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the crimes and offences which they record, to which I need direct special attention, regard being had to our teeming population and the circumstances of the island.
The totals of convictions in the magisterial courts exercising summary jurisdiction, and of those tried on indictment in the Court of Grand Sessions, are not larger than the statistics of 1873 exhibited. Indeed, the figures are to the advantage of 1874. Nor is there anything in the character of the crimes and offences in 1874 which would substantially modify the general nature and tendency of the Report I had the honour to make last year, under date 29th December, upon the Criminal Statistics of 1873.
(Signed) CONRAD REEVE, Solicitor-General.
Chambers, April 23, 1875.
Inclosure 4 in No. 23.
Sir,
Colonial Secretary's Office, March 20, 1875. IN submitting the Consolidated Return of Criminal Statistics for 1874, I wish to obtain your Excellency's instructions with regard to the following points-Ought the number of persons acquitted to be strictly interpreted as meaning only those who have been brought to trial? For instance, only 882 cases were dismissed on the merits, whilst no less than 982 persons were discharged for want of prosecution in the Inferior Courts.
2. Then again, some confusion is caused by the wording of the different tables-in some instances the word "cases" is used, in others "persons." Now, as your I submit, Excellency is aware, there may be several persons concerned in one case. therefore, that the wording of the tables should be made uniform, either cases or persons all through.
His Excellency Governor Rawson, C.B.,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
A. F. GORE.
(No. 32. Barbados.)
Sir,
99
No. 25.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Rawson, C.B.
Downing Street, May 31, 1875. I HAVE received your despatch No. 53 of the 28th of April,* inclosing the returns, relating to Crime and Prison Discipline in Barbados in 1874.
2. I conclude that the statements in the tabular return at page BB 1 that 49 is the daily average on the sick list at Glendairy out of 71 must be a misprint for 4.9.
3. The returns relating to the Town Hall Gaol now received show that this prison continues to be a discreditable plot upon the whole prison system of the Colony. this subject I have to refer you to my despatch No. 30, of 23rd iust.
4. Mr. Watts draws attention to the disadvantages arising from the large number
of prisons in Barbados, and points out the advantages of enlarging Glendairy and making it the sole prison establishment of the Colony.
5. I concur in these views, but it would still be desirable to keep all places of confinement apart from the Central Gaol Establishment.
6. Without here discussing the views expressed by Mr. Watts in regard to prison labour, I may remind you that I attach importance to the imposition of penal labour in the earlier stages of long sentences and during the whole of short ones.
1 have, &c. (Signed) CARNARVON.
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 24.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Rawson, C.B.
(No. 30. Barbados.) Sir,
Downing Street, May 23, 1875.
I HAVE received your despatch No. 42 of the 7th of April,* respecting the Town Hall Gaol.
2. The scandal of the Town Hall Gaol seemed in a fair way to be got rid of in February, 1874, when Lord Kimberley expressed in bis despatch, No, 10, of the 14th of that month, much satisfaction with the report of a Joint Committee of the Council and Assembly, proposing the addition of 100 cells at Glendairy Prison. It now appears that a resolution for a grant of 8,558., to be applied to the purpose, was read a first time in the then House of Assembly on the 18th of April, 1874, when some other question intervened, and on the 5th of May the House expired, and was succeeded by one which you report not to have been disposed to resume the subject.
3. I am sorry to find that my predecessor was premature in expressing satisfaction (as he did in his despatch of the 14th February, 1874) with what then appeared to be a near prospect of a real remedy for the state of things existing in the Town Hall Gaol. I greatly lament that in one of the oldest Colonial possessions of the Crown there should still be found an apparent insensibility on such subjects, as to which I am thankful to say that a better feeling prevails in almost all British communities.
you
4. By the time this reaches you another Assembly will have succeeded that which reported as unwilling to deal with the question, and I entertain the confident hope that an appeal to their sense of what is right in itself and due to their own credit will effectually secure the reforms that are so much needed.
5. It is an unsatisfactory subject: and Her Majesty's Government cannot continue to repeat recommendations which it has no power to enforce, excepting by interfering with the constitution-a step which I own I should be extremely reluctant to advise. I, therefore, once more leave the responsibility with that body which is invested with the power of effecting the necessary reforms.
6. You will lay this despatch before the Council and Assembly.
I have, &c. (Signed)
CARNARVON.
• No. 22.
• No. 23.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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