H. M. GAOL, MOUNT EDEN.

Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 6th May, 1869.

THE following Report from the Visiting Justices of their Annual Inspection of the Mount Eden Gaol is published for general information.

J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.

Mount Eden Gaol,
March, 15, 1869.

Sir,

We, the undersigned, Visiting Justices of Mount Eden Gaol, have the honour to report that we have made our annual inspection of the Gaol, and found perfect order, cleanliness, and care in every department thereof.

We refer your Honor, for details of labour, conduct, &c., to the Gaoler’s reports hereto annexed. The same reports furnish a statement of things required whether in repairs or additions.

We would especially refer your Honor to the statements of the Governor or Gaoler with respect to deficiencies in the female department, as the want of refractory cells, and of all means for classifying female prisoners; also to his statement respecting the numerical strength of warders, and that he draws your Honor’s attention to the situation of the Hospital.

Your Honor will doubtless remember that you already had the honor of soliciting your attention to these points in a former report.

We have, &c.

PONSONBY PEACOCK,
JAMES NAGHTON,
Visiting Justices.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Auckland.

GAOLER’S REPORT.

REPAIRS REQUIRED.

Roofing of Governor’s and Gaoler’s quarters, flooring of mess rooms and passages, wooden fencing, enclosing “old division” of the gaol. Attention is called to the damaged state of boiler in cook-house, “old division,” papering and painting Governor’s house, new flooring to verandah.

ADDITIONS MADE.

Nil.

All closets in new division of the gaol have been made into earth closets.

ADDITIONS REQUIRED.

Refractory cells in female prisoners’ department. Shed or awning over stone cutters, also one in female labor yard, workshops, easy communication with back and front of new division, chiefly for use of sentry at night.

SKILLED LABOR.

A return is furnished, showing value of productive and non-productive labor for six months, namely from 1st of June to 30th November, 1868.

CONDUCT.

A return is furnished showing the number of prison offences and punishment awarded during the year 1868.

SCHOOL.

During the past quarter a prisoners’ evening class, under the tuition of a prisoner, has been established for the purpose of studying the higher branches of mathematics. His Honor the Superintendent has granted a fresh supply of books to gaol school, including mathematical works for use of this class. The Rev. Mr. Heywood, chaplain to the gaol, examines the class nearly every week, and has kindly interested himself in the matter.

The hours of attendance are from 6 to 7 every evening, (Sundays and holidays excepted).

The prisoners attending school during the hours of labor are formed into three classes; the first and second being composed of Europeans, and the third of Maoris. The prisoners upon the whole are very attentive and appear desirous to learn.

LIBRARY.

The majority of the books received at the formation of the library, are to a greater or less extent damaged. Some are lost, while others are worn out. Previous to his departure His Lordship Bishop Selwyn kindly presented a number of books for the use of the prisoners. Contributions of tracts, &c., have been received from the Rev. C. Baker and the Rev. Mr. Haner; the latter gentleman also lectures to the prisoners every Saturday afternoon.

CLASSIFICATION.

In all cases, each previously convicted prisoner is slept in a cell by himself, and in cases of juvenile offenders, they are kept apart from the other prisoners as much as possible. Each convict occupies a separate cell. There are no means for classifying the female prisoners.

An addition is required in the number of warders. Attention is called to the situation of gaol hospital.

R. A. EYRE,
Governor and Gaoler.