H—2o

The general health of all prisoners was excellent throughout the year. It is with regret that I record the deaths of 2 prisoners, each being the result of unavoidable accidents at work. Six prisoners received treatment in the Raetihi Public Hospital for minor ailments and all returned completely recovered from the troubles which necessitated their admission to hospital. The medical officer, Dr. L. E. Jordan, was in regular attendance at the prison throughout the year, and carried out his duties in a very conscientious manner. As required, trips were made to the medical officer's surgery at Ohakune and Raetihi, while the dental cares of the prisoners were capably attended to by the dentist, Mr. Davies, of Raetihi, at his surgery there. ' Religious services were conducted at the institution at frequent intervals by the following: Rev. Father Heavey (Catholic), Rev. Hartley (Church of England), and Messrs. H. L. and H. G. Forlong (Plymouth Brethren). I desire to record my deep appreciation to the Christchurch branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform for providing their usual fine Christmas cake for the inmates at this institution, to the First Church of Christ for their generosity in sending along regular supplies of literature for the prisoners, and to the branch of the Prison Mission, London, which each year provides a very inspiring Christmas letter for each inmate. The motion pictures provided by the departmental projectionist at intervals throughout the year were greatly enjoyed by the prisoners, and the programmes, without exception, were particularly good. The garden again provided vegetables for ration purposes. Climatic conditions here are very severe, and it is a definite problem to grow a variety of vegetables which will provide for 70 or 80 men throughout the year, but fresh vegetables, including plenty of greens, have been issued for rations. We continued to kill our own beef for rations. Excellent bread has been baked throughout the year for the institution, and the Rangipo Prison Camp has also been supplied. During the Christmas period the prisoners spent their leisure time in games, and several sports gatherings of an impromptu nature provided them with considerable •enjoyment. The usual Christmas concert was well organized, and some of the talent displayed was very good. The whole farm is now in grass and the pastures are in excellent condition. I think that this year's hay crop will probably be the heaviest we have ever harvested. This year's turnips, chou moellier, and white carrots were sown on the tract of land over the eastern farm boundary, but hares and deer played havoc with them. The dairy herd did very well and we have continued to supply cream to the Kaitieke Dairy Factory Co. During the year we maintained sixty miles of main highways and operated three crushing plants at Makatote, Whakapapanui, and at Whakapapaiti. The quarry at Makatote has a very large face of conglomerate and rock, the actual height of the face being 55 ft. after stripping. In the quarries at Whakapapanui and Whakapapaiti it is necessary to win the metal from two river-beds, and considering that, apart from the actual crushers and lorries, no modern mechanical machines are available for procuring the rock, the results of the year's operations—over 6,000 yards of metal, all of it clean —can be considered satisfactory, although, with the demand for clean metal only, and the present costs of stores and tools, it has been found that production costs are very high. In addition to maintaining the Waimarino-Ohakune, National ParkOio, National Park - Taupo, and Bruce Main Highways, we have provided metal for numerous sawmillers and contractors in the district, and also for the two local County Councils. Our motor fleet, comprising nine lorries and two cars, was in constant use throughout the year. We carried out all transport for the Rangipo and Hautu Camps, and assisted the Chateau Tongariro with their cartage. In conclusion, I desire to thank the staff for their loyal co-operation throughout the year.

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