H.—2o.

donations of cakes, prizes, &c. Funds and goods collected are also for the benefit of the Christmas Cheer Fund for those who do not attend the camp. In this respect the Rotary Club, the Justices' Association, the Prisoners' Aid Society, and various individuals are to be thanked. The Invercargill Borstal Visiting Committee, with the Magistrate, Mr. R. C. Abernethy, as chairman, attended periodically at the institution for the purpose of considering selected cases and making recommendations for release to the Parole Board. The Honorary Ladies' Borstal Committee, consisting of Mrs. R. Henderson and Mrs. J. D. Campbell, made regular visits to the institution during the year, and gave interviews as desired. The members of the Invercargill Borstal Society were always available to assist in any way, as also were the members of the Invercargill Voluntary Probation Committee, who interested themselves in after-care. In this connection I regret to have to report the death of Mr. Charles Gilbertson, who had been a good friend to this institution. The ration scale is well varied. Beef and mutton is grown on the farm. There are plentiful supplies of green vegetables and root crops. During the last year or two butter and fish have been added to the menu, and recently sausages as a change. On special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, &c., relations and friends of the boys send in cakes, fruit, chocolate, &c. 11 is with pleasure that I record my appreciation of the work of the various members of the staff during the year closed. The Matron, who was appointed towards the end of 1937, has had a particularly arduous year, but has tackled the work with unfailing courage and devotion, despite occasional disappointments. The new Farm Manager, Mr. P. McMillan, appointed at the end of 1937, has ably co-ordinated the working of the farm. His report on the year's work is as follows : — " The 1938 season was, on the whole, inclined to dryness in the early months of the year, but towards the end there was rather too much, rainfall for this type of farm. " The dairy herd showed a slightly better average butterfat yield per cow than the previous year. The figures are not, however, very high yet, but it is hoped with culling and improved pastures to produce better results in the near future. "Iu the past the dairy herd has been entirely of Friesian breed. Early in the year twelve Shorthorn dairy cows and five Shorthorn heifers were purchased. Since then there have been four bull calves and two heifer calves. One Shorthorn bull was purchased recently. The Shorthorns have proved quite satisfactory milkers. It is intended to carry the two strains. Gradually the Shorthorn herd will be built up. " A Gane milking-plant, six bail, was installed in November and is giving satisfactory results, enabling a saving to be made in labour and producing better milk returns. " Pig-raising is an important feature. A steady weekly supply of porkers has been made to the local butchery trade. This branch is capable of further development. There is also a good demand for the Borstal pedigree boars. At the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Summer Shows each year the institution invariably wins prizes with its pig exhibits. " The ewe flock was increased in the year by 200 ewes, and from a Hock of 1,030 there were tailed 1,21.4 lambs. This season 100 Romney ewe lambs were retained for the flock ; in addition, 400 ewe hoggets and 46 wether hoggets were brought in. " The wool-clip this year comprises 34 bales and 3 bags, as compared with 18 bales last season. "It is proposed to select 300 ewe lambs this year and hold for the flock the following year. The purchase of the ewe hoggets was for flock purposes also, and for the coming season a fair percentage of the flock will be young sheep. " Regarding crops, the hay in 1938 was exceptionally heavy. All surplus grass was cut and pressed. There was a good demand for hay during the year, and in many cases orders were filled by pressing direct from the windrows and carting direct to the trucks, thus saving stacking and cartage to barn. There was a carry-over of hay in stack from the previous year, but all this was pressed and all sold together with the 1938 crop, except what was required for our own purposes. The price was very satisfactory. Some six thousand bales were disposed of. " Oat crops were on the whole very fair. Ten acres were threshed for seed and feed purposes. Some was cut into chaff, and sales made to other Government Departments as well as to private buyers. " There were good crops of rape and ohou moellier, which were used for fattening our own lambs and for sale to outsiders. " Potatoes were fair, and supplied seed, pig, and ration requirements, as well as a certain quantity for northern institutions." Waikeria Borstal Institution (Te Awamtjtu). (Superintendent, Mr. D. Dunlop.) At. the commencement of the year there were in custody 36 Borstal inmates, while 25 were received during the year ; the discharges were 24 on probationary licenses, while I was transferred to Tokanui Mental Hospital, thus leaving 36 in custody on the 31st December, 1938. The greatest number of Borstal inmates in custody at any one time during the year was 36, the least number 26, and the daily average was 29-9 inmates. In the Reformatory Section there were in custody at the beginning of the year 76 inmates, while 111 were received during the year ; of these, 12 were discharged on expiration of sentences, 21 by special remissions of sentences, 49 on probationary licenses, while (i were transferred to other institutions and I to Tokanui Mental Hospital, leaving 98 inmates in the Reformatory Section at the end of the year. There were no deaths during the year. The greatest number of reformatory inmates in custody at any one time was 99, the least number 78, the daily average being 94- inmates.

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