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that a suitable building should be erected near the Settlement, say at or near The Doctor could Calleocoon, containing two wards, one for males and one for females.*
I feel confident that the Court of easily attend to it, and is quite prepared to do so. Policy would readily sanction the necessary expenditure, if the Governor would permit my introducing a résolution for the purpose. The Indians deserve liberal treatment at the hands of the Government, for whenever they can assist in any way they do their best to the utmost in their power,
There is one other point I wish to bring to his Excellency's notice, and that is the state of the ruins on Kykoveral and at the Fort Island. Both are quite overgrown with bush and utterly neglected. Kykoveral might easily be cleared and kept clear by the convicts, without any expense whatever, The ruins at Fort Island might be cleared at a small cost. The church could be roofed and railed in, and the fort cleared and cleaned.†
Several of the members of the Court of Policy have from time to time expressed a strong opinion that this should be done, and any proposal to preserve these ruins from total destruction would be warmly supported by them.
Having now noticed all the various points which appear to me to call for remark, I hare, &c.,
W. F. HAYNES SMITH,
Attorney-General,
The Honourable W. A. G. Young, Government Secretary.
(Signed)
Inclosure 3 in No. 33.
Sir,
Audit Office, December 4, 1874. IN accordance with you instruction I left Georgetown on a visit of inspection of the Penal Settlement, on the morning of the 1st instant, and returned in the afternoon the 3rd. Twelve convicts, recently convicted by the Supreme Court were taken down in the steamer, making the number now confined at the Settlement 210, besides 38 prisoners from Georgetown, and two others sentenced by the local magistrate.
There were 50 convicts in the quarry on the morning of the 2nd instant, and in looking at the out-turn of stone this year, the contrast with that of 1873 is very remark- able. The receipt of stone at the sea wall from the Settlement, for the 11-months ended 30th November, amount to 7,119 tons, the ratio being as 3 to 1, when compared with those of 1873.
In the provision grounds twenty-six men were at work. The soil at best is poor, and needs all the manure which the Superintendent is applying to it, a small quantity of very excellent rice has been reaped and preparations were being made for planting more; with a view to the economical distribution of labour, it might be well to have one of the warders who possesses the necessary qualification, especially set apart to direct all the operations of the farm, and without increasing the vote for warders, an extra allowance might be made for such a man, as also for master tradesmen employed on the Settlement, as warders, by having three grades as is the case in the police force, men in the lower grades receiving less than 30 dollars per mensem.
The police heretofore stationed at the Settlement have been removed, 15 men returned to town with us in the steamer, and the place is now guarded by its own officers, as most of the men are unmarried, they may be accommodated in the quarters recently occupied by the police, but it is probable that additional barrack accommodation may be required ere long, and it would be well to provide for the contingency.‡
There were 14 convicts in probation and 6 in solitary confinement. One of these latter, a German (No. 180), complained that, being a white man, he was compelled to work in the sun, and that his eyesight was being affected thereby. Another, Sullivan (No. 147), requested that his Excellency might be moved to relegate him to Georgetown, and bind him to someone there, where he might serve out the remainder of his sentence. No. 288, Cooper, made a long complaint to the effect that the doctor had ordered flannel for him and that the Superintendent would not give it to him. He also complained that
* I propuse to make provision for a cottage hospital away from the prison. Mr. Sealy strongly objects to free men being admitted into the prisan hospital.--J. R. L.
+ Directions, of which the Attor sey-General was not aware, had bren given to the Civil Engineer some time before this to clean out and fence round the Dutch chapel at Fort Island, with a view to its restoration. The ruins at Kykoveral, which I visited on May last, consists only of an archway and some yards of brick wall.-
J. R. L.
} This has beer already ordered.—J. R. L.
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he was made to work in the sun, to the detriment of his eyesight. He was then suffering from defective eyesight.
The hospital for sick freemen was entirely empty, but there were 15 convicts in the other ward, some of them long-standing cases. L'Enfant, a Frenchinun, had been admitted since the 6th May, seemingly a chronic case of rheumatism, and, I fear, a cripple for life; Solomon Fraser, also afflicted with rheumatism, had been in the hospital since July. Both of these complained of the food being insufficient. April James, another rheumatic subject, has been in the hospital since June. Sleeping in damp cells may have been the procuring cause of their illness, and, in order to lessen the effect upon others, it may be desirable that each convict should have a dry suit at night, particularly in such weather as we are now having.*
I received a communication from the Superintendent to the effect that 13 convicts wished to speak with me, and early in the morning of the 3rd instant I went to the prison to see them. Antonio de Sebastian (No. 259) spoke for himself and six others, Portuguese, stating the ration they received was very small. and oftentimes they were very hungry. He said that the corn meal which was mixed with the flour for bread disagreed with them, and occasioned diarrhea; and, finally, desired to see the Portuguese Consul. Majalva, a coolie, also complained of the bread, and asked to have it changed. Manoel Picter (No. 282) stated that he wore boots which were now worn out, and he could get no others; complained that his comb and hankerchief had been taken from him. Thomas Beckles, a Barbadian, also complained that his comb had been taken away, and partiality was shown, as the rules were not applied equally to all. Maddo, a Coolie, sentenced for life, stated that he had been confined eleven years, and talked of hanging himself; and Primus Tappin, a blacksmith from Berbice, was under the belief that his Excellency would bind him to some prison in Georgetown for the remainder of his sentence. I tasted the bread, made from one-third corn meal and two-thirds wheaten flour, and found it somewhat bitter; I also tasted the corn meal, which, although not fresh, was nevertheless sound. I recommended the Superintendent to put less meal in the dough he was preparing for the bread, and possibly a little molasses added thereto would make it more palatable.
Mr. Senly requested me to inquire whether the order of the Prison Board requiring the officers at the Settlement to pay 12 per cent. upon the contract prices for articles purchased at the store could not be relaxed, as in some cases a hardship was inflicted.† The order was made some years ago, in consequence of the loss sustained by the Government in retailing articles to the officers out of a store specially stocked for their convenience.
the
There are 12 revolvers at the Settlement, but no ammunition for them ; Superintendent requested that he might be supplied, and also stated that he was prepared to use the condemned powder belonging to the militia for blasting the stone.
Two convicts, whose sentences have expired, returned to Georgetown in the steamer. One of them, named Bowman, is recommended by Mr Sealy as a well-behaved man, who might be employed by the Government. He is a cooper, carpenter, and blacksmith, and Mr. Sealy was desirous that employment should be found for him at once.
I have, &e. (Signed) WM. BRANCH POLLARD,
The Honourable Wm. A. G. Young, Government Secretary,
No. 34.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Longden, C.M.G.
(No. 28. British Guiana.)
Sir,
Auditor-General.
Downing Street, March 6, 1875.
I HAVE had under my consideration your despatch No. 1 of the 1st of January, respecting the penal establishment at Massaruni.
Your despatch and its inclosures discuss many points of detail on which it is not necessary for me to enter, beyond expressing my appreciation of the evident care which you have bestowed on their consideration and adjustment.
The principal question at issue in the correspondence which has passed between the
This also has been ordered.—J. R. T..
I propose to reduce it to 5 per cent.—J. R. L.
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