9

H.--20

reconstruction of the Ohakune-Waimarino Road. The transfer of camp and prisoners was completed early this year, and the work of getting ready timber for culverts and strengthening bridges is being pushed on. A sawmill has been partially erected, and a start will soon be made in cutting the timber for bridge-work and for other purposes. Waikeria Reform.at.ory for Men. Satisfactory progress has again to be recorded in the general agricultural work at this institution. Eighty acres of new country have been cleared and sown down in grass, and a further area of 120 acres will be ready to grass in the autumn. Dairying continues to show substantial returns, and in order to work the southern portion of the estate to greater advantage a second milking-shed has been erected. The cows are now being milked by hand, which gives the inmates useful experience and incidentally guards against the spread of disease. Both the vegetable-garden and poultry branches have been extended in their respective activities, and are now controlled by officers who have special knowledge of these industries. The apiary also continues to flourish, and satisfactory returns of honey have been obtained. With the opening of two branch camps on the estate, where a number of inmates will be housed, facilities will be provided for an improved classification scheme. It is intended to break in new land around the respective camps, and considerable time will be saved by having the men located close to the Work instead of transporting them to and from the institution daily. At intervals throughout the year concerts have been provided for the entertainment of the inmates, and thanks are due to the local artists for their assistance in this direction. Wellington Prisons. Terrace Prison. —All the able-bodied prisoners have been employed on excavation-work and gardening, while a few of the longer-sentenced men are being taught tailoring under a tailor officer. The excavation-work, which is being carried out for the Education Board, is now sufficiently advanced to permit of a commencement being made with the erection of a new infants' school. The old female branch prison at the Terrace has now been demolished, and the site is to be lowered to suit the Education Board's building scheme. Vegetable-gardening is still carried on with a good deal of success. Mount Cook Prison. —The principal works carried out during the past year have been excavation for technical-school buildings and demolition of brickworks and chimney-stack. The excavationwork has been pushed forward vigorously, and a portion of the new technical-school buildings is now well advanced. A. very large number of second-hand bricks have been recovered and sold, and the stocks of new bricks in the yard, are nearly exhausted. Large quantities of materials from the dismantled drying-sheds and brick-kiln have been sent to the brickworks in course of erection at Wi Tako, Trentham. Wi Tako Prison (Trentham,). An additional cell-house has been erected to accommodate a further number of the short-sentenced class of men that are located at this prison. Considerable progress has been made with the numerous improvement works which arc being carried out. The clearing and draining of the swamp area has been pushed forward, and the main drain has been completed. A substantial residence for the officer in charge has been built, and three cottages for married officers are nearing completion. An implement-shed and a building to house the electric-lighting plant have also been erected, the concrete blocks for which were manufactured on the site. It is satisfactory to record that'the erection of the various buildings by prison labour has given the opportunity to several prisoners to acquire a sufficient knowledge of the carpentering trade to enable them to continue this trade after their release. In some cases the men had, on admission to prison, no knowledge whatever of the building trade, but since their release they have been earning good wages at this work. In order to push forward as rapidly as possible the erection of a brickmaking plant a temporary kiln has been built, and good bricks are now being manufactured which will shortly be used in erecting a large Hoffman kiln and chimney-stack. The foundations for the kiln and chimney are now in course of preparation. Prison Institutions for Women. Addington Reformatory for Women. —Only young women offenders are now located at this reformatory, the older offenders having been transferred to the Point Halswell Reformatory. It is now possible to put into operation a more advanced system of training for the younger women, and it is hoped that further provision in this direction may soon be arranged. Lessons in needlework, singing, first aid, &c, are being provided for the inmates, which are greatly appreciated. In their leisure hours they are permitted to do fancy needlework, thus supplementing their earnings to a considerable extent. One inmate completed hand-em broidery to the value of £13 Os. 6d., while a number of others added to their earnings in this way by sums ranging from £3 to £6. * Gardening generally appears to appeal to the young inmates, and good work in this direction has been done during the past year. Point Halswell Reformatory. —This institution was opened for the reception of the older class of women offenders on the 28th October last. Extensive alterations were made to the existing buildings, resulting in workrooms, inmates' rooms, &c, being provided on modern lines. The buildings

2—H. 20.