165

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 4th August, 1855.

THE following Returns from the Sheriff and the Inspector of Police, compiled for the Blue Book are published for general information.

W.M. BROWN,
Superintendent.

L. O’BRIEN,
Sheriff.

RETURN of the Number of Prisoners confined in the Gaol at Auckland, for the year ended 1854.

1. Number of Prisoners the Prison is capable of containing:

   • 15 separate cells
   • Number ditto, where more than one Prisoner sleep in one cell: 38
   • Number of Prisoners in confinement at Michaelmas, 1854: 37 Males, 4 Females

2. Felons 12. (Tried.)

   • Males 9, Female 1, coloured Males 2: 12

3. Misdemeanours, 29. (Tried.)

   • Males 27, coloured Males 2: 29
   • Debtors, Nil

4. Greatest number of Prisoners in confinement at any one time during the year, Males 46, Females 3, coloured Males 4: 53

RETURN of the Number of Prisoners committed to the Gaol at Auckland, for the year ended 1854.

6. Total number of Prisoners committed: 366

   • Number under 18 years of age: 2 Males, 1 Female
   • Number who cannot read: 68 Males, 10 Females (of these Males 4 are coloured persons)

7. Number of Prisoners who have been committed before:

   • Once: 13 Males, 1 Female
   • Twice: 8 Males, 1 Female
   • Three times or more: 19 Males, 5 Females

8. Number of Prisoners employed in the course of the year:

   • At hard labour in the Prison: 200 Males
   • At ditto out of the Prison: Nil
   • At employments not hard labour: 72 Females
   • Not employed: 119 Males, 1 Female

9. Punishments for offences within the Prison by solitary confinement during the year: 37 Males. Whipping or irons not employed.

10. Cases of Sickness during the year:

    • Greatest number of sick at one time: 12; 11 Males, 1 Female
    • Cases of Sickness during the year: 119; 109 Males, 6 Females, 4 coloured Males
11. • Deaths during the year: 2 Males
      (* These consecutive numbers correspond with the form of Return required by the Secretary of State for the Blue Book.)

Answers to Queries respecting the general management of the Gaol.

Q. 1. — General description of the prison; whether common gaol, house of correction, or otherwise? (To be accompanied by a ground plan of the buildings, &c.)

A. The prison is a wooden erection, partly upon a scoria foundation, and partly upon blocks. It is a common gaol and house of correction, and is divided into two parts; one for criminals, &c., and the other for debtors and female prisoners. A ground plan is hereunto annexed.

Q. 2. — Under whose jurisdiction and superintendence; and what measures are adopted for securing the visitation of the prison by the local Magistrates, or other authorities? (A copy of the rules and regulations to be forwarded with the return.)

A. Under the jurisdiction and superintendence of the Sheriff of the Province. No steps have yet been taken for visitation by the local Magistrates. A copy of the rules and regulations of the prison is hereunto annexed. Two visiting Magistrates have been appointed under the Prison’s Ordinance, Sess. 7, No. 7.

Q. 3. — Number of officers, and how appointed? Do all the officers reside in the prison? Are female prisoners attended by female officers exclusively?

A. Four officers, viz., a gaoler, turnkey, extra-turnkey, and overseer of hard labour men all resident within the gaol. The gaoler is appointed by the Governor, the other officers by the Sheriff. There is no female officer connected with the gaol.

Q. 4. — Number of classes, divisions, or wards day-rooms, work-rooms, and airing-yards, (with reference to the plan,) and whether the same can be extended or increased?

A. On the criminal side of the prison, there are three classes of cells, viz., felons' cells; for prisoners convicted of larceny, misdemeanors, and petty offences; and a cell for prisoners committed for trial.

Q. 5. — Number of sleeping cells, solitary or dark cells, &c.; and if any are below ground?

A. Nine sleeping cells, two solitary cells; none below ground.

Q. 6. — Dietary, or weekly allowance, and weekly cost per head for the different description of prisoners?

A. The dietary scale is annexed. No. 1 is the punishment scale, the average weekly cost per head of which during the year has been 3s. 5½d. No. 2 is the usual scale for ordinary prisoners, the average weekly cost of which is 3s.