9

H.—2o.

During the year the main-sewer drainage-scheme in connection with the prison and the warders' cottages was completed, and I am satisfied that the sanitary conditions of the Lyttelton Prison are now in a thoroughly effective condition. The main yard has been graded and asphalted, exercise rings laid down, and the prison thoroughly renovated and painted, with the exception of the female wing and workshops, which have yet to be done. This prison now has a bright and cheerful appearance. The approach from the street to the female-wing entrance has been beautified by grading and grassing an unsightly clay bank, building fancy stonework on each side, and asphalting the path. The prisoners employed dressing and building the stone took a keen interest in the work, and the place now presents an altogether changed appearance. The warders' cottages have also been vastly improved, new fences and washhouses have been erected where required, retaining-walls built, stone-kerbing put along side paths, yards and paths asphalted, &c. I estimate that those improvements have enhanced the value of the cottages as a whole by about £800. As usual, most of the long-sentence prisoners have been employed in the workshops, tailoring and bootmaking being the chief industries. The work is undoubtedly well done, but there is not sufficient to keep all the available prisoners fully employed. Matmaking is an industry in which the prison prides itself. Keen interest is taken by the prisoners in turning out first-class work, and it is interesting to record that Lyttelton Prison was the first in which work of this kind was commenced. Such is the quality of the goods that some mats made in the prison thirteen years ago are still in use here, and look very little the worse for wear. A good number were disposed of during the year, and satisfaction has been expressed by the purchasers in every instance. A daily average of 40 prisoners have been employed working for the Borough Council stonebreaking, quarrying and dressing red stone, building a parapet-wall, &c. A substantial double retaining-wall has been erected on the Sumner Road, enabling it to be widened, and an awkward bend removed. It is really a very handsome piece of work, and one in which the prisoners took great interest, permanent improvements being more to their liking than ordinary navvy-work and stonebreaking. The work also reflects great credit on the officer, Principal Warder Murray, who carried it out; and several Borough Councillors have assured mc that it is one of the best pieces of work yet performed for them by the Prison Department. A retaining-wall of dressed red stone has also been built at the West Lyttelton School ground, where formerly there was a bank of clay, which covered the playground with mud in wet weather. The work at the school, which could only be done in holiday-time, is now completed, and the improvement is distinctly marked. A party has also been employed at the Artillery Barracks burning and scraping off the old paint and repainting the buildings, quarrying and dressing stone, excavating and building retaining-walls, building new lavatories and a septic tank, and connecting the Barracks with modern drainage system. This work is not yet completed, as the drainage has to be taken a considerable distance. Gifts of books for the prison library are frequently being received from various sources, and W. Guise Brittan, Esq., of Christ's College, very kindly sends several magazines monthly, these I have bound up in volumes, and the prisoners much appreciate them. One prisoner is constantly employed binding and repairing the library books, which now number several thousands. The spiritual welfare of the prisoners has again been well cared for, as, in addition to the Sunday services, three Lyttelton clergymen visit on Saturday afternoons, and converse with those who desire to see them. Staff-Captain Rose, of the Salvation Army, and Mr. Smail, evangelist, are in attendance every Saturday taking the keenest interest in the prisoners' welfare, and are always ready to extend a helping hand to any prisoner discharged from this institution. First Offenders' Probation Act. There was no one placed on probation by the Lyttelton Court during the year; but one resident of Lyttelton was put on probation by the Christchurch Supreme Court. He is living and working in Lyttelton, and satisfactorily carrying out the conditions of his probation. I have, &c, A. W. Ironside, The Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer.

NAPTER PRISON. Sir, — H.M. Prison, Napier, 19th January, 1911. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ending 31st December, 1910. There were in custody on the- Ist January, 1910, 43 males and 4 females. There were received during the year 287 males and 17 females, and 302 males and 19 females were leaving in custody at the end of the year 28 males and 2 females. The health of the prisoners has been good, with the exception of one chronic case which was sent to the district hospital and subsequently returned much improved. The conduct of the prisoners generally has been good, only 6 cases being dealt with by the Visiting Justice. All were' for minor offences. The rations supplied have been of good quality, and the change in the method of cooking instituted by the Department has been much appreciated. During the year there have been several men received who were formerly inmates of the Old Peoples' Home, and had evidently wandered away and been subsequently picked up by the wayside.

2—H. 20.