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First Offenders' Probation Act. There was only one person on probation at the beginning of the year 1907, and he has since been transferred to another district. One was received on transfer and still continues to carry out the conditions of his release, having paid the full amount ordered by the Court, amounting to £10, and reported regularly. In this connection I have to thank Inspector Mitchell for his valuable assistance in the matter of obtaining information, in order to enable me to report on first offenders, and also enabling me to keep in touch with those already on probation but who are in country districts, as is often the oase. M. Hawkins, The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer.

LYTTELTON PRISON. H.M. Prison, Lyttelton, 6th January, 1908. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ended 31st December, 1907. In custody on the Ist January, 1907, 121 males and 22 females; received during the year, 585 males and 84 females; discharged during the year, 587 males and 94 females : leaving in confinement at the end of the year 119 males and 12 females. Two prisoners escaped from the prison works on the Governor's Bay Road, but were recaptured within forty-eight hours at Weedon's by warders. They were brought before the Stipendiary Magistrate, and were each sentenced to twelve months, concurrent with the sentences they were serving at the time of their escape. Two prisoners (one of whom is referred to as having escaped from the Governor's Bay Road and previously from Hanmer) escaped from the prison workshops over the wall by means of a rope made from cuttings of moleskin and calico stolen from the tailor's shop where they were employed. The warder on sentry who witnessed the escape promptly rang the alarm-bell, and all the available officers within the prison went quickly in pursuit and recaptured them within five minutes after they got over the wall. For this escape they were sentenced by the Stipendiary Magistrate to six months' additional imprisonment. A prisoner serving a sentence of ten years who became insane and was transferred to the Sunnyside Mental Hospital was returned to the prison cured, or supposed to be. He was sent to outside work and got on all right for a short time. One evening on returning from labour he rushed out of the ranks and made for a house close to the road. The front door being closed, he went right through a large pane of glass into the front room, and rushed upstairs, followed by the warders. He was brought before the Stipendiary Magistrate for attempting to escape, and sentenced to twelve months, concurrent with the sentence he was serving. He was at the time insane, or pretending to be; however, he is all right now, and at work. The prisoners have been employed at Corsair Bay, where they have executed very useful and necessary works in building a very substantial jetty, and forming approaches to same, building walls, and clearing and levelling ground, all of which will prove a great boon to the residents of Lyttelton. Prisoners have also been employed at the artillery barracks on the- Sumner Road and Ripa Island. The conduct of the prisoners has been on the whole satisfactory. Twenty-eight male prisoners were punished by the three Visiting Justices, but no females. The conduct of the prison officers has been very good, and they have performed their duties to my entire satisfaction. The rations supplied were good, and, in consequence, no complaints were made by prisoners to you on your periodical visits. Hanmer is principally supplied from here with prisoners for tree-planting, and every precaution is taken to send the best and most suitable for the work. Prisoners at Hanmer get extra marks and tobacco, which should act as a great incentive on their part to behave properly and give no trouble, and save the country the expense of sending them back to Lyttelton. I think, if a prisoner committed himself so badly as to necessitate his being sent back, he should forfeit all extra marks earned, and be deprived of tobacco during his imprisonment. lam of opinion that, if this suggestion could be acceded to, prisoners serving at Hanmer would think twice before committing such a breach of the regulations as would c>use their removal back to Lyttelton. The smokers would especially be careful not to forfeit what they prize so much. First Offenders' Probation Act. There were two probationers received here, on transfer from Wellington, one of whom reported himself, and asked for a transfer to Christchurch, which was granted. I was informed by the Probation Officer at Christchurch that he failed to report himself, and the next I heard of him was that he found his way to Blenheim and was sentenced to three months for theft. The other probationer fulfilled the conditions of his probation in a very satisfactory manner. M. M. Cleary, The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer.

NAPIER PRISON. H.M. Prison, Napier, 19th January, 1908. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year 1907. In custody on the Ist January, 1907, 34 males and 2 females; received during the year, 297 males and 28 females; discharged, 301 males and 25 females; remaining in custody on the 31st December, 1907, 30 males and 5 females.