WELLINGTON GAOL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4332, 6 February 1875, Page 2

WELLINGTON GAOL.

The increase of prisoners, convicted principally of minor offences, has kept pace with the increase to the population of the city, and the gaoler has necessarily been put to his wits’ end to meet the extra demand made for the safe custody of prisoners. What was once a commodious and roomy gaol is now a cramped and crowded one. There are at present sixty - four prisoners in the Wellington gaol, fifty males and fourteen females, the greater number of whom, however, are only undergoing short sentences. Application has been made, it is understood, by Mr. M. Read, the gaoler, to the Provincial Government for an addition to the gaol, and it is satisfactory to state that the Superintendent has given the necessary preliminary instructions for the immediate prosecution of the work. One fact is most noticeable in the gaol at the present time—there is not a single occupant of the apartments allotted as a debtor’s prison, the new Act evidently working well in this respect. But as a set-off against this happy state of things, the female prisoners’ portion of the gaol is more than full, several of the cells which are usually allotted to one prisoner now having to furnish sleeping quarters for no fewer than three. On Thursday there were seventeen prisoner's in this department; yesterday, however, there were only fourteen, three having been discharged in the interim. Even with half that number the cells are amply full. The male prisoners number fifty, for whom there are about forty cells, thus necessitating several of them being double-banked. 526 prisoners were received into the gaol during last year, and 462 discharged, thus' leaving, as before stated, 64 in custody of the gaoler. The female prisoners,, after performing the working of the establishment, fill up their spare time picking oakum. Several of them, from long or frequent imprisonment, have become adepts in the tedious occupation. Those of the male prisoners who have received sentences—in contradistinction to those who are awaiting trial —are employed on public works in connection with the Lunatic Asylum. There are but twoin the gaol with life sentences, which, with proper behavior on the prisoner’s part, means now but ten years. The wisdom of the alteration is very evident, inducing better conduct by the prisoner, who, if no complaints are made against him, receives his freedom at the expiration of ten years. Notwithstanding the crowded state of the building the whole of the premises are in excellent order, and cleanliness certainly is a feature of the institution. A first-class well of water, to which is attached a powerful force-pump, no doubt tends a great deal to that end. .Captain Dupuis, of H.M.S. Rosario, yesterday inspected the institution, and expressed satisfaction at what he saw. Considerable improvements have been effected outside the walk, trees and shrubs having been planted, whieh in course of time will materially add to the appearance of that part of the Terrace.