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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5203, 24 November 1877, Page 2

A GOOD deal has been written and spoken about the efficient management of the Dunedin Goal, and of what has been accomplished there by prison labor. This is certainly no matter for surprise, if Mr. Stout is correct in what, he stated in the House last night. That gentleman said he had noticed prisoners at work at several places in the colony, and lie had little hesitation in saying that the individual prisoner in the Dunedin Gaol accomplished 50 per cent, more work than his fellow unfortunate elsewhere. He of course attributed this to the efficiency of the officer in charge, and further said that he was of opinion that a great mistake had been made in. appointing an “ ex-police-man ” Inspector of Prisons—a man who possessed no knowledge 'of gaol management being placed over the heads of those who had devoted the greater part of their lives to the study of this special subject. He was also of opinion that it was not necessary to send Home for the men who were to have the control of the gaols of the colony. He thought highly efficient men could be found here. Mr. Bowen agreed that it was desirable that the Inspector of Prisons should be a gentleman possessed of large .experience, and it was the wish of the late Government that such a gentleman should be appointed, but the House disallowed the vote for such an officer, and they simply availed themselves of the services of the Superintending Inspector of Police, who in the performance of police duties visited the various parts of the colony. Mr. Bowen’s statement will help to dispel one of the many incorrect impressions carefully fostered by those who lost no opportunity of damaging the late Ministry in the eyes of the public.

A New Zealand Gazette of Thursday last notifies that the town of Balclutha has been proclaimed a borough. A rehearing has been granted of the claim preferred in the Native Land Court by Tamihana Ivaicano and other aboriginal natives to a piece of land at Whareponga, Hawke’s Bay. The appointment of Hoani Nahe to be a member of the Executive Council is gazetted. The traffic returns of the New Zealand railways for the four weeks ended 20th October arc as follows:—Kaipara section : Total revenue, £290 17s. 9d.; corresponding four weeks, 1876, £265 3a. Id. Auckland section, £2679 3s. Id.; corresponding return, 1876, £1159 18s. Oil Napiei section, £1751 18s. 4d.; corresponding return, £l6ll Ms. 7d. Wellington section, £1059 Ss. lid.; corresponding return, £865 18s 9d. Eoxton section, £796 ss. lOd.; corresponding return, £Ol6 ss. 7d. Wanganui section, £l3B Os. Id, New Plymouth section, £755 17s. 2d.; corresponding return, £256 7s. 2d. Greymouth section, £647 15s. 4d.; corresponding return, £619 12s. 3d. Westport section, £ll6s 11s.; corresponding return, £56 12a. 9d. Nelson section, £399 4s. 9d. ; corresponding return, £392 18s. Id. Picton section, £402 6s. Id.; corresponding return, £4BO 11s. 9d.; Christchurch section, £18,095 45.; corresponding return, £15,177 9s. 9d. Dunedin section, £6608 Ss. 6d.; corresponding return, £6276 4s. lid. Invercargill section, £2574 7».; corresponding return, £2903 16s. 7d. The returns, as will be observed, show a considerable increase on the corresponding returns of Inst year.