but work outside the walls has been considerably hampered through shortage of staff. The activities inside the prison and in the workshop have been fully maintained.

11