Receipts.
122
ABSTRACT.
Payments,
£ 2.
£ $, d.
·
770 11 9
Valuation of stock, December 31, 1872. Stock received or purchased..
396 12 377 12
8
Payments and charges
321 11 10
Profit
..
1,092
2 7
Total
160 3 1 157 14 7
1,092 2 7
+
Salos to officers, public and prison sup-
plica Valuation of atock taken over on Decem-
ber 31, 1873
Total
STOCK ACTUALLY ON HAND, AS REPRESENTED BY VALUATION AT STOCK-TAKING ON DECEMBER 31, 1873.
Bulls
Cows
Steers and young calves
Sheep
Lainbe
Goats
Kida
Fowls
General Remarks.
::::::::
1
22
28
8
9
20 11
It is hoped that with energy, and a knowledge of the requirements of a strict system, the prison may be brought to a good state of discipline; but it must be maintained under great disadvantages, on account of the extremely defective condition of the prison build- ing; which I believe has been condemued, but is still unavoidably used. It may however be stated, that many of the defects are in a fair way of being remedied, and the condition of the cells improved by the admission of more light and air, and last, though not least, the security of the prison has received due attention, which I feel bound to state has been lost sight of, in the various alterations made of late years.
The prison may be stated to afford accommodation for 198 prisoners on the separate system, and about 20 in the hospital ward in association, the cells are not lighted by night, but lights are hung in the passages. The whole system of lighting the prison cost about 228 dollars per annum, this large outlay has been considerably reduced by a reduction in the number of lights, and better supervision over the oil.
The duties of "guard" are performed by the police force, which consists of 1 ser- geant, 1 corporal, and 10 constables; these duties are comparatively light, inasmuch as they are on duty 6 hours, and off 18 hours out of 24, while the warders of the prison are on duty 12 hours out of 24. I have no power over this force, and they give a great deal of trouble through having so much leisure time on their hands; if quarters could be provided, I would press for the formation of a "Civil Guard" which I have under my own control; and whose duties could be regulated according to circumstances, I have been obliged to resort to an additional sentry by day to prevent the convicts running away, I could only do so by reducing the number of sentries during the night, as I have no power to compel them to perform more than 6 hours duty in one day of 24 hours.
Manufacturing Department.
Tailoring. The work done by prisoners engaged in this department fully meets the requirements of the prison; and consisted principally in making the following articles, viz.:-Uniforms for officers, prison shirts, trowsers, flannels, canvas hammocks, belts, slippers, towels, and prison linen, &c., and the repairs of all prisoners' clothing and bedding, which amounts on an average to about 300 pieces weekly,
Shoemaking. The class employed as shoemakers repair the whole of the boots and shoes required for the use of the prisoners, and did a considerable amount of work for the officers of the establishment and their families, which work was paid for by them.
Washers. The whole of the washing was done by a party of prisoners (3) under the superintendence of a warder at the river, and the drying was done in the prison yard, where ropes and pullies were required for hanging the clothes upon. This appeared to me objectionable, and the drying of the clothes was therefore removed to the "Logie" near the river,
The different articles of clothing, bedding, and prison linen, &c., washed, dried and folded, amounted to about 1,525 pieces weekly. This is a high figure; it may, however, be stated that each convict has four suits of clothes, consisting of flannel shirts, trowsers, and under flannel, and all prisoners are allowed a change of clothing daily, or oftener if required.
123
Bakers. The party of prisoners employed in the bakehouse (2) make the whole of the bread required for the officers and prisoners throughout the establishment. The weekly average quantity baked amounted to 1,442 lbs.
Cooks. The whole of the cooking, &c., was done by prisoners, who, like the bakers, are not under the supervision of a warder; three convicts are employed in the prison kitchen, and two in the hospital kitchen. The present arrangement in this department is very defective, and entails a large consumption of wood and labour; the present two estate coppers, built up six feet in masonry, which can only be reached by a flight of steps, I respectfully condemn, and recommend that four smaller coppers or boilers be supplied in their place, and properly fitted up over a furnace on the kitchen floor.
The following return will show the number of offences and punishments during the year 1873:-
C.-NUMBER of Offences and Punishments during the Year 1873.
Nature of Imprisonment.
Punished and Admonished.
Number of Prisoners
Number of Prisoners not
Punished or Admonished.
Average Number of Offences | punished per Mouth.
Whipping.
Solitary Confinement,
Bread and Water.
Penul Class.
Reduction of Class.
Stocks.
Shot Drill.
Admonished.
Loss of Murks.
Crank.
Forfeiture of Gratuity.
Pay out of Gratuity,
Damage done to
Clothing, &c.
Total.
January February March
18
160
19
162
15 166
April
19
158
May
28
139
June
30
137
28
12
150 13 31 9
76
20 f 28
↓
2
345
July
31
124
August
19 141
September
16 144
28 132
November
59 109
60 108
October
December
The latter part of the year is marked by a large increase in the number of punish. ments inflicted, as compared with previous months. This may be accounted for by the alteration in the system of discipline, on my assuming charge, which prisoners as a rule resist, together with the lax state of affairs, which demanded all my energies to rectify, and the change, although brought about at the expense of punishments, may be calculated to produce more favourable results than those which have attended past exertions. In carrying out the rules of this prison with regard to punishments, I decline to make use of shot drill or stocks, which instruments of punishment have been long regarded in Convict Prisons as things of the past, and have ceased to be deterrent in prison crimes.
I have had recourse to that punishment which is known to be effective, the punish- ment of solitary confinement on bread and water, and enforced idleness. I have also resorted to a forfeiture of marks and gratuities for misconduct, and I am of opinion that all prisoners misconducting themselves, or under punishment, or not executing their work or task to the satisfaction of the Superintendent, should forfeit all claim to the gratuities; and any prisoner who attempts to escape, or who shall be guilty of any act of violence, or who shall be deemed incorrigible, should be liable at the recommendation of the Superintendent, to forfeit any gratuity which may have been previously placed to his credit. Before dismissing the subject of punishment, I beg to be permitted to call atten- tion to the diet allowed to convicts undergoing any term of punishment in the penal class. On reference to the general diet table, it will be seen that prisoners while undergoing punishment in the penal class are better fed than those who are at hard labour, and, inasmuch as no work can be furnished to those prisoners without considerably interfering with the discipline of the prison, a term in the penal class is rather solicited than regarded as a deterrent.
Kuow Island Leper Asylum.
This department is more properly under the immediate charge of the medical officer who visits this establishment daily. I had no knowledge of its existence until I reached
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
885
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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