H.—2o

18

The erection of a new temporary prison block, providing two cell-houses, kitchen block, and administrative division, has been commenced. Blockmaking for new prison and cottages, &c, has proceeded during the year, and in conjunction with this work there have also been manufactured a large number of concrete telegraphpoles, fencing-posts, paving-slabs, and roofing-tiles. The Prison has been provided with a manual fire-engine, and prisoners have weekly practice. A motor-lorry has been provided, and has been extremely useful in carting material for the buildings. In all 246 acres of the farming-area have been ploughed, cleaned, and sown, as follows : 4 acres ryecorn, 27 acres mangolds, 19 acres potatoes, 17 acres Sparrowbill oats, 31 acres dun oats, 70 acres Carten oats, 22 acres wheat, 17 acres mixed grasses, and 39 acres lucerne. Of these crops those that have been harvested have yielded satisfactorily. Six hundred and twenty-two lambs were bred on the farm. A number of sheep have been purchased during the year and fattened and killed for rations. Mr. Macpherson, the Fields Supervisor, makes regular visits and gives valuable instructions in the growing of lucerne and in farming matters generally. Divine service has been conducted during the year by the Rev. Mr. Webb, Church of England minister, Rev. Father Leen, Messrs. Barnes, Lamond, Adams, and A. Morrison. ROTO-AIRA. ROADMAKING PRISON CAMP. The conduct of the prisoners has been fairly good. The work of forming and metalling the road and bridging the various streams still continues to progress favourably, although the work has been hampered to a great extent owing to wet weather. A little over two miles and a half of road is now metalled, one bridge has been completed during the year, and the timber for a further three is now being squared from the bush. This work is well in hand. Stone approaches have been built to the Whakapapanui Stream bridge, which gives it a very fine appearance. The road-formation is now completed to the Mangatipopo Stream, about fourteen miles out from Waimarino. About thirty miles of the old service road has been repaired, and a daily motor service is now being run by the Department of Internal Affairs. The conduct of the officers has been good. Rations have been of good quality and regularly supplied. Divine service has been held on several occasions. WAIKERIA REFORMATORY. The work on the Administrative Wing has been well advanced. A large quantity of 14 in., 12 in., and 6 in. blocks have been made, also a number of culvert pipes, from 12 in. to 3 ft., for the Tokanui Mental Hospital Road. Large quantities of gravel have been trucked from the Maungatutu to the site, the hauling-engine being used to haul the gravel and blocks from the building. One five-roomed cottage built of 9 in. blocks has been finished, and the old officers' quarters have been shifted to a new site and converted into two small cottages. At the north end of the farm we have erected a reinforced-concrete dairy, cowsheds, and water-tank, also installed the milking machinery. A well has been dug 40 ft. deep and lined with 3 ft. pipes. The Tokanui Mental Hospital Road has made good progress. The road is now made and crowned ready for the gravel from the Reformatory to peg 3 miles 25 chains. There only remains about half a mile to complete, but there are several heavy fillings, also one 3 ft. culvert and two smaller ones to be laid. In several parts of this road I found it necessary to fascine small portions on account of springs. I have had a party of prisoners with several drays carting shingle into the road from the Puniu. We have metalled 3 miles 5 chains. The total number of cubic yards carted was 1,595. Several fences have been erected on the fillings to keep off the cattle. A number of culverts have been laid. Several horses and drays have been purchased for this work. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been very satisfactory. Four prisoners escaped, three of whom were recaptured within one hour; the fourth was retaken by the police on the road to Cambridge. The health of the prisoners has been good. There were three admissions to the Hamilton Hospital; other cases of illness wore of a mild nature and were treated in the Prison by the Medical Officer. Though the conditions at Waikeria Reformatory are rather congested in some ways, I have managed to carry out a system of classification in terms of your instructions. Each class is working and exercising separately, and I certainly say that for the little time the classification has been working it has had a good effect. There are now ten cottages on the farm. All of them have the electric light installed. The exercise-yards have been fenced, closets and washhand-basins built, also a roof placed over these last for shelter. Temporary drains have been laid to take off the storm-water from the Cell Range and yards. Two cells have been built in the separate division, and a wall round the yard, the whole of the top of the yard being covered with expanded metal. Both these cells are well lighted and ventilated. Temporary stables and a feed-room have been erected at the old camp. A large shed has been built to store potatoes and onions.