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ments, together with those of various local bodies, we have been enabled to keep the output at the maximum during the greatest portion of the twelve months under review. At present we have sufficient orders in hand to guarantee the output remaining at a high standard until the end of the current financial year, and it is confidently anticipated that the returns will at least be equal to those of the past few years. Maintenance of prison buildings : The general maintenance of the prison buildings, cottages, &c., has been executed as required. Entertainments : Concerts have been held periodically, some very fine programmes having been arranged by the City Missioner (Rev. Jasper Calder), and his assistant (Rev. Charles Chandler), Messrs. J. Stewart and S. Falls, and the various other social workers interested in the welfare of the inmates. Thanks must also be extended to Messrs. John Fuller and Sons, Ltd., for their readiness in arranging for professional artists from their circuits to appear at these entertainments whenever possible. Lectures under the auspices of the Workers' Educational Association have continued to be given, and have proved most instructive and enjoyable. The director of the association, Mr. N. W. Richmond, has been mainly responsible for arranging for this profitable form of diversion. Christmas Cheer.—The several organizations which in past years have provided additional comforts for the inmates during the festive season again contributed freely, with the result that an adequate stock of " extras " was available for each individual prisoner at Christmas and New Year. Religious Services. —Throughout the year the various denominations arranged for services each Sunday, and the Department's thanks are due to the interested parties, who spare no effort to make the services enjoyable as well as beneficial to the inmates in attendance. Prisoners' Aid Society. —The Rev. Charles Chandler has been attending to the needs of prisoners both during confinement and subsequent to discharge, and there is no doubt that his kindly interest is appreciated by the men. Staff. —The conduct of the staff has continued to be excellent, with the result that a high standard of discipline has been maintained throughout the year, and consequently the various industrial activities have been carried on smoothly and with profit to the Department. The daily average of prisoners in custody throughout the past twelve months has been approximately 390. With the numerical strength of the staff remaining unchanged, adequate supervision has been made possible. The staff in the prison office, under the Principal Clerk, has dealt with the clerical work of the institution in an efficient manner. In conclusion, I would respectfully tender my thanks to the Department for the guidance and assistance afforded me in dealing with various matters throughout the twelve months under review. Schoolmaster's Report. There is in the class a great range of attainment and of educability, reducing the speed of progress, because the slower members of a group must necessarily set the pace of that group. The scholars are drafted into four main groups, corresponding to the four upper classes of a primary school, and some subgroups are made. In addition there are a few men with little attainment or educable capacity who receive individual coaching in the rudiments as intensive as time and staffing will permit. The syllabus of instruction on the more formal side includes English, composition, spelling, reading,and mental and written arithmetic. In these subjects the work ranged from satisfactory to very good, the progress in the upper classes being the most pronounced, and in the case of some individual scholars very praiseworthy. Greater interest was displayed in the more cultural work, and the enthusiasm aroused by this was exceedingly helpful in maintaining a good working-spirit for more formal school-work. Great interest was shown in discussions on the significance of current events closely allied to geography, history, and modern progress. Talks on historical and geographical subjects generally were given on an average once a week, and those relating to such physical phenomena as winds, eclipses, volcanic activity, &c., made most appeal. Readings of literary merit were given regularly, from the works of such writers as A. A. Milne, 0. Henry, &c., and were always eagerly listened to by the men. A few debates were held, and in every case brought forth considerable interest and some individual merit. A new departure was a series of talks, necessarily of an elementary character, on economics, and these were well received. At the conclusion of the year all except a few newly admitted pupils were tested in the usual examination subjects, the results being recorded in the examination register and promotions made ready for the New Year. The results show great individual variations, but are entirely satisfactory, except in a few cases where men of very little educable capacity were tested. In some cases splendid progress has been made, and the bulk of the scholars did well. Among the factors which have hampered progress is one which appears to me to be outstanding, and that is the presence in the school of men, who for various reasons, have a particularly small capacity for education. It is certain that those most lacking in education are most in the need of it, but among these are a few whose capacity for receiving benefit is almost nil. They require an immense amount of individual help to accomplish anything. This in itself is of little concern, but the time that has to be devoted to them, and which is productive of so little gain, curtails the already limited time available for the remainder of the scholars, and for want of which they are unduly delayed. The tone of the school has been excellent, the work having proceeded throughout the year harmoniously and with a minimum of friction.