Jan. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 163

276. Prisoners before trial may, if they so desire (and must if they volunteer to work), wear the prison dress. They shall also be required to do so if their own clothes are insufficient or unfit for use or necessary to be preserved for the purposes of justice.

277. Prisoners before trial shall be required to keep their cells and utensils clean and in good order.

DEBTORS.

278. Debtors are to be kept apart from other prisoners.

279. Debtors shall be provided with separate cells, to which no other prisoner or unauthorized person shall have access.

280. Debtors shall not have their hair or beards cut except by their own wish, unless for sanitary reasons it should be so ordered by the Medical Officer.

281. As a precaution against the retention of prohibited articles they shall be searched upon admission; but such searching shall not, unless it appears that the debtor is wilfully secreting any article upon his person, require a debtor to divest himself of any portion of his clothing.

282. They are not to be photographed nor have their finger-prints taken.

283. They shall receive the scale of rations laid down for prisoners, in Scale No. .

284. They may provide themselves with food, clothing, bedding, books, writing-materials, or toilet accessories.

285. They shall be permitted to procure for themselves or receive from their friends tobacco, food, clothing, and other necessaries, subject to strict examination by the Gaoler in order to prevent the introduction of spirituous and fermented liquors or other prohibited articles. Any food, &c., so procured may be paid for out of the moneys belonging to such prisoner in the hands of the Gaoler. No part of such food, &c., shall be sold or transferred to any other prisoner.

286. Debtors shall be required to keep their cells and utensils clean and in good order, and make up their bedding, but no other labour will be required of them.

287. They shall be allowed visits daily on week-days at a convenient hour, and may correspond daily with their friends.

288. All debtors shall be liable to punishment for breaches of prison regulations.

MISDEMEANANTS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS.

Misdemeanants of the First Division.

289. Persons imprisoned for non-compliance with the order of any Court to pay a sum of money, or imprisoned in respect of the default of a distress to satisfy a sum of money ordered to be paid by a Court of justice, and persons imprisoned in default of security of maintenance under the Destitute Persons Acts, shall be treated in all respects as misdemeanants of the First Division, and shall not be deemed criminal prisoners.

290. Misdemeanants of the First Division shall be required to keep their cells and utensils clean and in good order, and shall receive the scale of rations laid down for prisoners not working at hard labour. They shall be kept separate from the criminal prisoners, and shall be allowed visits daily at a convenient hour, and to correspond daily with their friends.

291. They shall be allowed to wear their own clothing, provided it is sufficient and fit for use. Their hair and beards shall not be cut except by their own wish or for sanitary purposes.

292. They are not to be photographed or have their finger-prints taken.

293. All misdemeanants shall be liable to punishment for breaches of prison regulations.

294. They may provide themselves with food, &c., in the same way as permitted to debtors.

Misdemeanants of the Second Division.

295. Every person convicted of an offence and not sentenced to hard labour shall be treated as a misdemeanant of the Second Division unless the Court or Judge before whom such person has been tried otherwise orders. Second-class misdemeanants shall be required to keep their cells and utensils clean and in good order, and shall receive the same scale of rations as first-class misdemeanants. They shall be allowed visits once a month at a convenient hour, and to correspond monthly with their friends. They shall wear the prison clothing. Their hair and beards shall not be cut except by their own wish or for sanitary purposes. All misdemeanants shall be liable to punishment for breaches of prison regulations.

CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS SENTENCED TO HARD LABOUR.

296. All prisoners sentenced to hard labour, except life-sentence prisoners, shall be classified as follows into three classes—viz., the Third, Second, and First Classes respectively.

Third Class.

297. All prisoners sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for any period exceeding six months shall commence their sentences in this class.

298. Prisoners in this class shall be eligible for promotion to the second class when they have earned 1,464 marks.

299. They may for misconduct be required to serve an additional period in this class.

300. They shall be permitted to receive a visit of not more than twenty minutes’ duration, and to receive and despatch two letters within one week from the date of their conviction. Thereafter they may receive a visit of not more than twenty minutes’ duration, and may despatch and receive one letter every eight weeks; provided that their conduct and industry have been good for the preceding four weeks.