doing this was that he foresaw that the prisoners would probably resist the innovation, in which case it might be necessary for him to punish more promptly and effectively than could be done under the system then in vogue, by which corporal punishment could not be inflicted except with the concurrence of a Justice of the Peace, and the approval of the Governor, a course necessarily involving a delay which might be most undesirable. The powers applied for were approved by the Secretary of State's despatch No. 78 of the 10th December last, which reached this Colony a few days prior to the Superintendent going on leave.
3. The wisdom of General Gordon's application has now been proved as expected. The reduction in diet caused great discontent. The prisoners commenced operations by complaining to me on my assumption of Office. Finding this ineffective, they determined to try the effect of a general strike.
4. Some of them were overheard by a European prisoner saying that, as their food had been reduced, they would not work. This determination was communicated to others, and matters came to a head on the 31st ultimo. On that morning, about 7 A.M., as Head Turnkey Hodge was superintending about 160 of the prisoners in one of the yards, where they were at breakfast, he saw that something was wrong.