166

which has been 5s. 9½d. per head.—No. 3 is
the scale for good conduct, and those requiring
better sustenance. The average weekly cost
of it during the year has been 7s. 3½d. per
head.

Q. 7.—Allowance of clothing and bedding,
and cost per head?

A. Allowance and cost per head, viz.:

• 1 pair blankets .......... £1 0 0
• 1 rug .................. 0 6 6
• 2 smock frocks ........ 0 6 0
• 2 pair trousers ........ 0 7 0
• 2 do. shoes ............ 1 12 0

£3 11 6

Q. 8.—Hours of labour and exercise?

A. Eight hours work for men sentenced
to hard labour, viz., from 8 to 12 and 1 to 5.
Each unconvicted prisoner has four hours
exercise daily.

Q. 9.—Description of employment and
hard labour?

A. The hard labour men are employed in
breaking stones for metalling the roads, and
incidental work connected with the gaol. The
routine of occupation is as follows:—From 6
a.m. to 7, washing and cleaning cells, packing
bedding; breakfast 8, calling over names and
mustering to work; 8 to 12, work; 12 to 1,
dinner; 1 to 5 (except Thursdays and Saturdays,
on which days to 4½) work; 5 to 6, washing
and arranging cells and beds, and reading
books provided or allowed by the gaol; from
6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in cells. On Thursdays from
4½ to 5 is employed in prayer and reading
with a Church of England Clergyman. On
Saturdays from 1 to 6 p.m., the prisoners are
employed in washing clothes, reading, and
exercise. Women are employed in making
clothes for the prisoners.

Q. 10.—Amount of earnings, and how ap-
plied; in what proportion to the prisoners, to
the officers, or to the fund for the maintenance
of the prison?

A. The prisoners’ labour is entirely de-
voted to the public works.

Q. 11.—Whether the classification directed
by the Colonial Act has been observed; if not,
for what reasons; and what measures have
been taken to remedy this defect?

A. Not in force. The limited construc-
tion of the gaol renders it impracticable to
adopt the system of classification, as directed
by the Act.

Q. 12.—Are convicted prisoners prohibited
from receiving visits or letters, or any articles
of food or clothing from their relatives
or friends; if not, under what restrictions?

A. As to visits, yes. Letters are admitted,
subject to the gaoler’s inspection. Clothing
is not admitted. Small quantities of tea
and sugar are allowed to be given when any
prisoner is sick.

Sunday in that part of the gaol set apart as a
hospital. The prisoners can only be separated
by distance, and are thus classified and ar-
ranged:—females, unconvicted prisoners, petty
larceners, &c.

Q. 14.—What duties are performed by
the Chaplain? What provision is made for
the instruction of prisoners? And are they
supplied with bibles and other suitable books?

A. A Colonial Chaplain attended, and read
the service and preached every Sunday, at 10
a.m., until 30th September, 1853. He also
read the service, heard the prisoners read the
Bible, and expounded the Scriptures to them
on Thursday evenings. The appointment of
Colonial Chaplain having ceased on that day,
a clergyman of the Church of England has
since then discharged those duties. At pre-
sent there is no provision for instruction. Each
prisoner is supplied with a Bible and Prayer
Book, and they are allowed other suitable
books.

Q. 15.—Are dissenting Ministers allowed
to have access to the prisoners; and if so, at
what times, and under what restrictions?

A. The Catholic Priest attends every Sun-
day; other Ministers attend occasionally.
There is no restriction upon the visits of dis-
senting Ministers at reasonable times.

Q. 16.—What duties are performed by the
surgeon? Are separate buildings or apartments
provided for the sick?

A. The surgeon attending the gaol visits
prisoners ill. A portion of a building for-
merly used as a debtor’s day room is now
used as a hospital.

Q. 17.—What diseases have been most
prevalent during the year (in reference to
Nos. 10 and 11, Return No 1, page 165)?

A. A return showing the number of pri-
soners ill, and the diseases prevalent, is an-
nexed.

Q. 18.—Reasons for non-employment of
prisoners (in reference to No. 8, page 165)?

A. Of the 119 males not employed, 106
were prisoners committed during a period at
which the Government provided no work for
them; 13 were convicts who were unem-
ployed in consequence of no regulations
having been made by Government for their
employment, as required by the Secondary
Punishments Act, 1854. This Act was as-
sented to 16th September, 1854, before which,
after transportation had ceased, no legal pro-
vision could be made. 1 female committed for
trial and discharged.

Q. 19.—Reasons for punishment, by whip-
ping, irons, solitary confinement, or other-
wise?

A. No whipping. Irons only are used in
cases of attempted escape. Solitary confi-
nement for attempting to escape, disobedience to
orders, and breach of prison discipline.

Q. 20.—Is there any insane person in con-
finement? State his or her name and age,
and for what offence committed? How long
has he or she been in confinement, and is such
person separated from the other prisoners?

A. No.