CO885(2-3) — Page 640

New wooden prison.

Conflict of authority.

Concluding remarks.

142

not in good condition. I think that it would be a pity to spend money on them. If new buildings he determined on, the question of a more convenient site should, I think, not be lost sight of.*

The warders should, in my judgment, live much nearer to the prison buildings than at present, so as to be immediately available in case of emergency.

*The new wooden prison, for which a sum of 10,000 dollars was placed on the Supple- mental Estimates, has not yet been commenced; the sight has however been levelled.

Some misunderstanding appears to have taken place between Mr. Sealy, the Super- intendent, and Dr. Klien, the Medical Officer. Both spoke to me on the subject. Dr. Klien was, I think, in the wrong, and I gave him so to understand; but, at the same time, I think that Mr. Sealy might, with the exercise of a little tact, so have arranged matters that Dr. Klien's feelings would not have been hurt, and harmonious relations between them might have been preserved.

an order to The latest cause of misunderstanding arose out of Mr. Sealy giving prevent a Captain Jones and his daughter from landing without his permission.†

Mr. Senly heard that Captain Jones was going to land to visit Dr. Klien, and as Dr. Klien had not communicated with him on the subject, he took steps to prevent it.

There was also a previous case of dispute in respect of the boat; but as 1 was not As Mr. Sealy directly appealed to on the subject, I did not go into details in either case. stated that there was nothing in the rules to meet the particular case of the Medical Officer or Chaplain, or other superior officer of the establishment, receiving friends at their houses, I told him to state the question on paper, and to ask for an authoritative decision as to the course to be adopted. With regard to Dr. Klien, I told him that the Superintendent was the officer held responsible for the general care and conduct of the establishment, and that no persons should land at the Settlement, and that no persons should be absent from the Settlement, without his knowledge. If once any other rule obtained, it would be so difficult to draw the line that there would be an end of all discipline.

In respect of the question of the Settlement generally, I think that the site is admirably chosen, and instead of abandoning the Settlement, as has been proposed, I think that it should not only be retained where it is, but that it should be extended. and a greater number of industrial pursuits followed. In my judgment, a Commissioner of Prisons should without fail visit the Settlement every month, and if it could be visited oftener by a superior officer it would be very desirable.

(Signed)

Sir,

Penal Settlement at Massaruni, October 2, 1874.

Inclosure 2 in No. 33.

WILLIAM A. G. YOUNG.

George Town, November 28, 1874. I HAVE the honour. to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that I paid a visit of inspection to the Penal Settlement on the 26th October last

The steamer started from Georgetown about 7 a.M., but I arrived at the Settlement too late to be able to do anything that day, except obtaining the journals of the Superin- tendent, Chaplain, and doctor, and looking over them.

On the following morning I visited the prison at a little before 6. After watching the night guards relieved, the day warders taking charge, and the men brought out of their cells, the Superintendent and myself attended chapel. We then saw the men told off into parties and sent out for the day's work.

In the forenoon the books were inspected, and, in company with the Superintendent and doctor, I went through the kitchens, hospital, and prison, visiting every cell, hearing also all those who wished to prefer a complaint or to see a Commissioner. The several matters requiring attention l'intend to notice under their appropriate heads.

In the afternoon of the 27th, we went on the Cuyuni River, as far as the first rapids.

On the morning of the 28th, I attended the doctor's parade at a quarter to 6, and We also again visited each man saw those convicts who had stated they were not well.

in the punishment cells.

• The new buildings are determined on, and will be erected on a site recommended by Me. Sealey.—J.RL.. The Special Rules for the governinent of the Penal Settlement at Massaruni forbid any person or goods being landed there without the permission of the Superintendent. Rules, section xvi, clause 5).—J. R. L.

The rule I quote above is absolute.-J. R. L.

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The Superintendent and myself then went all over the farm, and inspected the different working parties at their work. This occupied until about half-past 8, when I left for Kaow Island, the doctor and chaplain coming with me. We spent about an hour at Kaow Island, and I then started for Georgetown, stopping on the way at Fort Island.

Having thus stated how my time was employed, I will now proceed to report on what 1 saw; and first as to the buildings : ---

The buildings, so far as I could judge, appear in fair order. The alterations in the lighting and ventilation of the cells in the stone prison which Mr. Sealy commenced, have all been completed, and are a great improvement.

The padlocks formerly used for the doors of the cells in the stone prison on the upper floor have been removed, and proper locks put on. This entailed a good deal of labour, as the doors had to be fitted into the stonework.

The prison and cells seemed all scrupulously clean. It would, perhaps, be better if, in future, the inside of the cells was washed with some stone colour instead of white. Where men have to be kept in cells all day, as when undergoing punishment, or when sick, the glare must be very great.

I was much pleased with the improvements made in the chapel. A neat chancel has been added, and other improvements made. The work, entirely done by prisoners, is very good, and the chapel instead of being as it was formerly, a repulsive-looking room, is now more suited to the purpose for which it is intended. An arrangement has also been made by which the hospital closets empty themselves into a paved pit out of sight, instead of into the iron pans that were formerly placed just at the entrance of the chapel.

A dispensary has been added opening into the hospital, thus enabling the dispensary warder always to see what is going on. Formerly it was on the upper floor.

There were twenty patients in hospital (a low average), and if a hundred more prisoners are sent up to the Settlement, there can be little doubt both floors of the building will be required for the prisoners. The upper floor has hitherto been used, as his Excellency is aware, for male persons, not prisoners, requiring medical attendance. There were no patients, however, there then, when I visited it, not that there was no sickness in the neighbourhood, for I learnt there had been great mortality amongst the Indians,

A proper room for the custody of prisoners really insane is required, what is called the padded room being quite unsuited for the purpose. A dead-house is in course of erection, and the pillars for the new prison were just commenced. The paling round the prison will soon require repairs.

Clothing-Formerly cach convict was allowed a suit of dry clothes to put on when he came in from work at night. That has been stopped; but I certainly think it is essential that the convicts should have dry clothing to sleep in. The men after work come in with their clothes wet through with perspiration, sometimes quite as wet as it dipped in water. If they are compelled to remain in these wet clothes all night, disease must be fostered. Both the doctor and the clergyman spoke to me about this. The Super- intendent informed me that the change had been made because it was found that the prisoners were both suits at once, both in the day and at night, but he thought when he had the assistance of the additional warders he would be able to prevent the abuse, and would then revert to the old system. I trust that this will be insisted on, and I think a woollen garment for the heavy wet weather should be supplied. Some of the men only in the quarries and at the saw-pit are at present supplied with a working suit.

Food. There were complaints about the fool, more especially with respect to the dinner on Thursday's, and the Superintendent thought with some foundation. It has not been found practicable to get such a supply of fresh meat as to be able to give it Tegu- larly to the prisoners on this day, as the diet scale requires; and although the regulations say that when this is the case Australian meat is to be served out, none has been supplied.+ The diet scale does not state whether the quantities named therein refer to food cooked or uncooked, and this has also occasioned disputes. Some of the prisoners seemed to think they did not get the full quantity allowed. I had some of the rations weighed, and they were the proper weight, or a few grains under, taking the quantities as of food cooked. I think it might be fairly considered a part of the Assistant Superin- tendent's duty to weigh and measure some of the rations each day.

Complaints were also made us to the bread; corn flour has been of late mixed with the white flour; at first the product must have been very nasty, and there are some

* Mr. Sealy has been instructed to take care that all the convicts are supplied with dry clothing at night when their own is wet.-J. R. L.

+ Directions have been given to send up cattle, and some were sent, but ten of them escaped into the bush. More will be sent.-J. R. L.

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Reference -

1111C.O.885

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