H.—2o

8

not a first offence, and therefore recommending as if it were, but subsequently after conviction and sentence to probation it comes to the ear of the Probation Officer that the probationer has been in trouble previously, and has deceived the Probation Officer by making false statements that it was his first offence : ought the probationer to remain on probation, he having received the benefit of the Act through subterfuge and deceit ? I think not. The very fact of his deceit and falsehood should cause him to be arrested or removed from the privileges of the Act. Then, the term of probation is not long enough in Police Court cases of petty larceny. Three months in prison for such an offence may be sufficient, but three months' probation is of no actual benefit. If probation is intended to mean any attempt to start a young man on an honest course (and it was principally intended for the benefit of young persons), then three months is not sufficient to get him settled down at his employment and to break off from his late companions and start to lead a new life. Twelve months on probation should be the minimum. As regards section 9, subsection (1) is about the only one section which seems to be taken seriously, and only that with a view to obtaining the necessary papers and so get out of actual custody. Subsection (2) states, "once in every month." Why, an offender on probation can be near England by the time it comes round to report himself, and I have found it necessary to request the Judge, when payments have to be made, to make the payments weekly (this allows smaller payments), in order that the probationer may present himself for payment purposes, and thus come under observation. I respectfully suggest this period of reporting might be left to the Probation Officer to decide. In some few cases once a month might do, but I have found a weekly report much better, extending it to a fortnight, or even to a month, as the sentence is being carried out, should conduct be satisfactory. Re subsections (3) and (4) of section 9 : The arrangements are satisfactorily made, but not as well kept. Subsection (5), section 9, gives a lot of trouble. Probationers will not, and do not, report themselves. In Otago it is getting quite the thing for a person on probation to obtain employment on the railway-works. This takes them a long way out of the reach of any Probation Officer—the nearest being Naseby, some twenty or thirty miles away, and the nearest policeman ten or twelve miles, namely, Black's. They are sent on to the works from Dunedin by rail and do not go near Naseby, and do not report themselves in any way, and the difficulty is to find them; and, when found, they say they did not understand, so the Probation Officer can only caution them and go on again, as when a man is at work it would scarcely do to arrest him from his work merely because he did not go from twelve to twenty miles to report himself. It reads easy to carry out this subsection, but it is very hard to work. Be subsection (6), paragraph 2 : Something more definite is requisite. It is hard to get sureties that are reliable. The Stipendiary Magistrate or Judge often directs that payment be made to cover the costs or part of the prosecution, as also at times to refund, say, the value of the goods stolen or amount defrauded. This payment question is the most irksome part of the probation, especially the having to earn and pay to the prosecutor (for whom the most friendly feelings are not entertained), say, £12, and is often attempted to be avoided, so much so that sooner than pay it probationers have committed another offence, and get sentenced to imprisonment, thus avoiding having to pay the amount, as by some reason or other the punishment by imprisonment seems to wipe out the probation sentence. This may not affect the Government as regards its costs of prosecution, but to the individual whose horse was stolen, and who was to receive the value thereof —viz., £12 —not to get it because the probationer again wilfully misconducts himself so as to avoid payment, it becomes a hard matter. I respectfully suggest that the order of Court should be carried out, and that by no means should the man escape having to pay, though it may be at some subsequent period. T. 0. Phillips, Gaoler and Probation Officer.

HOKITIKA PbiSON. I was appointed to the office of Gaoler of this Prison in January last, and commenced my duties in that capacity on the first of the following month. It is a gratifying feature that of the total number of prisoners received during the twelve months only two were New Zealand born. The general health of the prisoners has been good, no serious illness having occurred; nor has disease of any kind been contracted in the Prison, sickness being restricted to slight colds and the like ailments. With a few exceptions, the conduct of the prisoners has been good, and the degree of industry, generally speaking, has given satisfaction. During the year there were seven minor prison offences against five prisoners dealt with by the Visiting Justices, and the offenders cautioned, or sentenced to periods of solitary confinement with bread and water, and in one instance to forfeiture of marks in addition thereto. There were no aggravated prison offences to record against prisoners. The contractor for the supply of rations and other necessaries to the Prison has given entire satisfaction; the articles supplied were of excellent quality, the conditions of the contracts being carried out to the letter. For the Volunteer authorities the prisoners erected some fencing on the rifle-range boundary, in addition to putting the butts and range-mounds in thorough repair. Work has been done at the Hospital on behalf of the committee in removing a slip, digging several plots of ground, cleaning and gravelling foot-paths and road, and in other ways putting the grounds in order. The Supreme Court grounds have also been attended to as required. A good amount of work has been performed by prisoners in and about the Prison during the past year. The flooring of the punish-ment-cells (which was in a very bad state) has been taken up and relaid with new timber, and screens made and fitted to the windows. A portion of the bathroom floor has also been similarly dealt with. For an increased water-supply, spouting, where before none existed, has been fitted to the female division buildings; the roof and spouting generally, where necessary, has been over-