H.—2o,

8

of the concrete walls, &c, when reduced to blocks suitable for protective works, or converted into metal by being put through a crusher, will be taken by them at sale rates. The whole of the walls are to be taken down by the Prisons Department, and the large blocks and the crushed material to be delivered, where required by the Board. The arrangement entered into is a good one for the Prisons Department, while the Harbour Board receives full value for their expenditure. The work has been in progress since November last, and is being carried out quite satisfactorily. Hautu Camp (near Tokaanu). —Work is being continued in connection with the land-settlement scheme referred to in last year's report. Work on the first section, consisting of 650 acres of light pumice land, is now well advanced. Buildings for the use of the men employed have been erected. A cottage for the use of the officer in charge is in course of construction. Stables, implement-sheds, and the usual buildings required on a farm have been built. A considerable area has been ploughed drained, and fenced, and both grain and root crops have been raised during the past season. New Plymouth. —The work being carried out consists of quarrying-metal, &c, for the use of the New Plymouth Borough Council. Gardening and pig-raising have also proved a source of profit during the past year. Owing to the location of this prison it is not possible to extend operations. Invercargill Borstal Institution. —During the past year a considerable amount of work of various descriptions has been carried out. Draining and fencing on the farm area have been continued. The new rifle-range area, comprising 240 acres of reclaimed land, has been taken over from the Defence' Department, the Prisons Department having agreed to construct the firing-mounds, pathways, stopbutts, &c, in return for the use of the land for grazing purposes. The eastern embankment of the reclamation area was completed during the year. A firewood-yard was built, and several hundred cords of firewood brought up and sawn into blocks. A small sawmill plant was fitted up for departmental use. The formation and gravelling of Dunn's Block Road was carried out for the Public Works Department. Over 3,000 yards of rubble, shingle, and sand were brought up from the new river by the two lighters. Two new milking-sheds were built and additions made to another. An additional cottage was erected. New stables and barn were built in concrete. A new entrance was provided. The subdivision of the exorcisc-yards was completed. The recreation area, of 2 acres, was enclosed with a concrete-block wall. Roading and draining operations on the institution farm, also fencing-in of additional paddocks, were attended to ; trees to the number of six thousand were planted, principally for shelter purposes. The roading question has received considerable attention during the year. Owing to the whole of the, land, comprising the Borstal farm having been reclaimed from the sea, the making of firm roads has been somewhat of a problem. The only means of making the roads sufficiently firm was to pave the surface with flat stones and then spread a coating of gravel over the whole. This involves a considerable expenditure in labour, Sec., but as the stone and shingle are brought up in our own lighters, the cost is not so great as would otherwise be the case. The fitting-up of a combined suction and bucket dredge has been steadily progressing, and within the next few weeks it is expected that this dredge will be in operation. The whole of this plant has been fitted up by the officers and inmates of the institution, and is capable of moving 60 cubic yards of solid, material per hour. Two shifts per day of eight hours each will be worked, the intention being to pump surplus material from the river and deposit same inside the embankment on low-lying portions of the farm. Once this work has been completed the Department will possess one of the finest farms in the whole of the Southland Province. M. Hawkins, Inspector of Prisons and Supervisor of Works.

Prisons and Prison Institutions : Epitome of Reports of Controlling Officers. Auckland Prison. The prison population further increased during 1922 —the daily average in custody being 343 as against 337 for 1921 and 266 for 1920. The evening educational, classes have been continued with satisfactory results. The pupils generally are responsive, and appreciate the facilities provided for their advancement. The more backward among them receive individual attention, resulting in greater progress. Considerable time is devoted to the teaching of the two principal subjects, arithmetic and English. Towards the end of the year a departure was made from the usual routine by conducting a debate in which a number of the more advanced •pupils participated. Such discussions, held periodically, on suitable subjects, produce beneficial results, particularly in mental discipline and oral expression. Quarrying has been the principal prison industry, and the year's operations have produced increased revenue. The installation of the new plant is being proceeded with as expeditiously as circumstances permit. When the erection of the plant is completed a considerable increase in output may be anticipated, and, as the demand for quarry-products is likely to continue, this industry as'a revenue-producer has a good future. The bootmaking and tailoring factories were busy throughout the year manufacturing for our own institutions and for other Government Departments. Additional plant is required for the tailoring-factory in order to cope with the work offering. Entertainments were provided at intervals for the prisoners by local social workers, and were much appreciated. The organizers of these entertainments have gained the good will of all concerned by their self-sacrificing efforts to relieve the monotony of the prisoners' evening hours. Hautu Prison Camp, Tokaanu. This prison camp was established on the 27th February, 1922—five prisoners being transferred here from the prison at New Plymouth. During the first few months they were employed carting material from Waimarino and erecting the necessary buildings for the accommodation of officers and prisoners. On the 24th May the number of prisoners was increased to twenty-three. A start was then made to form the entrance road, erect the telephone-line to connect up with the main line to Tokaanu, and clear the ground in preparation for ploughing.