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The prisoners have been chiefly engaged in clearing a portion of the Gaol Reserve (about nine acres), making it more practicable for prisoners attempting to escape ; but much yet remains to be done in the way of levelling and fencing the ground.

During a portion of the half-year two sawpits have been worked by an average of at least six prisoners, and the Gaoler’s residence, now near completion, has been built with the timber thus cut ; and there has been but certain necessary free labour used even in the erection of the building, such as bricklayers for the chimnies, and a foreman at the carpenters’ work : all else in connection with it has been done by prison labour. The boots used are made and repaired here ; the tailoring and repairs, and all such like work, is done by the prisoners ; whilst the female prisoners are worked at washing the male prisoners’ clothing, as also their own, together with repairing the lighter articles of clothing.

Since the 18th June, the greater portion of the labour gang has been engaged in Weld Street, where their work shows an amount of industry which I cannot pass over without making a few remarks relative to the difficulties attending the released prisoner. I would suggest that, as the labors of the gang will be for the benefit of the inhabitants of Hokitika, the Corporation should be asked to vote a sum of money (to be expended in such a manner as may hereafter be determined) for the purpose of enabling prisoners released either to buy tools or to obtain a passage to a port where they are unknown ; for it is difficult to suppose a prisoner just liberated to be able to go into a small town like Hokitika and procure employment, where nearly every one knows his crime, and when, perhaps, (and in most instances it is so), he has not a sixpence in his pocket wherewith to obtain his first meal or bed. In such a case he is (under the present system) as it were forced back into paths of crime, rather than guided into those of rectitude, and the chances are that he is returned to the gaol in a short period for some other crime, or under the Vagrant Act ; and this because there is no fund at my disposal to reward such industry as may seen on a visit to Weld Street, which industry is the rule and seldom the exception observable amongst most prisoners. I am inclined to think that many re-committals are owing to the absence of funds to enable prisoners to commence work when first discharged from gaol.

The health of the prisoners has been good, the chief complaint being rheumatism. During the half-year there have been two male prisoners forwarded to the hospital; one returned restored to health, the other died there on the 7th ult. Both suffered from complaints contracted prior to their being received into gaol.

The conduct of the prisoners has been very good, as I find upon reference to the defaulter’s book that the delinquents are restricted to the number of 23 ; there having been only that number of cases of bad conduct disposed of by the Visiting Justices and myself. One has been punished five times; one, four times; two, three times; and six once.

The conduct of prisoner Chamberlain has been notoriously bad, but under the separate treatment, together with the various sentences of solitary confinement he has had, he is beginning to learn that whilst a prisoner he must conform to prison discipline, and it is my impression that his last punishment of one month’s solitary confinement will have the effect of altogether silencing his unruly and disrespectful tongue. During the half-year the Visiting Justices ordered the heavy irons of prisoners Chamberlain and Huskisson to be replaced by lighter ones; and those of prisoners Bray and Bolland, to be struck off. These orders were immediately attended to.

Divine service is regularly held every Thursday evening by the Ven. Archdeacon Harper, and occasionally Roman Catholic service is also held.

The following is the routine of gaol life here, the hours of course varying with the seasons:—

Rouse bell, at 6.15; unlocking and washing, 6.30; prayers, 7; breakfast, 7.15; muster for labour, 7.50; dinner, 12; muster for labour, 12.50; return from labour, 4; supper, 4.15; prayers, 4.30; lock-up, 4.45; silence bell, 8, when perfect silence must be observed. Grace is said before and after all meals.

For your information I annex returns: one, showing the expenditure of this department, the other, the state of the gaol on the 30th June, 1868.

In concluding this, my first report, I desire to bear testimony to the conduct of the very diligent body of warders under my charge, whose arduous and monotonous duties have been discharged conscientiously and without harshness; they have earned credit for themselves and they have conferred a pleasure on me in enabling me to mention it.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

M. M. CLEARY,
Gaoler.

Return showing the expenditure in the County Gaol, Hokitika, for the half-year ending 30th June, 1868: