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duties they have had amplë évidence, and to whose unselfish bravery on the occasion of “ the outbreak they wish to bear the strongest testimony.
Sir.
(Signed) THOS. SCOTT, President.
J. F. A. Mc NAIR, JOHN CAMERON,
F. C. BISHOP,
F.
Inclosure 3 in No. 21.
Members.
Singapore, August 17, 1875. THE Committee would now desire to reply to your letters, Colonial Secretary, of 19th June, prisons, 12th July, the receipt of the former having been already acknowledged by the President.
The Committee recommend that an annuity of 351. sterling be granted to warder Lamb for his conduct on the occasion of the outbreak on the 13th February last.
The Committee would also venture to recommend that the following gratuities be given:
To sub-warder Sandford the sum of 100 dollars.
To sub-warders Redding and Burton one month's pay each.
To native warders Indin, Chaw Khan, Maun Rose, Mustan Chmoowah, Nga Sivee Meng, Ritch Paul Sing, Mangaroo, Mekoh, Kudah Buccus, Gunguah, and Hoosain Khan, also one month's pay each. Most of them were wounded on the occasion.
The Committee do not think that it would be desirable to grant any remission in the sentences of the prisoners who gave evidence on the trial.
In regard to gaoler McDonald's application for increase of pay, the Committee would beg reference to the Report, dated the 6th August, which they had the honour to submit.
From this, it will be seen that the Committee consider gaoler McDonald's conduct on the occasion of the outbreak such as to call for special inquiry.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,
Straits Settlements.
We have, &c. (Signed)
THOS. SCOTT, President. J. F. A. Mc NAIR. JOHN CAMERON.
Inclosure 4 in No. 21.
F. C. BISHOP.
Further Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the Causes which led to the Outbreak in the Criminal Prison on the 13th February, 1875.
THE Committee have by letters from the Colonial Secretary to the Chairman, dated respectively the 19th June and 2nd July, been called upon to extend the scope of their inquiry, and to report further on the questions of the position and construction of the Singapore Gaol generally, embracing the following points:-
1st. The position. Whether it be desirable that it be changed, and if not whether any plans may be adopted to modify the defects which may exist.
2nd. The arca. Whether it is sufficient to accommodate the future probable number
of prisoners, and if not, whether it be possible to extend the area.
3rd. Alterations. To include questions of distribution of prisoners, both during the time, and after the time, that the alterations are taking place, the general plan and system of buildings to be adopted with a view to the maximum efficiency, and minimum cost of maintenance. Due regard to be paid to the security of the prisoners, the safety of the warders, the sanitary conditions, and the presence of the prison officials in its precincts, or in its immediate vicinity.
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4th. The cost of the proposed alterations, taking into account the possible employ- ment of Convict labour on some of the works.
5th. Under present arrangements all the Penang criminals sentenced to more than six months' imprisonment are sent to serve their sentences at Singapore; and, as little has as - yet been done in providing cellular accommodation for them here, it seems worth while, now that the reconstruction of the gaol is under consideration, to reopen the question, whether it is necessary to send all these convicts, who have been sentenced to over six
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months' imprisonment to the Singapore Gaol. The Penang new prison, which is being built on the cellular principle, is a very good one, and there is ample space on the site to erect sufficient accommodation for all the local prisoners, and the Singapore Prison would thus be relieved of about 200 prisoners.
II. The Committee have carefully considered all these points, and in presenting their report would advise as a preliminary step that efforts should be at once made to induce the Indian Government to permit the transportation from the Colony to the Andaman Islands, of our life and long-sentenced prisoners, and, failing this, that endeavours should be set on foot to secure some other place to which this class of prisoners may be transported.
III. The Committee place much importance upon the result of such efforts, for upon their success or otherwise depends in a great degree the question of the reconstruction of the present Criminal Prison, or the construction of an entirely new prison on another
IV. The Committee are agreed that if the transportation of the more dangerous class of our criminals were recommenced, viz., those for sentences of 7 years and upwards, it would relieve the gaol of a large number of prisoners, and reduce very considerably the average number of inmates for some time to come.
site.
V. Prisoners for short sentences being more amenable to control, their accommo- dation in the present gaol, might, in the opinion of the Committee, be so far supplied as to nullify to a great extent the evils complained of; but in order to answer the require- ments of a prison for the full introduction of the cellular system, a comparatively large outlay would still be necessary. The old wards which were built for transmarine convicts, are, in the opinion of the Committee, quite incapable of conversion, and new cellular wards would, under any circumstances, have to be erected.
VI. On the other hand, if life and long sentence prisoners are to be efficiently provided for in the same prison with those sentenced for short periods, but in separate and distinct yards (which the Committee consider desirable) there would probably be an average number of 6.50 to be thus accommodated.
VII. Again, if, as the Committee understand, the cellular system is to be strictly carried out with all of them (regarding the necessity of which however, except in certain cases, your Committee are divided in opinion) then the Committee do not see how the present gaol can be made available without the enclosure of fresh ground, and such a complete reconstruction of the whole of the buildings, as to be little less costly, and certainly far less efficient, than the construction of a new gaol on a new site; and, added to this, would be that detriment to discipline that the carrying on of extensive intramural works in a fully occupied prison would of necessity entail.
VIII. The Committee are aware that the Legislative Council in October of 1872 had before it the proposal to build a new gaol at Singapore, but that ascertaining that the present site would only realise about 50,000 dols., the Council on the score of expense therefore, and that the improvements in discipline then recommended would be delayed by the con- struction of a new prison negatived the proposition, and the sum of 98,000 dols. for altera- tions to the present gaol was sanctioned instead. These alterations comprised the erection of three new cellular wards for 252 prisoners, the conversion of two of the present wards into separate cells, and other minor alterations.
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IX. The Committee ascertain that of this sum already 35,200 has been expended in the erection of one new cellular ward for 56 prisoners, the alteration of the boundary wall to separate the warders' quarters from the work yard, the building of separate work cells, and other improvements, leaving an unexpended balance on July 1 last of 62,800 dols.
X. Plan No. 1 attached to this report shows the manner in which the Committee have endeavoured to alter the present gaol if it should be decided to retain it for the reception of probably 650 prisoners under the separate system, and they estimate the cost of the works at 154,660 dols., from which, however, a reduction of probably 20,000 dols, may be made if the long sentenced and life prisoners are transported.
XI. The Committee, however, as they have before stated, do not recommend that so large a sum should be expended on what would after all be but an unsatisfactory conversion of the present gaol, which, in point of situation also, is on a limited area, and with no fresh ground in the vicinity for future extension, except by the inclosure of a portion of the green now used by the Dhobees. They moreover repeat their opinion that it would be most undesirable that the new works should be going on with the present class of prisoners con- fined within the walls.
XII. The Committee therefore being agreed that such erations to the present prison would not meet the requirements set forth by the Government, turned their attention to the selection of a suitable site on which to erect an entirely new gaol, and which the Committee venture to think is perhaps one of the most important works the Colony now requires.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
7 1 177 CO. 885.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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