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Questions and Answers.
Q. 1.-If the prison is on the separate system, is the separation complete ? And if not, what is the separation enforced by day and night respectively ?-A. None of the prisons are on the separate system. The separation enforced, where the gnol accommo- dation admits of it, is that of sexes and races. Prisoners on remand are also, where practicable, kept apart from convicted prisoners. All male prisoners sentenced to hard labour are worked in association. At night prisoners are confined in wards and cells, the number confined together varying according to the number of prisoners and size of wards or cells. Prisoners undergoing long terms of imprisonment are forwarded to one or other of the large gaols in the Colony; those from Alfred are, immediately after sentence or committal before a Superior Court, forwarded to Durban.
Q. 2.-If not on the separate system, what provision is there for the supervision of the prisoners while in association ?-A. All prisoners when working in association without the prison walls, are under the supervision of European and native turnkeys, who are officers of the prison. Prisoners employed within the walls of the prisons where they are confined, are also under strict supervision. The wards and cells are visited at intervals during day and night.
Q. 3.-How many cells are there; and how many associated wards ?—A. At Durban, 36 cells; at Pietermaritzburg, 19 associated wards; at Estcourt, 5 cells; at Verulam, 2 cells and 3 associated wards; at Ladysmith, 7 cells; at Stanger, 4 asso- ciated wards; at Greytown, 3 cells; at Richmond, 2 cells and 1 associated ward; at Newcastle 2 cells; at Umzinto, 5 cells; at Alfred 2 cells.
Q. Taking the average number of prisoners in gaol, how many cubic feet of space are there for each prisoner during the hours of sleep?-4. Durban, 193∙10; Pietermaritzburg, 291; Estcourt, 54-30; Verulam, 1,175; Ladysmith, 500; Stanger, 504; Greytown, 270; Richmond, 500; Newcastle, 200; Umzinto, 533. The prisons are all well ventilated.
Q. 5.-Ilow are the prisoners classified *—4. Durban-Europeans, natives, and Indians, three classes cach. Pietermaritzburg-No classification can be carried out on account of the crowded state of the prisons, caused by the incarceration of the rebel prisoners. Verulam-Europeans, Indian immigrants, St. Helena immigrants, natives, Hottentots, and women. Richmond-Class 1. Committal for trial or examination; Class 2. At hard labour or crank; Class 3. Imprisonment and solitary confinement; Class 4. Debt. In the smaller gacls in the country districts no classification is attempted, as it would be impracticable. Where classification is carried out, it is done under the Rules and Regulations of Law No. 6, 1870.
Q. 6. Is penal labour-that is, labour by treadmill, crank, or shot-drill-in force. Treadwheels have been erected and are used at both Durban and Pieter- maritzburg. Cranks have been supplied to the gaols at Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Verulam, Ladysmith, Richmond, and Umzinto. Shot-drill is in force at Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Q. 7,-If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours, is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of treadwheel labour, give first the total time on and off at the wheel, &c.; secondly, the length of spells and intervals of rest?-4. At Durban and Pietermartz- burg all male prisoners above the age of sixteen sentenced to hard labour are employed on the treadwheel, for the first three months of their term of imprisonment, from eight to nine hours per diem, two-thirds of their time on, and one-third off the wheel; spell thirty-six minutes, rest eighteen minutes, in addition to rest of one hour at dinner After the first three months they are sent out to Government works. At Verulam the crank is used for punishment of breaches of prison discipline, but only in cases of able-bodied male prisoners, and from two to four liours at a tine, according to circumstances. There were only two cases during the year. At Richmond prisoners sentenced to hard labour are put upon crank punishment for short periods, with rest allowed for breakfast, dinner, and supper. Six hours' work is required of them. The cranks at Umzintó and Ladysmith have not yet been used.
time.
Q. 8.—What kind of labour, other tlian penal labour, is in use?—A. The prisoners are employed outside the gaols on public works and buildings, roads, brickmaking, &c. Q. 9.--If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the gaol stato ?-A. See previous answer.
1. On what kind of work are they so employed?—At Durban the prisoners are employed at the stone quarries, harbour works, and botanic gardens; at Pietermaritz- burg, in brickmaking and occasionally on public works in the town; prisoners at
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these gaols are also employed on any public work in the vicinity of the gaol, under the direction of the civil engineer for the Colony. At the other gaols, where prisoners undergoing short sentences only are detained, the convicts are employed in repairing and making roads, streets, and watercourses, and in performing any other public work required in the vicinity of the gaols. At Ladysmith they are occasionally engaged in quarrying.
2. How are they supervised?-By armed European and native turnkeys and guards. The care of prisoners in the country districts principally devolves upon the native constables attached to the several magistracies.
3. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years;-Durban, 2, both recaptured; Pieter- maritzburg, 4, all recaptured; Ladysmith, none; Verulam, 1; Estcourt, 2; Greytown, none; Richmond, none; Newcastle, none; Umzinto, 1, recaptured; Alfred, none.
4. How are the profits of their labour accounted for ?-The prisoners' labour is all for the benefit of the Government. No calculation is made of its value. At Durban the General Revenue receives 6d. per diem from the Harbour Works Fund for each prisoner employed on these works. At Pietermaritzburg two prisoners are allowed 3d. per diem for their benefit on discharge, by reason of special ability as workmen.
Q. 10.—What was the total annual cost of the prisons during the year?-4. Durban, 3,414/. 38. 10d.; Pietermaritzburg, 2,1271. 9s. 7d.*; Estcourt (about) 300%.; Verulam, 2161, 10s. 7d.; Ladysmith, 2331. 1s. 2d.; Greytown, 4061. 3s. 4d.; Richmond, 50. 13s. 11d.; Newcastle, 821. Os. 6d.; Umzinto, 1097. Os. 1d.; Alfred, 81. 5s.*; Stanger, 2014. 14s. Total, 7,5221. 2s.
Q. 11.-What was the annual amount of the prisoners' carnings during 1874 ?— A. At Durban, 5001. 19%. At Pietermaritzburg two prisoners earned 31. 16s. 3d. each at 3d. per diem; ride answer to question 9-1. In the other gaols the prisoners earnings are not calculated.
Q. 12. What are the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormitories lighted; and how often are they patrolled during the night?-A. From eight to twelve hours; in some of the gaols from sunset to sunrise. None of the dormitories in any of the gaols are lighted, but the corridors of the gaols at Durban and Pietermaritzburg are, thus the dormitories opening into them can to some extent be lighted up. The corridors and yards of these two gnols are regularly patrolled during the night by the turnkeys on duty. All the gaols, except that at Stangar, are visited during the night by the gaoler once, twice, or oftener, as occasion may require. At Newcastle the native sentries keep guard outside the prison.
Q. 13. What were the number and nature of the punishments inflicted for offences committed by prisoners undergoing imprisonment ?—A. At Durban, 66– crank, treadmill, spare diet, chains, lashes, half-rations, and solitary confinement; at Pietermaritzburg, 116-solitary confinement, flogging, stocks, irons, and stoppage of rations; at Estcourt, 1; at Verulam, 2-crank; at Greytown, 1-1-1 days' imprison- ment. At the other gaols, viz., Estcourt, Ladysmith, Stanger, Richmond, Newcastle, and Umzinto, no offences of this description were committed.
Q. 14. Is there, or are there, any chaplain or chaplains of any, and what religious persuasions --There are no chaplains to any of the gaols, except to that at Durban.
Q. 15. Are religious services regularly, or otherwise, performed for the benefit of the prisoners of any, and if any, what religious persuasion ?-A. Religious services are occasionally performed in the Gaol at Durban by ministers of the Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, and Wesleyan persuasions. At Pietermaritzburg regular services are held by ministers of the Church of England, Roman Catholic, and Wesleyan persuasions. At Ladysmith a clergyman of the Church of the Province of South Africa holds service for the native prisoners every Sunday. At Greytown a missionary of the Lutheran persuasion holds occasional services. At Richmond the different ministers residing there attend any prisoner who asks for their ministration. At Newcastle a missionary of the Berlin Society performs the Protestant service once a month. At the other gaols, viz., Estcourt, Verulam, Stanger, Richmond, and Umzinto, no services are held.
Q. 16. Are Roman Catholic priests and Dissenting ministers allowed free access to prisoners of their own persuasion and are they apprized when prisoners of their respective persuasions enter the prison. Ministers of any religious denomination are, on proper application, allowed free access to prisoners of their own persuasion in any gaol in the Colony. It is not customary to advise ministers when prisoners of
No return for 1874.
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2 X
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference.
C.O.885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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