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Duties of Overseers.

Overseers to have charge of the working parties. To direct the work of the prisoners.

The overseer to muster his gang in going to and returning from work. To acquaint the Guard with each muster, morning, noon and afternoon. The overseers will prevent all unauthorised persons from holding any communication with any prisoners under their charge.

Duties of Guards.

Guards except when acting as overseers not to be allowed to hold any communication with prisoners except on matters of discipline.

Guards when on duty never to be allowed without arms, to consist of a musket, bayonet, and pistols, with twelve rounds of ball cartridge.

Guards when on duty not to allow any prisoner to approach nearer to them than ten paces, nor permit any prisoner to go beyond the prescribed limits without the overseer’s order.

On any person passing or attempting to pass the prescribed bounds it is the duty of the Guard to challenge him by calling out “stand prisoner” with the prisoners name or number, this challenge being repeated and the prisoner neglecting or refusing to stand; then it will be lawful for the Guard or other officer to use force to prevent the prisoner from escaping and to fire upon him if it be impossible to prevent escape by other means.

On the escape of any prisoner the Guard shall give an alarm but on no account shall he leave the gang without the orders of the keeper.

On an alarm being heard all overseers and Guards are to turn out fully armed to await the orders of the officer in charge.

Guards are justified in using their arms to prevent prisoners from assaulting each other or any other person but not in using any unnecessary violence.

The Guards of each gang are to receive from the overseer in charge the number of the gang. They are to count the same at least every half hour. They are to report to the overseer any irregularity in the conduct of the prisoners.

Traffic.

No Guard or any other Officer is to be allowed to buy from, or to sell anything to any prisoner.

Labour.

Hours of labour in summer from half past seven a.m. to six p.m., with one hour’s cessation for dinner. In winter, from eight a.m. to five p.m., with one hour’s cessation for dinner. Except on Saturdays when the day’s labour shall cease at noon, to enable the prisoners to wash their clothes, as hereinafter provided.

Prisoners are invariably to be called and made to rise at daylight, and to be locked up before dark.

The Bell for silence to be rung at nine o’clock p.m.

Correspondence.

All letters and communications (excepting as hereinafter specified) intended for any prisoner must be addressed to the care of and sent through the hands of the Warden, who is at liberty, if he think fit, to open such letters or communications.

All letters and communications from the legal adviser of any prisoner will be received and delivered sealed, provided such letter or communication is signed on the outside by such legal adviser.

Divine Service and Instruction.

Every prisoner shall be provided with a Bible.

Ministers of Religion may have access to prisoners separately in their cells, without the presence of third parties, if voluntarily desired by such prisoners.

Generally, Ministers of Religion may visit the Gaol at such times and conduct such services therein, as the Warden may think convenient, he being particularly careful to see that such visits and services are made and conducted at such hours as shall not interfere with the meals or rest of the prisoners, nor so late in the day as to entail unnecessary trouble on the Officers of the Prison.

In case of any complaint arising in reference to this rule the same to be referred to the Visiting Justices, whose decision on the matter shall be final.

Female Prisoners.

Female convicts, sentenced to penal servitude, shall be kept in the Gaol apart from male prisoners, and employed in some suitable labour therein.

Attempt to Escape.

Any prisoner leaving his allotted place while at work with intent to escape or otherwise making any attempt to escape will render himself liable to be shot by the Guard or other person in whose charge he may be and each prisoner is hereby cautioned that if he infringes this rule he does so at his own risk and peril.

Clothing.

Every prisoner will be supplied with the following articles of clothing, viz., two cotton shirts, two pairs of trowsers, one serge shirt, one pair of boots, one hat or cap, one rug and two blankets, the whole