It thus appears once only in the seven years as an addition to the Gaol, but forms an unit in every weekly average during that period. Whereas in former years when short sentences were the rule the same prisoner might appear five or six different times in one year, and swell up the total of prisoners admitted during the year.
4. If the number of admissions to the Gaol be any criterion of the state of crime, the Colony is to be congratulated on the decrease of crime during the last two years which compare favourably with the previous sixteen years taking into consideration, the increase of population. The admissions during the last 18 years have been as follows:-
1862... 3,088.
1863,..... 3,917.
1864,..... 3,033.
1865,..... 6,268.
1866,..... 3,957.
1867..... 4,280.
1868,..... 6,290.
1869,..... 3,281.
1870,..... 6,688.
1871,..... 3,680.
1872...... 3,896.
1873,........... 4,065.
1874,..... 4,546.
1875,...... 3,946.
1876,..... 4,347.
1877...... 4,122.
1878,.. 3,803.
1879,...... 3,669.
5. This speaks well for the deterrent effect of the discipline at present carried on in the Gaol. The success which has attended the adoption of the separate system is in my opinion complete, and I only regret that there seems no near prospect of its more extended application.
6. At the close of 1878 in accordance with a recommendation, made on my suggestion by the Gaol Commission, which sat under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice SNOWDEN, an attempt was made to introduce the separate system on a small scale. Two large basement halls which had been used for other purposes were divided off into 46 cells. These were ready for occupation at the close of 1878. I commenced introducing into them old offenders who were constantly returning to Gaol. From the 1st December 1878 to the 30th November 1879, one hundred and three prisoners passed through these separate cells, remaining in them from fourteen days to six months according to their sentences. They were employed at oakum picking, string making, tailoring or any other employment for which they were adapted, and were allowed one hour's exercise in the yard every day.
From the very commencement, as I anticipated, the prisoners disliked the system and tried every means to escape it. In the first month there were several attempts at suicide, but I found they were all feigned and as the prisoners did not get released thereby, but were in addition subjected to rigorous search several times each day to prevent them from secreting articles which might facilitate attempts at suicide they found it wiser to accept the discipline. The separate cells so far from being injurious to the health of the prisoners have contributed the fewest inmates to the Hospital, only five having been admitted viz:—
No. 622 "Fever" remained in Hospital from 9th to 13th October.
No. 433 "Constipation" remained in Hospital from 16th to 20th September.
No. 174 "Observation" remained in Hospital from 12th to 16th May.
No. 580 "Tonsilitis" remained in Hospital from 30th July to 11th August.
No. 116 "Diarrhoea" remained in Hospital from 13th to 20th June.
7. The daily hour's vigorous exercise in association has prevented any injurious effects which might arise from seclusion. Of the 103 prisoners who passed through the separate cells only three have returned to Gaol a second time. Under the new Dietary Scale these three men will get Reduced Penal Diet in addition to their separate confinement. One of these three men has since been released and I see that he is making strenuous efforts to obtain his livelihood by other than dishonest means.
8. I have much satisfaction in stating that I have every confidence in the Officers who are now employed in the Gaol, and who from the Warden downwards do their best to preserve discipline. Cases of inebriety on the part of the Officers are almost unknown, and consequently there are few complaints of assaults by them on prisoners, and such an occurrence as an attack by a prisoner on an Officer which is the natural outcome of bad discipline, and ill usage has not happened since I have been in charge of the Gaol.
9. There have been only twelve cases of Corporal punishment for Gaol Offences during the last year, and these all occurred before the 8th August last since which date there has been no flogging in this Gaol.
10. The transfer of the Gaol Guards from the Police to the entire control of the Superintendent of the Gaol has been a most beneficial step and the men are not only well satisfied, but seem more active in their duties.