MOUNT EDEN GAOL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2174, 12 June 1914, Page 7

MOUNT EDEN GAOL

—9. rHE ALLEGED FIRE DANGER, When ho was interviewed at Auckland Mr. William Richardson, tho-Pro-hibition lecturer who recently elected to go to gaol rather than pay a fine imposed tor breach of a citv by-law (in causing a crowd to collect),"criticised the presence- of wooden buildings in the Mount Men Gaol and stated that if a tire once got a hold of this portion of tho establishment it would involve <*reat Jess of life. He further said that in such an event tho prisoners locked insido would bo burned liko rate in a trap. AVlien tho matter was mentioned last evening to_ Mr. C. I!. Jordan (Undersecretary tor Justice) ho said that the wooden structure referred to was only a small portion of the old wooden building, erected many years ago. Not manv prisoners wero. kept there and every possible precaution was taken against tire. Works arc in progress at Mount Jidon .which before long will enable the portion ot the old wooden building which still remains to be- dispensed with and removed. A new wing is being erected in etone. Owing to the massivo nature of tho building and tlie fact that all tho stones have to he dressed the work.docs not proceed very rapidly, but the foundations are now well in hand. It is expected that tho first portion of tho new wing will bo completed in about twelve .months' time, and that tho whole wing will bo finished in about two years from the present date. The tinie is thus within sight when tho Mount Eden Gaol will bo a massivo stone structure throughout. Meantime very much stricter precautions against fire aro observed in this and other prisons than in ordinary buildings. At- night only onp light is burning in each corridor and of course a strict watch maintained. Mount Eden is at present illuminated with gas, but tho question of substituting electric lighting throughout is under consideration.