H.—2o.

The raising of pigs was carried on as previously. One boar was purchased and 93 weaners sold. Several teams of young horses were broken in and are working well. The following crops were harvested : 150 tons hay, 20 tons carrots, 200 tons swede turnips, and 10 tons oaten sheaves. From a crop of 28 tons of potatoes, 14 tons were sold and the remainder used at the prison. The rabbit pest was dealt with as usual and the skins marketed. I should like to conclude with thanks to the members of the staff for their co-operation and loyalty. Napier Prison. (Gaoler, Mr. C. J. McMullin.) At the beginning of the year there were 15 male prisoners in custody. During the year admissions totalled 140 males and 3 females, while 70 were discharged on the expiration of their sentences, 8 on special remission, 2 on probationary license, 62 were transferred to other institutions or otherwise disposed of, leaving 16 in custody at the end of the year. The greatest number in custody at any one time was 21, and the least 9, the daily average being 13-99. The health of the prisoners has been good, there being no cases of a serious nature. Divine services were conducted by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Salvation Army, and the members of the Gospel Hall; the Napier Brotherhood held services on every alternate Wednesday evening during the year. The Colenso Fund has proved most beneficial in assisting prisoners on their discharge. Thanks are due to the Toe H, Hastings, who provided a plentiful supply of clothing ; the St. Vincent de Paul Society; and to Mr. Robert Magill, Mr. Herbert Mercer, and Mr. Claude Stevens, who have been untiring in their efforts to assist the prisoners to rehabilitate themselves on their release. The radio has been made use of frequently to amuse and to instruct, and has been much appreciated by the inmates. The prison quarry has been the principal means of providing employment, and the revenue derived therefrom compares favourably with that of former years. The prison garden has provided an abundant supply of vegetables for the use of the prison, and the surplus has been sold in the local mart. Although returns received were much below city prices, on the whole the results have been satisfactory. The prison buildings and grounds have been maintained in a fair state of repair, and the cottages occupied by the staff have received attention and are now in good order. The food supplied has been ample and of good quality. There have been at no time complaints as to quantity or quality. Bread has been manufactured in the prison, as formerly, and of good uniform quality. The conduct of the prisoners has been good, and only in one instance has a prisoner been dealt with by a Visiting Justice. The thanks of the Department are due to Mr. J. P. Thomson, Visiting Justice, Mr. Miller, S.M., Mr. Robert Magill, the Napier Brotherhood, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, who have as in former years provided Christmas cheer during the festive season. Their thoughtful and practical sympathy has been much appreciated by the inmates. The conduct of the staff generally has been satisfactory, and I much appreciate their loyal co-operation. New Plymouth Prison. (Superintendent, Mr. W. Dineen.) There were 57 prisoners in custody at the beginning of the year, and during the year 105 male prisoners and 1 female prisoner were received. During the same period 103 male prisoners and 1 female prisoner were discharged or handed to police, leaving 59 male prisoners in custody at the end of the year. As in the past, the main working-party was employed in the quarry during the year, the daily working-party averaging 11-43 men, and the total quantity of metal sold during the year amounting to 2,857 yards. This was sold to the New Plymouth Borough Council and Fitzroy Quarries, Ltd. The institution garden also provided useful occupation for a number of men, the daily average employed in this work being about 7 men. The garden supplied the institution kitchen with a good variety of vegetables during the year, and the surplus over requirements was sold at the local auctionmart, fetching the sum of £308 3s. Id. for the year. The piggery is still being operated successfully, and is a useful and profitable means of using to advantage the waste food from the kitchen, and waste vegetables, &c., from the garden. Six breeding-sows are kept, and surplus milk from the dairy is fed to the young pigs. These are sold to local buyers when ready for the market. The pigs are usually killed and dressed by prison labour, and this provides useful training for some of the men. The dairy cows, which are grazed on Marsland Hill and the Kindberg Estate, keep the prison supplied with an ample quantity of milk for ration and medical requirements. The Kindberg Estate has been recently purchased by the Department, and sufficient grazing-land is now assured for the live-stock requirements of the prison. In the bakehouse bread is made for this prison and Wanganui Gaol, and endeavours have been made to improve the quality of the bread made. Some success has attended our efforts in this direction. Soapmaking, boot-repairing, and tailoring are occupations which are also carried out, and they provide

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