THE WORKS AT LYTTELTON GAOL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 374, 24 August 1875, Page 3

THE WORKS AT LYTTELTON GAOL.

These works, under the superintendence of Mr H. Henwood, are getting on rapidly, and promise to be of great advantage to the province. They are almost entirely the work of the prisoners, a little skilled labor being employed. The works were commenced in 1871, the plans having been prepared by Mr B, W. Mountfort. The works are of great magnitude, comprising officers’ quarters, north, south, and central wards, chief warder’s house, offices, &c, and when finished there will be accommodation for about 120 prisoners in single cells. There will be five different yards, which will admit of classification, and there is an ample supply of wash-houses, baths, &c. At the present rate of progress they will be completed in two years from the present date. The north ward, which has been completed and occupied for the past two years, comprises seventeen single cells, one association ward and day room, two closets, and a wash-house. It is a two-storey building, the walls of concrete, the floors and ceilings of the cells are of concrete, but the former are boarded over for the prisoners to sleep on, the doors are of two thicknesses of inch T and G timber,with sheet iron between, with strong massive hinges and bolts, the latter of which extend from the top to the bottom of the doors, and are secured in three places by a quarter turn, there are small openings in the centre of these doors for inspection, A massive iron gate separates this ward from the other parts of the gaol. This ward is situated to the north of the old gaol, and is at the back of the Magistrate’s Court, its site having been originally a portion of the ground belonging to the police station. The yard in this ward is enclosed by a roof, and lit by lantern lights so contrived that theyare worked by means of lines from outside. We come next to the officers’ and debtors’ quarters which are at the back of the gaol, or as it is commonly called, on the bank. It is a handsome two-storey concrete building with stone dressings, and contains eight rooms, in two separate divisions of four-rooms each, intended to be used as kitchen, dayroom, and two bedrooms. The rooms are 12 x 14 each in one division, and in the other there is a kitchen and bedroom 17 x 14, and a day room and bedroom 19 x 14. All the rooms but one contain fireplaces, and are lift high, the fittings and finishing in thispartof thebuilding are particularly good. This part is also completed, and will be occupied shortly. We now come to the south ward, which is now in course of erection ; it will be a threestorey building, containing forty-nine single cells and a visitors’ room. This latter consists of two barred cells, with a space 6ft wide between, where a warder will be stationed to listen to what is said between the prisoner and visitor. This ward is the part of the woxks on which the prisoners are now occupied, and will be completed in about three months ; it is a most imposing looking structure, and will, when finished, be 45ft high. All the single cells are 9ft 6in by sft 2in, and average 10ft in height, and contain about 500 cubic feet of air, and by means of openings in the walls, which are carried up like small flues, with grated openings, the ventilation is excellent. The windows, which are formed of open bars of iron, are placed over the doors, which latter are the same as those in the north ward. The upstairs cells are reached by means of a staircase, with two balcony landings. At the west end of the works fronting Oxford street is situated the chief warder’s house, consisting of six rooms ; the ground floor contains a parlor 13ft Gin by 12ft, a kitchen 15ft 6in by 12ft, and another room lift by 13ft 6in. The three bedrooms upstairs are of similar siz*e. The height of all the rooms will be lift clear, and they are all furnished with fireplaces. There is a yard at the back, in which there is a door giving access to the gaol yard. This building is of concrete, with stone dressings, and will be a _ handsome edifice when completed. The chief gaoler’s house, which joins the main gate and faces Oxford street, was also principally erected by means of prison labor ; His a six-roomed house, the walla being a framing filled in with concrete, with an outside shell

of galvanised iron. The central ward which is not yet commenced, will be a double row of cells, with a passage between, and will be three storeys high, the lower storeys for the prisoners’ cells, and the top storey containing the cook house and mess room, the things being hoisted up for the cooks by means of lifts. There will bp washhouses and baths in all Ihe wards. There will be a passage from the main entrance to the bank and officers’ quarters by means of which access can be gained to every ward in the building. It is intended to have five exercise yards within one of which will be a ward of four cells for boys, and adjoining these will be the medical store, library, gaoler’s office, and general store. In one of the yards there will be five cells for refractory prisoners. The prisoners have also done a great deal of work in the school grounds adjoining,comprising a concrete tank capable of holding 16,000 gallons of water, and a retaining wall 200 ft long, 43ft high in the highest part, 3ft 6in broad at base, and 18in at top; this is also of concrete, and four buttresses form a portion of it into the three fives courts for the use of the school children. About twenty prisoners on an average have been employed in these works since their commencement, The concrete used consists of one part of cement, four of gravel, and three of broken metal. Mr H. Henwood has great difficulties to contend with owing to the continual change in the workmen, as prisoners are discharged and fresh ones come in.