86

(21). The cost of their maintenance is thus made to fall upon the Gaol Department instead of the Lunatic Asylum, and although the result is the same as far as the Provincial Government is concerned, it increases the expenditure of this department without giving any return. The cost for the maintenance of these persons might fairly be deducted from the expenditure of the Gaol.

The health of the prisoners has, as usual, been very good; there have been no serious cases of sickness during the year, and no death has occurred.

The general conduct of the prisoners has been satisfactory; as a rule, they have worked willingly and well. Only eleven of their number have been punished by order of the Visiting Justices, mostly for slight offences. There has been one attempt to escape from the public works by a convict under sentence of penal servitude, which was happily prevented by the courage and promptitude of the officer in charge, Under Turnkey Dennis Reardon.

The boots worn by the prisoners have, as in previous years, been made in the gaol—the man now employed has been taught the trade here. As a proof of the strength and durability of these articles, I have great pleasure in informing you that, although the wear and tear is very great, in consequence of the nature of the work at which the prisoners are employed, the total cost for both men and women has only amounted to £25 4s 8d.

The library books, provided by the liberality of the Provincial Government, have been much used by the prisoners, and have been productive of most beneficial results as far as the peace and good order of the establishment is concerned. Instead of the men sitting down together in small groups and concocting schemes of villainy, or relating their previous exploits to each other, and thus inciting the younger and less hardened among them to a life of crime, the most of their spare time is occupied in reading quietly to themselves, and in other cases reading aloud to those of their fellow prisoners who are unable to do so.

A considerable portion of the books having been in use for many years, are almost unfit for further service; if a small sum could be placed upon the estimates to obtain a fresh supply, I think it would be very desirable to do so.

The copy books and spelling books have also been well used, and I am happy to be able to state that there is great improvement in the reading and writing of many of the prisoners.

The Provincial Surgeon or his Assistant visits the Gaol regularly once a week, and oftener when requested to do so. They have always paid the most prompt attention, and their services have proved very valuable to me, more particularly in cases of malingering, as without their assistance it would be almost impossible for me to tell whether a prisoner was really ill or only feigning sickness to avoid work. This offence, which was formerly very prevalent, has now become rare, and is generally at once detected by the Medical Officer.

Divine Service is regularly performed on Sundays by the Venerable Archdeacon Stock and the Reverend Father Petit Jean, and sometimes on other days, the conduct of the prisoners on these occasions is very attentive and orderly, and I am sure that both these gentlemen will agree with me in saying, that a better behaved congregation could not be found in the City of Wellington.

Mr. David Hall, City Missionary, also attends and addresses the prisoners every Saturday afternoon.

The establishment has been frequently visited and inspected by the Visiting Justices; their opinion of the discipline and management will doubtless be found in their reports to your Honor, though perhaps it would not be altogether out of place for me to say, that they have frequently expressed their approval and entire satisfaction with the discipline and general arrangements. I am deeply indebted to these gentlemen for their advice and assistance on many occasions.

I have great pleasure in drawing your attention to the steady decrease of crime in the Province of Wellington, as will be seen by the returns for the past three years, (already furnished to the Provincial Government); from these returns which are made up to the 31st December in each year, it will be found that the total number of committals from all causes in the year

1869 was ... 244
1870 ... 238
and in 1871 only ... 196

giving a daily average for each year as follows

1869 ... 57
1870 ... 53½
1871 ... 45