H.—2o

10

Two prisoners escaped during the year, but were recaptured, and received additional terms of imprisonment. The rations have been of the best quality, and regularly supplied. The conduct of the officers has been good. Work consisted of clearing scrub, planting trees, and general maintenance of plantation, as well as preparing a site for the Health Department camp. Summary of trees planted : Larix europwa, 593,000 ; Pinus ponderosa, 163,750 ; Pinus laricio, 53,350; Pinus Benthamiana, 19,600 ; Pinus muricata, 10,225 ; Eucalyptus, 171,460 : total, 967,375. This prison was opened on the 23rd July, 1904. The total area cleared to date is 661 acres, and the number of trees planted to date is 3,224,236. J. T. Reid, The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington. Acting-Gaoler. W T ANGANUI PRISON. H.M. Prison, Wanganui, 12th January, 1909. 1 have the honour to forward herewith the annual returns for this prison for the year ended the 31st December, 1908. I was appointed Gaoler and took charge here on the 11th May last. There were 27 males and 8 females in custody at the commencement of the year ; received during the year, 193 males and 26 females ; discharged, 196 males and 32 females ; leaving 24 males and 2 females in custody at the end of the year, being a decrease of 3 males and 5 females from the previous year. Of the males, 15 have been received more than once during the year—viz., 1 has been in four times, 1 thrice, and 13 twice ; of the females, 1 has been in four times, 1 thrice, and 4 twice, reducing the actual number received to 176 males and 17 females. Of those received, 62 males and 12 females were local ; the remainder—l3l males and 14 females—coming from Taihape, Ohakune, Marton, Feilding, Palmerston North, &c. The conduct of prisoners has been good, there being only 3 punishments for minor prison offences during the year. No serious case of sickness occurred, the health of prisoners being good, which no doubt is due to the excellent town drainage system, with which the prison is connected. The prisoners have been chiefly employed in levelling Queen's Park and forming a street through reserve at back of the racecourse. A party was also employed at the Museum, cleaning up the grounds and digging out weeds, &c. Authority being obtained, a six-roomed cottage was erected on the prison grounds to provide quarters for a married officer. Work on the building was commenced on the 2nd June and finished on the 25th July, the actual working-time being forty-five days of six hours and three-quarters. The officer in charge deserves credit for the way in which the work was carried out, a considerable saving being effected by the officer doing all the drainage connections and gasfitting himself. I may state that the work, including plans, was done wholly by the officer and with prison labour. The rations supplied by the contractors have given every satisfaction, the total absence of complaints testifying to the quality. The officers have performed their duties in a satisfactory manner. On the 2nd October 1 officer was ordered by the Prison Surgeon to the District Hospital, where an operation was successfully performed, and after an absence of ten weeks he was able to resume duty, an officer from Wellington Prison doing relieving duty in the meantime. The following transfer of officers took place : 1 to Wellington, 1 to Waipa Valley, and 1 each from Waiotapu and Waipa Valley. First Offenders' Probation Act. There was 1 male on probation at the beginning of the year ; 1 male who was placed on probation by the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court for one month completed the term and was discharged, leaving 1 male still on probation at the end of the year. J. C. ScANLON, The Inspector of Prisons, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer. WELLINGTON PRISON. H.M. Prison, Wellington, 20th January, 1909. I have the honour to report as follows on the working of this prison during the year 1908 : — There were in custody on the first day of the year 137 males and 15 females ; received during the year, 1,214 males and 135 females; total dealt with during the year, 1,351 males and 150 females. The actual number of individuals received was 885 males and 71 females, 329 males and 64 females having been received more than once. Six males were sentenced under the Habitual Criminals Act. Discharged during the year, 1,195 males and 140 females, leaving in custody at the end of the year 156 males and 10 females. Included in the numbers received are 12 debtors, 4 for maintenance, and 1 lunatic, all males ; also 34 males and 4 females for medical treatment. These unfortunate people ought to be sent to another place for treatment.