Prison Regulations




THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 241

Now, therefore, I, THOMAS GORE BROWNE,
the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand,
do hereby, under and by virtue of the pro-
visions in the said Ordinance and Act respec-
tively contained, do hereby make the follow-
ing regulations for the purposes hereinbefore
recited, and do publish the same to be in
force within the Province of Otago.

As witness my hand this 25th day of Oc-
tober, 1859.

T. GORE BROWNE.

By His Excellency's command,
FRED. WHITAKER.

Rules for the Lock-up.

  1. Every prisoner on entering the Lock-
    up, and before being confined to a cell, to be
    searched in the presence of not less than two
    officers; and his name, country, religion,
    height, and general description to be entered
    in the register to be kept for that purpose;
    and when a prisoner is committed to Gaol the
    Chief Constable shall deliver to the Gaoler a
    copy of the above description for entry in the
    Gaol register and journal.

  2. All money, instruments, and other pro-
    perty on the person of any prisoner, to be
    taken from him; and a minute thereof speci-
    fying particulars, and signed by the Chief
    Constable, to be entered in a book to be kept
    for that purpose.

  3. If a prisoner shall be discharged, the
    property so taken from him to be restored.
    If a prisoner be admitted to bail, the
    Chief Constable shall detain all or such part
    of such property as the Judge or Justice ad-
    mitting to bail may instruct him to retain,
    which shall remain in the custody of the
    Chief Constable until the prisoner shall be
    discharged. If a prisoner shall be committed
    to Gaol, the property, or such part of it as
    truly belongs to the prisoner, shall be handed
    over at the same time to the Gaoler with a
    minute thereof, signed by the Chief Constable
    or other officer on duty.

  4. Each prisoner shall be supplied with No.
    1 Ration; but he shall be entitled to procure
    at his own expense; or from his friends, other
    provisions, excepting ale, beer, wine, spirits,
    or tobacco: provided such provisions shall
    be delivered to the prisoner through the hands
    of the officer on duty.

  5. Each prisoner may correspond with his
    legal adviser, and may be visited privately by
    such legal adviser; and by his friends, in the
    presence of the officer on duty.

  6. Each prisoner shall be allowed two
    hours exercise in the airing yard in the course
    of the morning, and two hours exercise in
    the afternoon, of every day; and during such
    exercise such, prisoner shall be under the
    charge of an officer.

  7. Each prisoner on entry shall be cautioned
    that any remarks made by him whilst in the
    Lock-up may be taken in evidence.

  8. Each cell shall be supplied with a towel,
    soap, and a comb; and each prisoner, if con-
    fined for more than twelve hours, shall wash
    himself every morning and evening.

  9. Each prisoner, previous to his discharge
    or committal to Gaol, shall be taken from the
    Court House to the Lock-up, in order that
    his property may be handed over to him if
    discharged, or obtained and handed over to
    the Gaoler along with him if committed, and
    along with a list thereof, in terms of Rule 3.

General Rules for the Criminal side of the
Gaol.

  1. Each prisoner on entering the Gaol
    shall be searched in presence of the Gaoler,
    and of the officer in whose charge he is brought
    to the Gaol; and articles of a dangerous
    character if discovered are to be taken away.

  2. A copy of a list of each prisoner's
    effects, and a copy of each prisoner's general
    description, as supplied by the Chief Con-
    stable, to be inserted in the Gaol books.

  3. Each prisoner shall wash himself on
    entry; and shall be supplied with two suits
    of prison clothing; his own clothes being
    taken into the custody of the Gaoler.

  4. Every cell to be opened at 6 in the
    morning, between the first September and
    the tenth April; and at daylight during the
    remainder of the year.

  5. Prisoners on rising, to wash and dress
    themselves, and to fold up their bedding.

  6. Prisoners, weather permitting, to sus-
    pend their bedding in the airing yard at
    least three times a week, for the space of four
    hours.

  7. At seven in the morning, and at a
    quarter-past seven in the evening, prayers to
    be read.

  8. After Morning Prayers, breakfast, at
    12 noon, dinner; at ten minutes after five,
    supper; at which meals each overseer and
    prisoner shall appear with clean hands and
    face.

  9. After Evening Prayers, prisoners to
    make their beds, and afterwards to be locked
    up in their appointed cells.

  10. Prisoners in good health are on no
    account to lie in bed during the day.

  11. Each prisoner to be supplied with a
    Bible and Prayer Book.

  12. The prisoners, under the charge of an
    officer, are to attend Public Divine Service at
    the appointed times, and to behave themselves
    with the greatest propriety. The Gaoler
    shall have discretionary power to excuse from
    attendance any person who does not conform
    to any of the Churches in Dunedin; but such
    prisoner shall, if possible, attend the Divine
    Service of the denomination to which he pro-
    fesses to belong.

  13. Any prisoner swearing, using obscene
    language, or behaving disrespectfully to any
    officer of the Gaol, shall be liable to such of
    the Gaol punishments as the Gaoler may deem
    necessary.

  14. Any prisoner behaving in a refractory
    manner may be ordered to solitary confine-
    ment on bread and water for any term not
    exceeding seven days, and in extreme cases
    to be put in irons by order of the visiting
    Justices.



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Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa PDF NZ Gazette 1859, No 33





✨ LLM interpretation of page content

⚖️ Prison Regulations issued for the Public Gaol at Dunedin, Otago. (continued from previous page)

⚖️ Justice & Law Enforcement
25 October 1859
Prison regulations, Dunedin Gaol, Otago Province, discipline, rules, lock-up
  • T. Gore Browne, Governor
  • Fred. Whitaker