Questions.

(X3)

Answers.

VI. Ia penal labour-that is, labour by tread-mill, crank, or shot-drill-in force?

VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during bow many hours is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of tread-wheel labour givo-first, the total time on and off the wheel, etc.; secondly, the length of spells and interval of rest.

VIII. What kind of labour, other than penal labour, is in use?

IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Gaol, state-

1. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years?

1. How are the profits of their labour accounted

for?

There is no tread-mill labour, but shot-drill, crank- labour, stone-carrying and oakum-picking are in force.

The hours of labour throughout the year are from the 1st March to the 31st Octobor from 6.15 to 4.15 p.m., and from the 1st November to the 28th February from 6.45 a.m. to 4.15 p.m., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crank labour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lbs. pressure. European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 4 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone- carrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.

Tailoring, shoc-making, carpentering, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, printing, book-binding, net making, tinsmithing, washing, cleaning, and incidental repairs to the Gaol buildings.

Prisoners have not been employed outside the Gaol during the year.

X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1898?

The total expenditure of tho Gnol in 1898 was $62,308.40, of which the sum of $2,703.01 was refunded for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-

Military, Naval,..

Debtors,

Waste food sold,

Personal Emoluments refunded,. Forfeitures,

$ 529.40

1,275.25

538.50

57.00

55.03

247.83

$2,703.01

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' earnings during 1898 ?

XII. What is the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormi- tories lighted; and how often are they patrolled during the night?

The total amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of Prison Industrial Labour was $3,884.74, of which $219.30 was for 1897, and $3,665.44 . for 1898.

The average time during which the prisoners sleep is about 11 hours in 24.

The cells are not lighted; but Gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Warders on duty are provided with lamps to throw light into the cells when required.

Warders are on duty in the Gnol throughout the night, and patrol the corridors and passages constantly.