146
Prisoners and their discipline.
7. The number of Prison offences continues large in comparison with those of English Prisons but their number is decreasing and much less than in previous years, and it is satisfactory to observe ▾ that the more serious offences have much diminished. During the year there have been 4,414 Prison offences to an average of 531 Prisoners giving a little over 8 offences for each Prisoner during the year; the lowest average attained for many years past. On the last day of the year 140 Prisoners had been free of Prison punishment for upwards of three months, among these 35 had been free of punishment for upwards of a year.
8. I append as usual Returns showing the number of punishments during the year for the most common offences. Similar Returns for the last three years being shown alongside for the sake of comparison.
9. During the year there were three cases of insubordination towards and assaults on officers of the Gaol (included in Return B.) a marked diminution of such offences as compared with previous years. The offenders were tried and awarded corporal punishment.
10. The risk of conspiracies and combinations among Prisoners, I have adverted to in former reports as always existing with a lot of criminals sleeping in association. As in previous years so during the last year we have had proof of this in two desperate attempts of large number to escape from chain gang. The stricter the Gaol discipline the more anxious Prisoners will be to try and effect an escape on the last occasion, on the 18th September those attempting to escape were re-captured, but unfortunately in the struggle the lives of one trustworthy warder and of two Prisoners were lost, while four other Prisoners were wounded but recovered. A full report of the circumstances was sub- mitted at the time.
Industrial Labour.
11. The Chain gang on Public Works has been working during the year with an average strength of 50 or 60 Prisoners-less than last year. I had to reduce one and sometimes two of the six gangs owing to scarcity of Officers many of whom were on the sick list during the year, the work was carried on at a considerable distance about three miles from the Gaol, the work done was not very satisfactory and has now been suspended. After the experience of the year I trust it will not be resumed until the introduction of the separate system.
12. As to other industrial work we are much hampered by want of space, having to utilize veran- dahs and passages as workshops. But the industries of Coir, yarn work, shoe-making and book-binding have been increased, I append the usual Returns of Gaol Industrial work.
(A.)
VICTORIA GAOL.
Return of Reports for talking, &c., in the years 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888.
1885.
1886.
MONTH.
Daily average number Daily average number
in Prison, 530.
in Prison, 674.
1887. Daily average number in Prison, 584.
A. GORDON,
Superintendent.
1888. Daily average number in Prison, 531.
January,
55
119
146
355
February,
25
135
75
320
March,
44
248
97
362
April,
23
330
· 408
380
May,
252
197
963
402
June,
362
298
918
296
July,
289
297
500
258
August,
344
232
530
225
September,
254
318
558
220
October,.....
174
209
429
222
November,
148
183
184
328
*December,
162
93
113
277
Total,..
2,132
2,659
4,921
3,645
A. GORDON,
Superintendent.