APPENDIX TO REPORTS OE ROYAL

A.—No. 12

42

Appendix IS.

Otago Harbour.—Basalt and trachytic rocks, in great variety; also tufaceous sandstone and breccia rocks that are used locality. Paterson Inlet, Stewart's Island.—Granites of several kinds. Bluff. —Syenite. The West Coast Sounds, from Preservation Inlet to Milford Sound.—Granites, syenites, diontes, gneiss, serpentine, marble, and porphyry. Wellington, Ist June, 1868. James Hector

Appendix P. Evidence of J. M. Baefoto, Esq., as to the best Site for a Penal Establishment in New Zealand. 1. I have made several voyages round the coasts of the Colony. My attention has been called to the eligibility of some place for a Central Penal Establishment. Taranaki is the place. It would be very desirable to have a harbour of refuge at Taranaki. That is the only place on the West Coast of this island with which I am acquainted at which there are facilities for the construction of such a work. Ido not think the position convenient for hulk's., I think after quarrying part of the outer Sugar Loaf, a convenient prison might be erected for say 500 prisoners. The material is fair building stone, and fairly workable. I found a small amount of powder brought down a largo amount of rock : Two bores of one and a half inches diameter, about three feet deep and two-thirds full, brought down a block weighing about ten tons. I think temporary erections might be made on land. There is, I believe, ample material at hand for the construction of a harbour of refuge at the outer Sugar Loaf. A harbour of refuge, capable of providing for the shipping wants of New Zealand for a very long period, might be constructed by joining the outer Sugar Loaf with the shore, and carrying out a mole to the eastward, thus sheltering 'about a square mile of water surface. Average depth at low water about three fathoms, but some of the sheltered area would have a depth of about five fathoms. A very large proportion of the labour required would be unskilled labour. In round numbers, I believe such a work would cost from £750,000 to £1,000,000, if constructed by free labour It is a, work which could be constructed so as to become gradually available. It _ would take about eighteen months to two years for 300 free men to make the first junction, making a largo allowance for time lost through bad weather; and, with the same number of men, the extension eastward from the Sugar Loaf (Moturoa) should progress at the rate of about 200 yards per annum. Were prison labour largely employed, I should incline to estimate the value of a prisoner's labour at-about half that of a free man. I know of no special circumstance tending to make Taranaki a peculiarly eligible site for a penal establishment, except the fact that the unskilled labour of a large number of prisoners could there be employed for many years with very great advantage to the commerce of the Province, which stands greatly in need of better protection to shipping. A Harbour of Eefugo at Taranaki would be a national benefit. I believe that the trade of Taranaki is sufficient to procure the necessary supplies for the prisoners, and that the site would be in a very healthy situation. 2. I think a Harbour of Eofuge is much wanted on the West Coast of the Middle Island ; and if a place could be found near the rivers Grey and Buller where a Harbour of Refuge, or even a good and easily accessible commercial harbour, could be constructed, it might be desirable to the interests of the whole Colony to construct a harbour there in the first instance, as thereby the coal trade of the adjacent country would be developed. 3. I think that Napier is not an eligible spot for a great seawork, constructed by prison labour, on account of the want of proper material in the neighbourhood.

Appendix F,

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. E. W. Staitoed to His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston. (No 502 ) Colonial Secretary's Office, StE) _1 ' Wellington, 21st July, 1868. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Eeports, dated respectively the Bth and 14th instant, from the Eoyal Commission on Prisons, and to state that they have been duly laid before His Excellency the Governor, who has been advised to direct their presentation to the General Assembly. It affords me much pleasure to convey to your Honor the thanks of the Government for the great zeal displayed by the Commission in executing the onerous and important task confided to it, and for the very valuable Eeports and evidence which it has furnished, which, with the conclusions arrived at, cannot fail to be attended with great advantage in relation to a subject of so much interest and public importance. I have, &c, His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, E. W. Stafford. Chairman, Eoyal Commission on Prisons, Wellington.

No. 5. Memoeasdum by Alexander J. Johnston, Esq. To His Excellency Sir Q-eoboe FEEGTTSOJr Bowen, G-.C.M.G-., Governor of New Zealand and its Dependencies, &c, &c, &c. As late Chairman of the Eoyal Commission on Prisons, I am desirous of calling attention to a misrepresentation which has been pointed out to me in the Report, and which, having occurred through an oversight of my own, I am anxious to correct, although it does not affect any of the opinions or conclusions arrived at by the Commissioners.