PRISON REGULATIONS IN OTAGO.

Gaoler.

1. He will reside in the Establishment, from which he will not absent himself for a longer period than twelve hours, without the written authority of __, and he is responsible for the discipline, management and safe custody of the prisoners; the impartial enforcement of penal discipline, and the introduction and maintenance of habits of industry, cleanliness, order, and obedience among them, and in the establishment generally.

2. It will be an important part of his duty to ascertain that the prisoners are correctly instructed in labor, and so placed as to preclude their carrying on improper conversation, unheard by the officer in charge. He will, therefore, frequently, and at uncertain hours, visit the working parties.

3. He is to see that all the officers under his charge perform their duties in strict accordance with the Regulations issued for their guidance.

4. He will be at all times ready to receive any complaint or application made by any of the prisoners, and report the same to the visiting Justice when appointed.

5. He will use all precautionary measures to prevent the escape of prisoners, and with that view will visit and inspect the wards, separate apartments, cells, and every division of the establishment, frequently daily and nightly, and will see every prisoner once, at least, in every 24 hours.

6. He will see that the utmost economy is observed throughout the establishment, and that the labor of the prisoner is made as productive as possible.

7. He will not allow prisoners, under any pretence whatever, to be employed either singly or in detached parties, without being under the charge and personal observation of an officer.

8. He will not permit any strangers to sleep in the apartments of the officers without written permission, nor such or any person to have intercourse with the prisoners without the presence of an officer.

9. He will keep a journal, in which he will enter every extraordinary occurrence, and remark upon any irregularities which may take place in the discipline of the establishment; as also upon all matters of importance connected with the health, discipline, and employment of the prisoners.

10. He will specially report to the Chaplain and Medical Officer the case of any prisoner whose condition, mental or bodily, requires particular attention.

11. He will furnish the Chaplain and Medical Officer with a list of all prisoners who may be undergoing separate treatment, or are in solitary confinement for punishment.

12. He will immediately report the death of any prisoner to the visiting Justice on duty, and Coroner of the District.

13. In case of misconduct on the part of any of the officers, he is empowered to suspend such officer, who will not, however, be allowed to leave the Establishment, and he will immediately make a report on the subject or should the urgency of the case demand such a course, he may apply to the Visiting Justice for advice and assistance.

14. He will keep an order book, in which he will enter such orders as he may from time to time find it necessary for advice and assistance.

15. In visiting the female division of the gaol he will be attended by the matron or some female officer.

16. He will visit the various messes at their meals and see that their food is of a proper quality and properly cooked.

17. He will have the keys of the outer gate delivered to him at 10 p.m. in summer, and at nine at other seasons, and he will ascertain that the officers are all present. He will keep them until 6 a.m. in summer and sunrise at other seasons, and he will not allow egress or ingress during the night except on special occasions to be noted in his journal.

18. He will as soon as possible after a prisoner is received into the Establishment, cause to be entered in the Prison Register, the name of the prisoner with his offence, sentence, personal description, and any particulars he may discover as to his previous history, and every offence the prisoner may commit whilst in custody must also be entered therein.

19. He will be responsible for the correct issue of the stores and provisions, and that no improper appropriation of them by the Storekeeper or any other officer is permitted.

20. Should the Storekeeper at any time report the receipt of an inferior description of rations, the gaoler will ... call upon the contractor to inspect them, and should the contractor fail to supply a better quality, the gaoler will obtain the articles required elsewhere at the contractor's risk.

21. He will use his best endeavors on all occasions to secure the co-operation of the Visiting Justice, the Medical Officer, Chaplain, and of all the Subordinate officers in the execution of the duties entrusted to them, in order that by their united exertions, the service may be performed in the most efficient manner possible.

22. He will make a monthly and half-yearly report on the state of the Establishment, and the conduct of the prisoners under his charge.

23. He will cause the Rules of the Establishment to be read to the Prisoners on entry and as occasion may require.

24. He may inflict summary punishment on any prisoner for minor breaches of discipline by Solitary Confinement on bread and water for any period not exceeding three days, and if necessary he may place any refractory Prisoner in irons, immediately reporting the case to the Visiting Justice.

25. He will cause to be kept such Registers, Books, &c., and shall furnish such Returns as shall be directed by the Superintendent.

Chief Warden.

26. This officer is next in rank to the gaoler, in whose absence he will assume charge of the Establishment.

27. He will see the provisions issued daily from the store, and must take care that they are of a good and wholesome kind, and according to the contract quality. He will be present at every meal.

28. He will minutely inspect the Wards, separate apartment Cells, and the Establishment generally, daily, frequently at irregular hours, and will pay great attention to ventilation and cleanliness.

29. He will see that the prisoners are shaved twice a week, and that they put on clean shirts, that their hair is cut monthly, and that none of them are permitted to wear whiskers; and that their clothing is at all times clean and in thorough repair. He will also inspect the bedding and men's utensils weekly.