54

Hokitika, 1st July, 1868.

THE following tender of Mr William Gawne has been accepted for the supply of Rations to the County Gaol, Hokitika, during the quarter ending 30th September, 1868:

No. 1. Ration, Male, 11d per Ration.
No. 1. Female, 7½d "
No. 2. Male, 8d "
No. 2. Female, 6½d "
No. 3. 4¼d "
No. 4. 7¼d "
No. 5. 9d "

Tobacco, 5s per lb; Kerosene, 3s 3d per gallon; Colza oil, 8s per gallon; Candles, 1s 2d per lb; Arrowroot, 1s 2d per lb; Sago, 8d per lb; Rice, 4½d per lb; Sugar, 6d per lb; Tea, 3s per lb; Butter, 1s 4d per lb; Mustard, 1s 4d per lb; Brandy, 5s per bottle; Gin, 4s 3d per bottle; Port wine, 3s 3d per bottle; Sherry, 3s per bottle; Porter, 15s per doz; Washing soda, 2½d per lb; Whiting, 2d per lb.

G. S. SALE, County Secretary.

County Gaol, Hokitika, 1st July, 1868.

The Chairman of the County Council.

Sir,—In compliance with the 22nd clause of the Hokitika Prison Regulations, I have the honor to forward my report on the state of this gaol, and the conduct of the prisoners for the half-year ending 30th June, 1868.

The year 1867 closed with a total of 64 (57 males and 7 females), and although the total closing this half-year shows only an increase of three yet the totals have fluctuated considerably, and will best be seen by my giving the

Maximum for the half-year 83.
Minimum 58.
Average 69.

For your information I subjoin the following return, shewing the number of prisoners received during the period, for which this report is written, their nationality, the state of their education, and religion, dividing the latter into Protestants and Roman Catholics.

There have been the following number of discharges for the half-year:

Debtors: 40 male, 4 female ...... 44
Prisoners: 53 male, 16 female ...... 69

The debtors (inclusive of those remaining in gaol from last year) have been imprisoned for the aggregate sum of £1,678 10s., and the total amount of maintenance money received for them from their respective creditors is £99 16s, which sum has been paid over to the County Paymaster in regular monthly payments, with the exception of £10 11s, still in hand. Of the number of debtors discharged, eighteen have satisfied their claimants, amounting to £454 8s 10d; twenty-six have either completed their sentences, or have been discharged for non-payment of maintenance money, shewing unsatisfied debts of £962 17s 10d. The remaining number (5) of debtors still in gaol represent a debt of £261 3s 4d. I may here remark that although the “Amended Debtors and Creditors Act, 1867,” enforces the high rate of 12s maintenance weekly, in the place of 5s, as formerly, yet it has not the effect of deterring creditors from endeavouring to enforce the payment of debts by the imprisonment of their debtors, which one would suppose. On the contrary, I find upon reference, that the highest number of debtors confined at any one time under the lower rate to be only seven, whilst under the higher rate sixteen is the highest number; or taking the averages of various quarters, the quarter preceding the increase in the maintenance rate gives a daily average of 6¼; the first quarter under the increased rate, nearly ten; the quarter ending 31st March, nearly nine; and the quarter ending 30th June, 7¼.