H.— 20

13

This arrangement not only gives two more single cells, but obviates the necessity of carrying hot water for 30 yards for use in the baths. In the west wing the partition which divided the female wing from the remainer of the wing has been removed and five new cells provided. The windows opening on to the yards on both sides of this wing provide ample ventilation : the previous system of ventilation existing in this wing was not satisfactory. In the south and east wings an opening has been cut in each cell, and this gives a much improved cross-ventilation. In all, the single-cell accommodation has been increased from fifty-five cells to sixty-nine single cells, and the general ventilation considerably improved. The whole of the work has been carried out by prison labour, and extensive repairs to the officers' residences have also been effected. Work in the quarry has been the chief industry for the year, and the gross returns from this source have been £1,680 18s. There are practically no overhead charges with the exception of the officers' wages, and the Borough Council purchase all the output. Good results have been obtained from the garden, and in addition to furnishing the institution with a plentiful supply of vegetables (up to 10 oz. per man per day) a surplus to the value of £53 10s. Bd. has been disposed of by auction. The general conduct of the prisoners has been good. Eight men have been reported for minor prison offences, but there was no case calling for the services of the Visiting Justice. The spiritual welfare of the men has been well cared for by the heads of the different Churches here, and Divine service is held each Sunday. On New Year's Day and Christmas Day interested social workers provided special meals for the prisoners. Much assistance and help has been received from gentlemen who have given lectures and addresses to the study circle during the year. It is noticed that some well-meaning social workers are complaining of the length of time that prisoners are kept in their cells on Sunday ; but it would probably be a surprise to these people to know that in this prison, on the Sunday evenings when the prisoners are given an opportunity to leave their cells for two hours to listen to the wireless Church services, 50 per cent, of them prefer to remain in their cells. There have been no serious cases of illness during the year. At each of the medical officer's weekly visits there are practically the same six or eight prisoners, but their complaints of illness are generally of a minor nature. In many instances there is but. little doubt that it is with the idea of getting a change from the ordinary routine that some of these men leave their work and come in to see the doctor. Paparua Prison, Templeton. (Superintendent, Mr. W. T. Leggett.) At the beginning of the year there were 174 males in custody ; during the year 560 were received and 600 were discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving 134 males in custody at the end of the year. The greatest number in custody at any one time was 178 and the least 132. The daily average number of men in custody through the year was 141-37. The health of the prisoners generally has been very good, there being only four cases of serious illness during the year: One instance was an appendix case complaining of illness on reception and requiring immediate removal to the hospital for operative treatment. In another instance a shortsentence prisoner of the vagrant type undergoing seven days' imprisonment was in a very weak state of health on admission, suffering from acute bronchial asthma and cardiac trouble. This case was removed to the public hospital, and completed his sentence in that institution. In the remaining two cases death ensued while in this institution. One instance was an alcoholic subject received for medical treatment, who expired within a few hours of reception. The other instance was that of a prisoner who had taken poison while under police escort from the country, and died very shortly after admission, before it was possible to remove him to hospital. The death also took place of a prisoner who was an escapee of the previous year, and who had absconded from the public hospital while undergoing treatment, and when subsequently arrested by the Auckland police, died while in custody at the police cells. There were four males transferred to a mental hospital during the year. One case is still in detention there, two cases completed their terms of imprisonment there, and the other case was in custody here from the Supreme Court for observation purposes, and subsequently committed by that Court direct to the mental hospital. The general conduct of the prisoners has been good, there being no escapes or attempted escapes during the year. There were twenty-one cases of minor breaches of the regulations requiring to be dealt with by Visiting Justices. The food-supplies have been of excellent quality, and ample vegetables have again been supplied from the prison-garden. Wholemeal bread from the institutional bakery is now being supplied to all prisoners on three days per week, with a view to keeping more evenly balanced food values, and this is relished by the men. The industry in the prison as a whole has been excellent, and our activities now usefully absorb all available labour. The most important work carried out here has been sheep-raising and general farm-work, garden-cultivation, poultry-raising, road-formation, erection of buildings and yards, and the screening, washing, and crushing of gravel and sand. The gravel industry has steadily advanced during the year, and the new disintegrating type of crusher installed has materially helped the output. A new gravel screening and washing plant is now in course of erection, and should very materially assist the industry when completed. In connection with the gravel industry the bulk of our supplies have been disposed of to local bodies, Government Departments, and to contractors for Government or semi-Government work.