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It will be seen by the accompanying returns, which are made up for the year ending
31st December, 1875 (as required by the General Government), that no less than 98 females
have been committed to this gaol in that time, which is a very large increase on the
previous year, when the total number of committals only amounted to 59.

During the early part of the year the want of accommodation was greatly felt, but
the new buildings recently erected by the Provincial Government have now entirely
removed that want, and the accommodation for female prisoners is ample, and enables me
to classify them in such a manner that those on remand, or committed for trial, are kept
entirely separate from convicted prisoners; while young girls, and women convicted of
minor offences, and sent to gaol for the first time, are no longer compelled to associate with
hardened criminals, or women of vile and abandoned character, while the lavatories and
bath-rooms, with an abundant supply of hot and cold water, afford a means of cleanliness
probably unsurpassed by any other gaol in the Colony. But, in consequence of these
additions, and the great increase in the number of prisoners, the duties of the Matron
have become very arduous, and it is quite impossible for her to continue to perform them
without some assistance. It is therefore absolutely necessary that provision should be
made for the appointment of at least one female turnkey.

There has been a slight decrease in the number of males committed during the same
period, the numbers being 435 as against 467 of the previous year; but, notwithstanding
this decrease in numbers, the daily average has been much greater, owing to many of the
sentences being of longer duration, and there have been times when I have been so
pressed for room that I have scarcely known where to put the prisoners.

A very large increase in the number of male prisoners has, however, taken place
since the commencement of the present year, 186 having been brought to gaol from the
first day of January to the thirty-first day of March inclusive, and while during the year
1875 the highest number in gaol at any one time never exceeded 76, in the early part of
March it had reached 100. As a matter of course, under existing arrangements, I have
had very great difficulty in providing them with sleeping accommodation, while anything
like proper classification has been altogether out of the question; but, as plans have been
prepared, and tenders called for, for additions to the male department, this difficulty will
in all probability soon be alleviated, if it does not altogether cease to exist.

The general health of the prisoners has, however, been very good, notwithstanding
the overcrowded state of the gaol.

In accordance with the new Prison Regulations, instruction in reading, writing, and
arithmetic has been regularly given every evening (Sundays excepted) since the first week
of July last, and has been productive of very good results. Several of the prisoners who
could neither read nor write can now do so tolerably well, while others who could do so very
indifferently have made very great improvement. Some of the better educated among the
prisoners have been employed to teach the others, and have performed their duties very
efficiently.

All prisoners able to work have been kept fully employed, as usual. A very valuable
site for additions to the gaol has been levelled by them on a part of which the new
buildings for female prisoners have been erected. The trees planted last year have been
carefully tended, and notwithstanding their exposed situation have made rapid growth,
materially improving the appearance of the gaol grounds. The exercising yards of the
new additions have been well metalled, the metal being obtained by the prisoners. The
road along Woolcombe street from Ghuznee-street to Abel Smith-street has been repaired
and metalled, the metal in this case being found by the City Council, but broken and
spread by the prisoners.

A new road has been commenced on the West side of the Terrace, leading from
Aurora Terrace past the Grammar School, a considerable portion of which is now
completed and metalled fit for traffic, the metal in this case being obtained by the prisoners.

A gang of the long-sentenced prisoners has been engaged in levelling a site for the
new Hospital near the Adelaide Road, and making and metalling roads leading thereto.

A very large quantity of excellent clay has been dug out for making bricks, large drying
and other sheds erected, wheelbarrows of different kinds made for removing and stacking
them, and a large quantity of barrows thoroughly repaired and new wheels made for them.
Brickmaking has been commenced, and several kilns of bricks have already been burned,
but this has not been done entirely by prison labor, one man having been engaged to
instruct the prisoners, and they have so far profited by the instruction given that several
of them are now able to mould and turn out bricks in a very creditable manner.

The yard at the Te Aro Police Station has been metalled, a quantity of close-boarded
fencing put up, a wash-house built, a shed roofed, and several other repairs have been
done by the prisoners.

All tables and forms required for the use of the new Gaol for women, and also for
the Lunatic Asylum and different Police Stations, have been made in the Gaol.

The boots for both male and female prisoners have all been made in the Gaol as
formerly. A supply of men’s strong boots has been sent to the Lunatic Asylum for the
use of the patients, and to the Wanganui Gaol for the use of the prisoners.