Dumgree Camp.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 10

Dumgree Camp.

A NOVEL PRISON SETTLEMENT. Rambling aimlessly through the back country of Marlborough, 'rccoontiy, far from the bustle and strifo of cities, a representative of the Dominion happened upon a quaint little settlement known as the Dum-' greo Prison Plantation, a stretch of 881 acres of land, part of the, old Dumgreo sheep run, about 16 miles from Blenheim, through tussock and fern clad hill country. Tho estate was taken over by the Government sonio twelve years ago for the purpose of laying tho foundations of one of a scorc of nurseries and plantations which are to supply timber in years to come. Tho area at Dumgreo had been well cultivated, notwithstanding many difficulties which have had to be overcome. The station is carried on by prison and free labour, the work of the prisoners, according to an official on tho' spot, being highly satisfactory. After an examination of the plantation proper the wanderer set out for some sign of habitation. Thero was little to guide a stranger,- the estate being the ono cultivated spot in a wide • expanse of virgin lull country. A Little Settlement. At last after a tramp along a hijgh river bank, a little settlement came into sight—a cheerful sight after miles ot grass-covered hills. Nestled in a natural hollow ,on tho bed _ of tho Awatero river, -with tho high papa river' bank on one -sido and steep hills on the other three sides, stood a prison settlement—a group of about eleven houses-and cabins, painted; white with blue facings, situated in the centro of a nicely cultivated stretch of arable' land. Lunch was just over, and the, prisoners were engaged in clearing up "and resting before resuming ; the day's work- on tho estate. A prison in such surroundings! tho idea sqemod preposterous. The peaceful sunlit calm, tho clear invigorating air. of tho place, a rippling river within a few hundred feet, and the snowcapped Kaikoura's in the distance,all stood out to combat tho application of tho word . "prison" to such a spot—a haven of rest such as many a brain-weary city man yearns for. Tho prison, for such the place is, is a miniaturo village in itself, but is •ce from the liard-and-fast regulations of the prison as .wo see it in tlio city. Everything is at hand — a water supply, laundry, blacksmith's shop, stables, kitchen, and flower gardens. Routine of the Camp. The prisoners" on the plantation numbered 27, but the camp has accommodation for 37, all being under the supervision of a gaoler and two warders. The routino of the camp is: llise at 6.50 a.m.; have breakfast and set out for tree planting or digging on the estate at the cook and gardener- only ing at the settlement. The toilers return to camp at noon for dinner, and after an hour for food and rest return to the fields until 4 p.m. They arrive back in time to be locked up in the various cabins by 5 p.ni. These 1 are the winter hours, the time allotted for field work being longer m summer. Most of the prisoners aro short sentence men ofngood conduct. So long as their charges give no trouble ■ the gaoler and wardens appear to allow them free scope within certain limits, and altogether tho settlement seems to be conducted on excellent lines. Tho men have opportunities to "clear out," but very few care to leave the. camp with tho certain prospect that if they are caught they must go to nil ordinary taol. Quite recently a Maori, who had been at the camp for horse-steal-ing, worked out his term and was cast' adrift on a oheerless world with a few pounds in his pocket. He was sorry to leave the. settlement, and informed it Blenheim tradesman that he would gladly return. _ 1 I'ho uppermost thought in the mind of the writer on leaving the camp, was that the undisturbed lot of the Dumgree treeplanter was infinitely better than some prisoners deserved and immeasurably superior to the conditions under which tho lawbreaker in tho city prisons puts in his time. Prisons ?mi on tho lines of tho Dumgree, whilst certainly punitive, must undoubtedly make for the reform of the men and launch them on society at- tlio end of their 'term healthier in both mind and body. The Plantation. The site chosen for the Government plantation' at Dumgree is_ beginning to show considerable promiso for the future in spite of a severe handicap, owiug to the dryness of the river bank soil during the summer months. Tho plantation is situated on the banks of the Awaterc rirer, far from the eyes of ( tho curious. Tho prisoners aro marched, out to their work each day under the care of a warder, their labours being directed by an. expert forester. The area of tho plantation is BSI acres, mid jt is estimated that tho estate will carry 2722 trees to tho acre, and in the distant future provido a forest of useful timber for New Zealand on what, up to a few years ago,- was treeless land. Tho principal trees oil the estate aro Black Loquat, vari•us kinds of pines, and larch. At the first planting tho trees are setfour feet apart, hut they will bo thinned out as they-grow, first to a distanco of 8 ft. then 12 ft., and finally to a distanco of about 16 ft. Tho idea in planting the trees so closo at the outset is to kill out the undergrowth and prevent the young plants running to branches, as tl.eso two factors would have a detrimental effect ou tho timber of tile future. Tlio area planted up to Marcli 3, was 3852 acres, this ground containing 1,061,661 acres. A Drought. Tlio drought experienced last summer threw the work behind a great deal, a heavy death rato being recorded all over the plantation. It is estimated that fifty per cent, of the trees on tho estate died during tho drought, but tho assistant forester, Mr. AY. G. Morrison, and his prison and free labourers have now recovered the lost groupid. The trees that suffered most were larch, planted on the fiats. Oregon and '■orsican Pines, and Black Loquat. Some difficulty has been experienced at the plantation finding our. what trees are most suited to the Dumsree soil and climate. Several

species which '.vero oxpected to do well • in the dry ground have not nourished, well-rooted lurch, Oregon, Weymouth, and pitch pines having succumbed. As the result of past experience it is now believed that Austrian pine,' Corsican pine, Bull Pine and Benthnrn's yellow pine aro best adapted for the locality. The total expenditure 011 the plantation from 1896 to March last .was £8756 Tho End In Sight. The end of the planting at Duragreo is now within sight, experts estimating that tho work will be com plcted in another' eighteen months Llie prison camp will then be shifti/l' and tho plantation will be left ti an overseer and time. In. the meantime every precaution is being taken against firo sweeping through tho ciittic plantation in the drv season lire breaks being cut : through the estate so as-to confine the damaro to 0110 spot if possible. Starborough Nursery, The supply of trees for Dumgree 'Plantation' is drawn from the Starborough Nursery, a State institnwon of over 100 acres, situated at bccldon, a few miles awa.v It is stated that over 3,251,550 trees have been raised at tho nursery since it ;vas started in 1896, and these have been sent to various parts of-the 'oinimon, besides * keeping i the workers at Dumgree supplied.