92
•
Bettlement on the 21st June to take up his duties at the Grove. His place was filled on the 23rd June by Mr. Backer who continues to act.
The Medical Officer, Dr. Pollard, was transferred to the Colonial Hospital for temporary duty, and left the Settlement for Georgetown on the 8rd August. Dr. Klien was appointed to act as Medical Officer in the room of Dr. Pollard, and arrived on the 28th July, and assumed medical charge on the 29th.
Mr. Scott, Chief Warder, resigned on the 8th June, and was succeeded by Mr. Baillie on six months' probation, who, however, failed to give satisfaction in the performance of the duties of that office, and resigned on the 31st December. Principal Warder
Blackman fills the office of Chief Warder.
During the year six warders were dismissed, six resigned, and one was super- annuated.
Ninety reports in all were made against warders for neglect of duty and other misconduct; 69 were fined in amounts varying from 24 cents to 5 dollars the other 29 cases were admonished or met by reprimands.
The casualties among the warders were the same as in the previous year, which may appear large; but when the locality of the establishment with all its local disadvantages is considered, it can scarcely be wondered at, especially when it is remembered that the personal hardships and inconveniences are so numerous, and which may be enumerated as follows: isolation, want of personal comforts, unfurnished quarters, no system of uniform clothing, exposure to a variable climate of excessive heat and heavy rains, with no other protection than a suit of serge provided at their own expense. I would suggest as a remedy for this state of things, that they should be provided with uniforms at the expense of the Colony, and with more commodious quarters, both for the married and single warders. I had the honour to call attention to these requirements in my Report of 1873, and I believe that steps are being taken for the supply of clothing and additional quarters.
The general health of the officers has been good, as will be seen by the Medical Officer's Report. The supply of fresh meat and vegetables, the produce of the farm and garden, which they are allowed to purchase, tends in a great measure to keep them in fair health.
Discipline Staff.
One chief warder, 3 principal warders, 1 dispenser warder, 17 warders, 9 assistant warders.
Included in the above are 1 principal warder, and 9 assistant warders, who were appointed on the 1st December, 1874, to relieve and do that duty which up to that date had been performed by the police force, consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 10 constables.
Prisoners.
Number of convicts in custody 1st January, 1873
local prisoners
Convicts received during the year
Georgetown Gaol prisoners received during the year Local prisoners
Total
J
10
Convicts discharged on ticket of leave during the year
"
died during the year
removed to lunatic asylum during the your Georgetown Gaol prisoners discharged
"
་་
:
:::::
removed to leper asylum during the year,
lunatic asylum
+1
died
Total..
Number on Office recorda Bist December, 1874-
Convicts
Georgetown prisoners
Local prisoners..
Tota!
Daily average during the year 1874
•
:::
:::::
:::::
:::::::::
162
163
40
40
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བྲཱ༐རྞྞ」22---།⌘༐ བྷྱ-།།
93
General Rules and Regulations.
The rules laid down for the management of this prison are those for the government of convict prisons in British Guiana, 1870, and which have been to the best of my knowledge and belief adhered to, with some exceptions, which exceptions have been duly reported, in one instance it was asserted in official correspondence that the present rules were a "dead letter." This leads me again to press for new rules and regulations to suit the present discipline, and for the better government of the prison. I have already called attention to the pressing necessity for rules and regulations for the guidance of all officers, each of whom should be supplied with a copy, in order that he may become acquainted with his duties. There are only three or four copies of the present Rules extant: The want of Rules is much felt.
Economy and Expenditure.
The expenditure of the Department has been carefully controlled, and kept under by a very efficient system of check, by which I believe that waste and extravagance have been almost reduced to a minimum if not entirely prevented, and every arrangement made which tends to reduce the expenditure of the prison.
The amount of expenditure of the prison has been obtained from the Steward's books; wherein the accounts of the Department are recorded, and which expenditure amounts to the sum of 17,397 doll. 31 c. (exclusive of prison produce), and was expended under the following heads :-
Provisions
Tools and appliances.. Clothing Hospital
Contingencica
Farm and cattle
Gratuities to discharged convicia
Total
:::::::
:::::::
Dole. 6.
8,932 91 1,610 58
?
1,299 99
989 13
1,077 60
3,133 90 353 20
17,397 31
Out of which amount, however, the sum of 3,561 doll. 48 c. has been returned into the Treasury, it having been realized by the sale of provisions to the officers and police, &c., by stoppages from their monthly pay. By the above transaction the Government realizes a net profit of 12 per cent. upon all stores supplied by contract and retailed to the officers. I have up to the present time been unable to ascertain by what authority, and for what reason, 12 per cent. is imposed upon the staff of this prison for stores supplied by contract. The local disadvantages by which this prison is surrounded are enough to bear, and which press heavily on all, without having to pay into the Government Treasury 12 per cent. upon stores. I may note here that in our English convict prisons, officers were allowed to obtain rations at contract price, and which the contractor was compelled to supply. I greatly fear that the condition of our prison officers will not be much improved until this tax is abolished; and I strongly press this matter upon the prison authorities.
The total cost of the establishment during the year 1874, exclusive of salaries, was 17,397 doll. 31 c. Deduct for provisions supplied by contract, and sold to officers, 3,561 doll. 48 c., balance 18,835 doll. 88 c. As a set off against this, the prisoners' earnings amounted to (see Table) 14,813 doll. 76 c.
State of the Prison and Buildings.
The whole of the buildings are in fair order; the alterations and repairs for the improvement of the cells, so as to admit more air and light; and for the better security of the prisoners, have been executed by convict labour, and with due regard to economy; all of which were completed at the latter end of March, since which my attention las been fully occupied in the general improvement in minor repairs, lime-washing, paint- ing, &c.; among the improvements may be mentioned the removal of the infirmary water- closet nuisance, which was so conspicuous in the prison-yard. An increase in the accom- modation for prisoners in hospital and chapel, by the contemplated addition of 100 prisoners, has not been lost sight of; and the new works carried out during the past year to meet the requirements, have been the construction of a chancel at the west end of the chapel, by which an additional seating accommollation for about 80 men has been secured. Under the chancel a dead-house has been constructed, the want of which has been long felt. Above the chancel, and on a level with the infirmary ward, a new dis-
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