DUNEDIN GAOL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2587, 2 June 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN GAOL.

From the aunual report of the Governor of this Gaol, Mr James Caldwell, we gather the following Out of the vote of L 9285 10s, L 5254 9s 4d has been expended on the European, and L 2301 3s on the Maori prisoners, making the total expenditure L 8055 12s 4d, or L 929 17s B>l less than tbe estimated expenditure. The value of tbe labor performed by the prisoners, together with the payment of the General Government on account of the Maori prisoners, and a few small miscellaneous items, amount to L 9791 15s Id, showing an excess of revenue over expenditure of L 1703 2s 9d. The labor of tbe European prisoners is calculated at rates varying from Is per day in the case of the wardswemcn, to 6s per day in the case of painters, carpenters, and plumbers, the average being 4s per day. The labor of the Maori prisoners is valued at a uniform rate of 2s 6d per day. These prices are considered moderate by the Government Inspector of Works. The work done by the prisoners was as follows : Completion of formation of the grounds of the High School and adjoining streets ; excavation of a site for the residence of the Rector of the High School; removing portion of Bell Hill, and making tramway; extending Rattray street jetty; erecting beacons in the harbor; widening the Anderson’s Bay road, and planting trees along it; completing read across Peliehet Bay; finishing and keeping in order the Botanical Gardens ; draining, subsoiling, Joying out, and fencing in the Hospital grounds ; widening t);e Kaikorai road ; completing 'Bond, ''High, r imd Police streets; doing the painters’, plumbers’, blacksmiths’, carpenters’, and wheelwrights’ work required in the Gaol or in connectiou with the several works; breaking and delivering to tbe Government 3400 yards of road metal; making and repairing all the boots and clothing used in tba establishment,' as well as' supplying the Invercargill Gaol. ‘ ' The tot?} Dumber of prisoners received

during the year w»s 460 males and 196 femanse*, showing a slight decrease in the number of European prisoners compared with the preceding twelve months ; the largest number confined in the gaol at any ont ti me was 191 on December 2nd; the smaller, 155, on Sep-, tember 11th. The class of prisoners received present no clement worthy of special consideration j for the most part, the same female prisoners are received into the gaol over and over again, for petty offences, consisting prin* cipally of drunkenness, and contraventions of the Vagrant Acts. Experience has shown that this slate of things is unhappily the same, to a greater or lesser extent, in every settled community ; and the number of convictions against some of the women shuts out all reasonable hope of their reformation ; although if they could only be induced to exhibit when free, anything approximating the same amount’ of industry, activity, and cleanliness which they are compelled to do in gaol, they would be both nsclul and respectable members of society. Under existing circumstances, efforts for the reformation of pri;ouers must, in my opinion, bo mainly directed to those who are undergoing punishment for the first time; and having that object iu view, I am careful in preventing such prisoners from associating with the others; this, however, lam unable to do to a? great an extent us I desire, in consequence of the limited amount of space at my disposal: but the fact that of those who , pass their first sentence' in this establishment, few ever return to this place, shows that my efforts in this direction are not altogether * unavailing. Drunkenness continues to exist to a considerable extent. The drunkard, os a rule, is not averse to a few days’detention in gaol, and is conscious ot the benefit he derives trom the cleansing and medical relief he obtains there.” A just tribute is paid to the "creditable’ manner in which the warders discharge their trying and arduous duties; and it is pointed out that any attempt at reducing the expenditure in this branch of the establishment, will bo false economy, and tend to impair the efficiency of the staff. Mr Caldwell directs the attention of Government to the question of a superannuation allowance to officers, who from long service or casualtys arc rendered unfit for a further performance of their duties. He soys The occupation of an officer or warder wears, (he constitution m a greater degree than any other; and it a necessary that the staff be kept up comple e ' by efficient, healthy, and active men It becomes essential in the interests of a proper system to make a provision for the mer which they may feel to bo within their reach before they are wholly worn out. Some prevision ought in justice to be made for the superannuated or disabled officer or warder, who lias faithfully and honorably expended h.s energies and strength in this hard and self-denying servioe.”