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us in other gaols. At Invercargill the circumstances are more favourable, and good work is being done there. With the tree-planting camp at Waipa as a camp for first offenders, and the reformatory farm at Tokanui in working-order, provision can be made for a number of prisoners who at present must be kept in town gaols however unsuitable the conditions may be. In the three gaols mentioned above—viz., Dunedin, Napier, and Lyttelton —the number of prisoners confined on the 30th instant was 228. It must be obvious that this large number cannot be provided for elsewhere at once. Therefore, I venture to suggest to the critics of the prison administration that they should not expect a system that has been in force for so many years to be completely revolutionized in a short twelve months. The Department is doing its best to grapple with the task it has undertaken, but it requires some time before the results become apparent. I have visited each gaol in the Dominion at least once during the year. F. Waldp.grave

The Inspector and the Visiting Adviser to the Under-Secretary for Justice. Sir, — Department of Justice, 31st March, 10! 1. We herewith submit the report of this branch of the Justice Department for the year ended 31st March, 1911. Having worked conjointly, we have furnished a report which covers our work as a whole. During the year all the prisons and prison camps in both Islands have been visited frequently. On the occasion of these visits we have inspected the buildings and works, inquired into the administration, and heard the requests and complaints that have been preferred by officers or prisoners. Where necessary we have caused prisoners to be examined, and as a result several cases of mental and physical deficiency have been reported to us. These cases have been thoroughly inquired into, and such arrangements made as in our opinion were demanded by the circumstances. In Auckland the building of the new wing is progressing rapidly, and several of the cells are nearly ready for occupation. As the cells are finished they will be occupied. This will enable us to progressively abandon the old wooden buildings. We were not satisfied with the air and sunlight admitted through the windows of the earlier part of the permanent building, and have therefore arranged that the openings of the windows in this wing shall be increased in the depth by 1 ft. These windows will also have a movable sash, which will in no wise reduce the security of the cells. All the stone for this wing is quarried and dressed by the prisoners, who also, under supervision, carry out the w r ork of erecting the building. In Wellington accommodation for twenty-four male prisoners has been added. Alterations have also been made in the female wing, and more suitable quarters provided for the Matron and her assistant. Several of the wooden cottages occupied by the warders have fallen into a state of disrepair, and others have proved deficient in accommodation. Several repairs and extensions have already been completed and other works of this nature will be carried out as opportunity affords, in order that all the officers may have comfortable homes. The industries at Mount Cook have been extended by the manufacture of drainpipes and roofing-tiles. The tiles are of the English model, and have satisfactorily passed the tests required by the Public Works Department. At Lyttelton considerable work has been done in repairing the warders' cottages and improving the grounds thereto attached. The site and arrangements of the Lyttelton Prison considerably limit the industrial resources, and no expansion can be made beyond works of a routine character. Most of the institutional bootmaking and tailoring is carried out in this prison, and the standard of quality is very good. The same remark as to industrial limitations applies also to Dunedin. At Invercargill an arrangement has been made with the Borough Council for the reclamation of a large area of the estuary. . The material and plant is being supplied by the Council, and the Prisons Department is supplying the labour. In return for this labour the Prisons Department is to receive 650 acres of the reclaimed land. This is an extensive undertaking, and we have every reason to be satisfied with the progress made to date. A small area of the estuary was some years ago reclaimed by private enterprise, and when the water was shut off it proved to be high-class dairying-land. This gives a practical idea of the value which will result both to the Department and to the Borough Council when this work is complete. The Invercargill Prison is fortunate in having land attached to it which can be used for market-garden purposes. This area continues to be worked profitably. A concrete-block-making plant has been installed, and the manufacture of blocks is being carried out. As these blocks have been recommended by the Surveyor-General of English prisons as providing the best material for prison-construction, the establishment of this industry will be of assistance in future prison-construction. The extensions to the present building are being carried out in this material. The habitual criminals at New Plymouth are being employed in the quarry. A very good quality of stone is being quarried, but the difficulties in connection with the work are considerable. At Napier a fairly extensive piece of excavation has been done, and a substantial retaining-wall has been built. The work at the tree-planting camps is making good progress. The experience of ten years of this method of employing prisoners has made it quite clear that the greatest care has to be exercised in selecting men to send to the camps. Some men are unfitted by reasons of age, health, or strength ; others, though quite amenable to the discipline of a town prison, become intractable when sent to work in the open. Some have been sent whose crimes were of a serious nature ; in these cases it has been