THE NEW PLYMOUTH GAOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 45, 12 February 1908, Page 4

THE NEW PLYMOUTH GAOL.

\ iSIT IJV Till-; lION. MIXISTKB FOU JUSTICE. THE HABITUAL CRIMINALS' WARD. 'i lie new \w-l wing added to I In' local gaol for the accommodation ol the criminals who have been declared lo ha!>itual criminals under the recent legislation una inspected yesterday by tile 111111. .Minister of Justice, .Mr. James MH'ownn, and Colonel Hume. Inspector of Prisons. They were accompanied liv Mr. H. Okey, ill'. 11. S. Fitzherbeu, !>.M., Dr. .McClclaiid, gaol surgeon, a:ei the visiting justices, -Messrs. I;. D.ickrilj (Mayor). H. Weston, C. Aliier, and D. Berry. Tile first business of the Hon. .Minister was giving au audience to the prisoncs to see him concerning remission of their sentences, etc. In every instance tlie complainant or petitioner was given (lie option of speaking to the .Minister in private, or Itetore Colonel Hume and the t'aoler. In every instance the lattjr course was adopted. They were shown over the place by the gaoler, Mr. S. (i. Millington, and the eluet warder. Mr. Hawkins. In the new wing are ten cells, seven being for males and three for females. They are constructed in solid masonry, and are well finished and plastered within. In the men's side there is a fairsized exercise yard, with a grass plot and a centre llower garden. The principal door opens into a loblTV," in which at present the onjy habitual offender is at work mat-making. The cells and this lobby are well ventilated and well lighted. There is a bath-room, containing ,1 fine cast-iron bath. Water h laid 011 from the town reticulation, and a gas heater has been installed. The interior ia made to look comparatively cheerf il hy the painting of the walls. in the women's ward there ale llitve ceils, Hiniila;- to the others, except tint stretchers are provided to sleep upon, whilst the men have flie usual hammocks. There is a liandv litlle"\vashhouse with wooden tuft elected and a copper built in. And the bath-room is similar to that in the 111011 s <|iiartcrs. In this same wing, but divided oil from the other yards, are the punishment and condemned cells. Entrance is gained through the reception room, and tli is prisoners for this wing do not come into contact at all with the rest of the prisoners. The whole of this wing is new. and the style in which the work has been done is a credit to the ollieials. Warder Downes, who is a stone-mason by trade, was the immediate supervisor. 'Only prison labor was engaged in the work.

The visitors (hen in»|iectvd the whole lit the prison and grounds, noting the various improvements effected durin; l lie time tiaoler Millinglon ha* been in charge. Further improvement.'' are being contemplated, and these were duly explained. The party passed out on In the level land at the back ot the ga->l. Aliere. despite the untoward weather, 'he prison garden was looking fairly healthy. Further away, a gang ot" prisoners uuder two warders was engaged in cutting away fTie noutliern end of Mars, land Ilill overlooking the gaol, the spoil being uscil in enlarging the garden. The Minister an., the Inspector of Prisons expressed themselves in very complimentary terms concerning the ex. i-ellent state of the buildings and the grounds, and the general spruce appearance. "Very well kept, indeed." was the Hon. Minister's reply to a chance query by our reporter.