THE DUNEDIN GAOL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 284, 10 July 1873, Page 5

THE DUNEDIN GAOL.

We make the following extracts from Mr Caldwell's report:— The returns are precisely similar in form to those of last year, and as in my report for 1871-2 I explained at length my reasons for adopting this system of returns, it is now unnecessary for me to do more than point out that the results shown by the returns are still extremely satisfactory. The appropriation for the year jusH closed was L 6.563 7s 6d, and the sum of L 5,861 12s lOfd has been expended, being L7Ol 14s 7|d under the estimate; while the earnings of the establishment, amounting to L 6.491 18s, shows that not only has the service been carried out without any charge to the public purse, but that the Province has actually benefited by the department to the extent of L 630 5s ljd. This result is arrived at by adding the value of the labor performed inside the gaol to the surplus shown. . . . A most satisfactory proof of the estimation in which prison labor, as performed under the supervision of the experienced officers of the establishment is now held, can be found in the circumstance that the promoters of the railway have entered into an agreement to recompense the Government for all labor performed for them by the department, that they have largely availed themselves of such labor during the past year, and have always expressed in the very highest terms their entire satisfaction with all work done for them by the prisoners. The labor of prisoners has this year been utilised in what may be considered a novel way. A gang of twenty-three men and officers have been sent to Port Chalmers every morning by train, returning the same evening. They have been engaged informing a road from

Port Chalmers to Carey's and Deborah Bays along the sea beach, and have some difficult work to perform in blasting, cutting rock, &c. The further development of the railway system may enable the gaol to undertake, at more distance from Dunedin, uaefnl works such as the prisoners are now accomplishing beyond Port Chalmers. lam not aware whether in any gaol this experiment of forwarding prisoners by train to execute works has been tried. As the Government will have the sole control of the railways, and arrangements can thereby be made for cheap carriage, there will always be found, should this experiment succeed, ample employment for prisoners in out-door work, and the objection made in the New Zealand Commissioner's Beport to prisoners working in the public streets of a town would be thereby obviated. So far as. the experiment has been tried, no difficulty has been experienced in carrying it out; and I hope, when the railways are opened for traffic north and south of Dunedin, to see the plan further and more extensively carried out. I may be permitted to state my opinion, that on the completion of this road, connecting the Port with the fertile districts of Deborah and Carey's Bay, &c., the interests of the community will be largely promoted j and having in view the facilities for settlement which exist, and which will be further extended as the road progresses, I know of no work the execution of which will tend more to effect the object which the Government have contemplated under the Public Works Act.