91

Owing to the extraordinary and rapid expansion which has taken place in this city of late, I think that it would be a prudent step to strengthen the Force in town by at least two or three men. It is almost impossible, with the present strength of the Force, to exercise that watchfulness over the city which is so necessary to the preservation of peace and the protection of property, a task which is not always easy where there is a large floating population, as has been the case here lately.

Owing to the great demand for labour and the consequent difficulty of obtaining suitable men for the Force, I feel bound to recommend your Honor that a slight increase be made in the pay of the Force, as recommended in my return of the estimated expenditure for the forthcoming year.

I have, &c.,

Frederick Atchison,
Inspector of Police.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

Appendix F.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WARDEN OF THE WELLINGTON GAOL.

Gaol Department,
Wellington, 9th April, 1874.

Sir,—

I have the honor to forward for your information, the Annual Report relative to this department, for the year ending 31st March, 1874.

Nothing of an extraordinary or sensational character has occurred during the year, everything has worked smoothly and well, the officers have performed their duties in a most satisfactory manner and the result has been, that good order and discipline have been maintained, the general conduct of the prisoners has been remarkably good, for although there has been a very large increase in the number of committals, the punishments for breaches of the Prison Regulations have been fewer than any preceding year since I have had charge of the Gaol (a period of more than fourteen years).

The general health has also continued very good, the daily average on the sick list not amounting to more than one-fourth of a prisoner, throughout the year.

The total number of committals during the year ending 31st December, 1873 (returns of which are forwarded herewith) amounted in the whole to the large number of 396, consisting of 353 males and 43 females, being an increase of 164 on the previous year, but the offences were generally of a trifling character for which short terms of imprisonment were given, so that the daily average was only increased from 40 to 44½, still there were times when the Gaol was inconveniently over-crowded, and the want of increased accommodation was greatly felt, more particularly as regarded classification of the prisoners, and as a still greater number may naturally be expected during the coming year, in consequence of the continued arrival of Immigrants, it is extremely desirable that some additional accommodation should be provided without delay.

The greatest increase in the number of committals is to be found under the heads of drunkenness, and breaches of the Merchant Shipping Act, for while in 1872 the committals for drunkenness only amounted to 64, they have this year advanced to 134, and the committals for breaches of the Merchant Shipping Act have increased from 18 to 52, but there has happily been a total absence of serious crimes.

Divine service has been regularly performed on Sundays and other Holydays, and the prisoners have been addressed on Saturdays by the City Missionary as usual.

The same prompt attention has also been paid by the Medical Officer and his Assistant as formerly.

The books in the Library have been largely used, and have tended much to promote good order and discipline.

The boots and shoes for all classes of prisoners have been made in the Gaol as usual, and all the necessary repairs during the year have been done by prison labour.

The wells at the Lunatic Asylum, which had just been sunk at the date of my last report, have been properly bricked and the necessary stays for the force pumps fixed by the prisoners, in a manner quite equal to any similar kind of work in the City of Wellington.

The gangs have been employed for 183 days in levelling and improving the grounds at the Lunatic Asylum, they have also been employed for 103 days in levelling...