H.-20

12

DUNEDIN PRISON. Sir, — H.M. Prison, Dunedin, 12th January, 1914. . I have the honour to forward my annual report on the working of this pris6n for the year ending the 31st December, 1913, together with the usual returns of expenditure, &c. The number of prisoners in custody on the Ist January, 1913, was 21 males and 2 females: total, 23. During the year 343 males and 27 females were received, being an increase of 118 males and 1 female, compared with the number received during the year 1912; and 348 males and 28 females were discharged; 5 males were sentenced to reformative detention, in addition to 5 who were in custody at the commencement of the year. Of this number, 2 were released on probation and 8 transferred to other prisons. The health of the prisoners during the year has been good, the daily average on the sick-list (056) being a slight decrease compared with the previous year, 1912. Two prisoners were sent to the district Hospital during the year, one of whom was afterwards returned to the prison and subsequently died. The conduct of the prisoners during the year has been good, 5 persons receiving nine punishments for minor breaches of the prison regulations. The industry of the prisoners during the year has been good, the principal employment being the making of coir mats, for which so far a ready salt lias been found. The prisoners were also employed in cleaning the police-station and keeping the Supreme Court and prison grounds in order, while the Gaoler's and officers' quarters, the church, and the administrative rooms of the prison were calcimined and cleaned by prison labour. Ihe conduct of officers during the year has been good. Divine service is conducted each Sunday by Mr. F. G. dimming, the Prison Chaplain, or a clergyman or some member of one of the Churches. I have to thank Mr. F. G. Cumming, the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, and Mr. John Wilkinson, solicitor, for kindly contributing books and magazines for the prison library. First Offenders' Probation Act. There were 3 males on probation at the commencement of the year; 7 males and 1 female were placed on probation by order of the Courts; 6 males and 1 female were received on transfer from other districts : total, 18. Of this number, 8 completed their probation satisfactorily, 5 were transferred to other districts, and 1 absconded : total, 14, leaving 3 males and 1 female on the probation register of this district on the 31st December, 1913. Probationers under the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910. There were 2 reformative-deteui imi prisoners placed on probation from flbiis prison; 2 refor-mative-detention and 1 habitual criminal were received on transfer from other districts : total, 5. One completed his term satisfactorily, 2 were transferred to another district, 1 was arrested for failing to comply with the conditions of his license, and 1 (the habitual criminal) absconded. There were no probationers reporting on the 21st July, 1913, when Mr. F. G. Cumming, agent for the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society, was appointed Probation Officer under the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910. I have, &c, H. McMurray, The Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington. Gaoler and Probation Officer.

INVERCARGILL PRISON. Sir, — H.M. Prison, Invercargill, 12th May, 1914. I have the honour to report on the working of this prison for the year ended 31st December, 1913. At the beginning of'the year there were 61 males and no females in custody. One hundred and seventy males and 3 females were received during the year. The number of prisoners received locally was 109 males and 3 females; transferred from other prisons, 55 males; convicted at distant Courts and sent direct to Invercargill, 6 males: total, 173. Remaining in custody at the end of the year, 96 males. There were no lunatics received during the year. Twelve males, however, suffering from the effects of drink were received for medical treatment, and one of these was afterwards committed to Seacliff Mental Hospital by order of the Stipendiary Magistrate. The remainder were, I am sorry to say, treated within the prison and discharged in the usual way when recovered. It is with regret that I state that the practice of sending persons suffering from the effects of drink to prison for so-called curative or medical treatment has again been revived at Invercargill. For many years past it has been the custom to treat such cases in the public Hospital, but latterly this has to a large extent been discontinued. On at least one occasion there were no less than three such cases located in the prison at the same time, and as there is no padded-cell accommodation at the prison great difficulty was experienced in dealing with them. At one time it was proposed that a padded room should be provided at the gaol, but as it was recognized that the Hospital and not the gaol was the proper place in which to treat such cases, an extra padded room was provided at the Hospital instead, the Government bearing the cost of same. Such cases should not be treated in a prison, as it is grossly unfair to all concerned. Should the practice continue, however, it will be necessary to have a padded room added to the prison without delay.