CONDITIONS OF CONVICT LIFE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 102, 10 April 1875, Page 8

CONDITIONS OF CONVICT LIFE.

A eecentlt published pamphlet by Mr. Bayne Ranken on " Prisons and Prisoners" gives the conditions necessary to be observed by convicts in order to become entitled to gratuities and tickets-of-leave on discharge from prison. During his term of imprisonment every prisoner must pass through three classes before reachino- the highest. In the probation class he remains for one year, nine months of which are passed in solitary confinement. Then he has to remain one year in the third class, and a similar period in the second, after which he becomes eligible for admission into the convict's paradise — the first-class. But unless he obtains a certain number of marks in each class his upward progress is delayed. In the probation class he must earn 720 marks before being set free from that purgatory, while 2920 marks are necessary at eaoh of the next two steps. In fact, the system is one of promotion by purchase, convicts being able to insure advancement from one <*rade to another, by accumulating marks instead of pounds sterling But other advantages besides promotion result from good conduct Every 20 marks earned in the third-class entitle their possessor to receive Id. on his final discharge from prison, while the rates in the second and first classes are l^d. and 2£d. respectively Thus convicts who pass through the third and second classes within the prescribed period become entitled to receive 30s. on discharge, in addition to what they may afterwards earn in the first-class. Also, if special circumstances render it advisable, they are recommended, on discharge, to an extra gratuity not exceeding £,Z, so that if industrious and well-conducted they would never have less than £3 or more than .£4 to receive. In return for this outlay and cost of the convicts' board and lodging the State gets the profit resulting from their labor. In some cases this not only covers the whole cost, but leaves a handsome balance. Thus convicts earning on certain public works carried out in 1871 amounted to .£140,745, or ,£17,795 in excess of expenses, including sums set aside for gratuities on discharge. Regarding the work performed by female prisoners, Mrs. Gibson, the lady superintendent at Waking, mentions a circumstance that may lead to new fields of industry being found for women convicts. An opportunity havin°occurred of employing a few of her pupils on fine work for the international Exhibition, they succeed in producing some mosaic tiles that showed considerable artistic talent and good taste. These have been largely employed in the South Kensington Museum, and a pavement of the same material is now being constructed to surround the tombs of Nelson and Wellington in St. Paul's ' Dublin Freeman.'

, , . The P^ 4 ™** oil, representing his Holiness in the early days of his pontificate which formerly hung above the great statue of St. Peter in the mighty basilica of that saint in Rome has been recently replaced by a magnificent mosaic portrait of him as he looks at present. This mosaic has taken three years to finish and is said to be one of the finest ever executed. Slavery has been abolished in Aehantee.