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Any justice, however, without being appointed a visitor, may enter and examine any" prison of the parish for which he is a justice of the peace whenever he thinks tit,* and any two justices of the peace of the parish have power to inquire into and punish prison offences. On the whole, we think that, although the appointments of visiting justices have not been made as the law requires, the interests of the prisons have not practically suffered as in every parish; with the exception of Hanover, magistrates have always been found ready to visit and inspect the prisons and discharge such duties as may be required of them.

57. The duties of the visiting justices will be found laid down in the 18th and 19th sections of the "Prison Consolidated Act, 1846," and in the schedule in that Act, which also states with considerable minuteness the duties of the other officials. As to the General Penitentiary, there are at present only four official visitors, and one of these gentlemen has not attended for some time past, while of the remaining three, two are unable to spare time to carry out the rule that the Penitentiary shall be visited by an official visitor every day. We scarcely think it necessary that this rule should be strictly carried out, or, to put it more correctly, we think the rule might be modified; but it is obviously very objectionable that delay should take place on the trial of pri- soners for prison offences, and we therefore beg to recommend that the number of official visitors be increased; it would, we think, be desirable that the official visitors should be selected for the most part from the magistrates of the parish who are not holding official appointments; we fear, however, that there would be some disinclina- One tion on the part of most of these gentlemen to give their time for the purpose. of the present official visitors suggested in his evidence that the office should be made a paid one, but we do not approve of his suggestion, as we do not think the official visitors ought to be persons who derive any emolument from the Institution.

58. If a sufficient number of the justices of the parish of Kingston cannot be induced to act, the only course left open would seem to be to request a certain number of Government officials to act in their turns, taking care that the number appointed is sufficient to prevent the duty falling too heavily upon any one of them.

Accounts.

59. All the prison accounts are audited by the Auditor-General of the Colony, those for the district and short-term prisons monthly, and those for the Penitentiary quarterly. Previously to being forwarded to the Auditor-General, they are checked by the Inspector of Prisons, who at the beginning of each month advances to the Superin- tendent of each prison, with the exception of the Penitentiary, an amount calculated to be sufficient to defray the month's expenses. This is the only money which passes through the Inspector's hands. The accounts of the district and short-term prisons are kept by the Superintendents, who furnish a monthly account to the Inspector of Prisons. This officer also makes the necessary purchase of food for the use of the prison as occasion requires. Wherever it is practicable to obtain vouchers, vouchers are required and sent in, but as a great portion of the provisions are necessarily bought in small quatities from the peasantry in the market, no vouchers can be obtained for them. The Inspector of Prisons states in his evidence that the accounts are wonder- fully correct, and that a great saving has been effected by abolishing the system which previously existed of supplying by contractors.

Clothing.

60. The clothing for the other prisons is all made in the General Penitentiary.

Stores.

61 The Superintendent of the several prisons has sole charge of the stores and is responsible for them.

62. In the General Penitentiary clerks are employed who, among other duties, keep the accounts of the Institution, all of which are checked and signed by the Superin- tendent, and submitted to the Inspector of Prisons and forwarded to the Auditor- General. There is also in the General Penitentiary a storekeeper, whose duty it is to receive and issue all prison stores and clothing, and who has chage of all the prisoners' effects. He issues tlie rations of each day on the requisition of the Superintendent, or

* Prison Act, 1856, sec. 20.

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in his absence of the chief clerk. These rations are supplied by contract, which in the case of "so large an establishment is unavoidable.

63. Some difficulty has arisen between the military officers and the authorities of the Penitentiary as to the keeping of soldiers' kits, which are alleged to have been injured during the term of imprisonment. As a soldier sentenced to the Penitentiary wears the prison dress, we see no reason why his kit should be sent with him, and we recommend that in future this practice be discontinued.

64. The various articles manufactured in the Penitentiary are under the charge of a salesman, who disposes of them for the best price obtainable. All his transactions seem to be accurately entered in the books of the Institution.

Instruction. Religious Services.

65. The provisions made for instruction and religious services are of the most meagre description, if, indeed, they can be said practically to exist at all. In none of the prisons, except the General Penitentiary, is any provision made for instruction properly so called, whether secular or religions. In the Penitentiary, in which upwards of four hundred prisoners are at present confined, there is a person who by courtesy is called "The Schoolmaster." His office was altogether abolished in 1869, but was nominally re-established in 1872. Ilis duties, as described by himself, are as follows:- "I read prayers every morning at 10 o'clock at the male chapel. At 10.10 I teach the juveniles for 30 minutes, then I go the male hospital for about 5 minutes, and at 11 I read prayers in the female chapel for 10 minutes, then I teach such of the females as wish to come for 30 minutes.' It appears, therefore, that the time actually employed by the schoolmaster in teaching is only one hour every day. By juveniles are meant boys under seventeen years of age, of whom there are now only six in the Penitentiary, and it will be observed that none of the other male prisoners are allowed to profit by the schoolmaster's instructions. About eleven women attend school daily out of about forty female prisoners, and this is probably as much as can be expected in this country, as their attendance is not compulsory. During the remainder of the day the schoolmaster is employed as a clerk in the Penitentiary office. We think that, although the hours of labour ought not to be unduly interfered with, there would be no difficulty in holding a school between the hours of 6 and 8 in the evening for such well-conducted prisoners as might be willing to avail themselves of it. Such a school was proposed by the present Inspector of Prisons in a letter to the Colonial Secretary in February 1870, but no notice was taken of the suggestion. The chapel, which is not a consecrated building, might be used for this purpose.

Chaplain.

66. By the "Prison Consolidated Act, 1856," 20 Vie., c. 21, sec. 2, power was given to the Governor to appoint a chaplain for the Penitentiary, and further by clause 7 of the same section, to appoint to each prison in which there should be generally confined one hundred prisoners or upwards, a chaplain, who should be a clergyman of the Established Church of England duly licensed by the Bishop; and by the 30th section of the same Act, it was enacted that the island curates should attend at the prisons in their several parishes to which no chaplain had been appointed, and perform Divine Service and afford religious instruction to the prisoners confined therein at such time and in such manner as the Governor should direct, so as not to neglect their other parochial duties.

67. We are not aware that any chaplains were appointed under this law to any prisons except the Penitentiary, neither were any rules framed under it for the guidance of island curates; but the duties of chaplain were defined by the 35th section of the "Prison Consolidated Act, 1856," coupled with the rules laid down under the head "Chaplain," in "Schedule A" to the Act; and it will be seen that the chaplain, besides other duties, was bound to perform morning and evening service, and preach a sermon on every Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good. Friday, to read prayers daily, to see and admonish every prisoner on his admission and discharge, to see every prisoner apart from other prisoners once a month, to visit the hospital and sick daily, to visit frequently every room and cell occupied by prisoners, to attend any prisoner who might require his spiritual advice, to superintend the schools, and to keep a journal, in which he was to enter his attendances and any observations which he might think proper to make. In fact, so far as the law and rules went, every

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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