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labour. I had to bring two others before the Court for failing to comply with the conditions of their release. In both cases they were cautioned and again admitted to probation. In all other cases the conditions have been complied with, and moneys ordered to be paid have duly come to hand. R. T. Noble Beasley, Gaoler and Probation Officer.

Wellington Prison. H.M. Prison, Wellington, May, 1905. 1 have the honour to report that during the year 1904 the conduct and industry of the prisoners has been on the whole good. There were three escapes during the year, one being from Point Halswell and two from this Prison. They were all soon recaptured, and were brought before the Court and dealt with in the usual way. The prisoners were employed at brick and tile making at Mount Cook Prison works, and at Point Halswell fortifications repairing roads, and Shelly Bay breakwater, also levelling and laying out grounds round the Alexandra Barracks at Mount Cook, and laying concrete yards at this Prison. The general health of prisoners has been good. Four prisoners who were ill on reception were sent to the District Hospital, oue of whom died there. An inquest was held, and a verdict of " Death from natural causes " returned. Two prisoners were transferred to the Lunatic Asylum. The new wing of sixty cells has been occupied during the year, and is very satisfactory. I referred in my last report to the necessity of providing proper quarters for the single officers, and a new wing for the female prisoners. The conduct of officers has been good, only two being punished, one late for duty, and the other neglect in checking tools, which enabled two prisoners to escape. There were four male and five female prisoners sentenced to bread and water during the year. I notice with regret that there is an air of unrest and defiance amongst a certain class of prisoners, principally those from Australia, who urge weaker-minded prisoners to join them in their misconduct. To counteract this state of affairs, much as-1 have always set my face against flogging, I would strongly recommend that the "cat" should be legally hung up and ready for use on "this particular class and their followers, flogging only to be resorted to for the very gravest prison offences. The present system of aggravated prison offences being tried in open Court encourages crime, inasmuch as certain prisoners purposely commit crime that must be dealt with in open Court. Perhaps it is not within my province to suggest that instead of the open Court business the Stipendiary Magistrate should" be summoned to the prison to hear the charges there; also that the local Press reporters be invited to be present at all such cases—aggravated offences. 1 would recommend that more warders' cottages be built on the prison grounds of the prisons of the colony. The allowance is not half the amount that a warder has to pay for a cottage, and when an officer is removed from a prison where he had a prison cottage to another prison where he has to rent a cottage costing double the allowance he naturally feels it in many ways. In the long-run the Department would save considerably by this arrangement, as cottages could be erected by prison labour under the supervision of a Public Works officer. • I am of opinion that all the old confirmed " drunks," after being convicted six times within a year should be sent to some place of detention—males to work on a farm; females, laundrywork _c— for at least two years; the institution to be governed in such a manner as to punish for idleness, insubordination, &c, somewhat on prison lines -to be a prison m every sense of the word, except that it should not be broad-arrowed. The First Offenders' Probation Act. This Act continues to do its work very well. I wish here to place on record the great assistance I get from Inspector Ellison and the police generally under the Act, and the honest and thoroughly impartial reports of inquiries made respecting offenders. P. S. Garvey, Gaoler and Probation Officer.