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Wi Tako Prison, Heretaunga (Superintendent: Mr. K. C. Haywood) There were 58 prisoners confined in this prison at the beginning of the year, 230 were received during the year, and 239 were discharged, leaving 49 in prison on the night of the 31st December. Three prisoners were admitted to hospital during the year. Apart from these, the health of the men was reasonably good, and any illness there was amongst the men was treated by the prison medical officer. The conduct of the prisoners during the year was quite good. There were 25 men dealt with for prison offences, 14 of whom were dealt with by the Visiting Justices and the remainder by the Superintendent. Two enjoyable days' cricket were enjoyed on Labour Day and Boxing Day, and sweets and drinks were donated by the Y.M.C.A. in camp. The Hutt Valley physical Culture and Wrestling Club paid a visit to the prison one evening and gave an excellent display of wrestling, physical-culture exercises, and weight-lifting. During the year, motion pictures were screened by the departmental projectionist and the late Mr. Curl of the Tory Street Mission. As usual, there is a religious service held at the prison each Sunday, the. various religious bodies taking turn in conducting their own service. The Salvation Army Band now visits the prison on a Sunday afternoon in each month and gives a recital of hymns. During the year, 2 prisoners escaped from custody, but both were apprehended. Christmas gifts of cake and fruit were received from the Upper Hutt Mission and the Howard LeagueExtensive repair work has been carried out on seven of the staff cottages. All the cottages were painted and papered throughout. The condition of the cottages now is such that they will not require any major work to be done to them for a number of years. Minor repairs have been carried out on the prison buildings. A small room has been built on to one of the verandas for the men working long hours for use as a dining and recreation room. All the painting of the interior has been completed, and the painting of the exterior is well under way. Four new piggeries of sufficient size to accommodate 200 pigs were erected during the year. Two of these buildings were built in all concrete and the other two were built with iron lined with timber. The floor in all the building was put down in coke breeze. Recently a rather good boar was purchased for this prison, and six sows have been picked out of our own sties for breeding purposes. It is hoped that from now on we will be able to breed a fair percentage of our own pigs for fattening. As usual, a very good return was received from the sale of baconer pigs. It is hoped to increase the dairy herd by another fifteen to twenty cows in the near future. Plans have been drawn up for the erecting of the new dairy which it is hoped will be commenced in the New Year. If everything goes according to plan, the new dairy will probably be in use by April, 1949. A very satisfactory return was received for the sale of milk to the Wellington Dairy Farmers Co-operative Association last year. A very good percentage of lambs were born on the farm this year and a very pleasing cheque was received for the sale of wool. A large area of land has been cleared of rushes and sown with mangolds, swedes, and turnips. Twelve acres of potatoes were sown, but unfortunately 4 acres rotted in the ground after being covered with flood-water for some days. Twenty-seven acres of land have been tilled and sown down in permanent pastures. A very pleasing return was made from the sale of garden produce last year, while it is anticipated that an even better return will be made for 1949, as plans are being made to extend the garden area.

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