CO885-(2-3) — Page 633

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

C.O.885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Discoses.

VII-Number of Free People treated in the Infirmary with their Diseases.

Sore throat

Intermittent fever

Dysentery and diarrhea

Erysipelas

Febricula

Rheumatism

Syphilis

Phthisis

Bronchitis

Pneumonia

129

Her Majesty's Penal Settlement, Mazzaruni, February 21, 1874.

I have the honour to forward your Excellency my Report of the Chaplain's Department of this Convict Prison from the 20th of October, (the date of my last Report) to to the 31st December, 1873.

Sir,

Remaining. Admitted.

Total. Discharged.

Died.

Remaining.

1

1

1

20

20

19

6

6

6

1

I

1

2

2

3

: : : : : :

1

Dropsy

Splenitie

Constipation

3

Retention of urine

0

Orchitis

2

Gonorrhoea

Hydrocele

Ulcer Abscess

··

Ophthalmia

Injuries

Debility

Anemia

Fractures Sprain ..

::::::

: : : : : : : : : : :!:::::::::|

1

Dog's bite

Total

1

2

68

70

64

+

VIII.—Lepera at Know Island.

28

4

32

11

3

18

(D.)—Chaplain's Report for the Quarter ending December 31, 1873.

The inclosed Report from the Chaplain of this Department only embraces the last quarter of the year 1873, a more lenghtened detail under various headings and tables showing the progress at school, and its results, as also the effects of discipline upon the minds of the prisoners, will be found in a Report submitted to the Government, dated 25th October, 1873, No. 240, to which the Chaplain refers me.

The progress in the school has been on the whole, I think, satisfactory; the prisoners have been instructed. in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and not a few profit by the instructions imparted to them, especially the immigrants, who have made great progress, and who evince a strong desire to make the most of the opportunity afforded them. The Chaplain has continued his religious instructions every morning and two full services on Sundays.

The time set apart for school is three times a week, of about 35 minutes' duration, and this time is taken out of the hours of labour.

The Sunday mid-da lecture usually given by the Chaplain, at which all prisoners attended, was found to in prfere with the discipline, inasmuch as it occupied too much time, and debarred the prisoners from exercise, and prevented the general routine of duties from being carried out; it was, therefore, with concurrence of the Chaplain, discontinued.

Education of any kind is, doubtless, very desirable, but among prisoners, many of whom do not know the difference between right and wrong, it is religions and moral education that is chiefly required, and I should wish that something more could be done to assist the Chaplain in that way; and I would suggest that the clerk of the establish- ment be called upon to assist in the school during school hours, and that for which service a small increase to his present limited salary would, I think, meet all the requirements asked for by the Chaplain. In submitting the Report of the Chaplain and Medical Officer, I would fail in my duty were I to omit bearing testimony to the cordial co- operation of those gentlemen in assisting me in raising the standard of discipline in this prison, and rearranging the detail of the daily routine, in the carrying out of which I had necessarily to encroach upon their respective departments.

As I have already written at some length in my first Report all the various details connected with the Chaplain's routine of duty, little more remains to be added to bring it up to the close of the year (1873).

The religious and moral improvement of the prisoners still receive my anxious care and attention, and although there is much to contend with in the strong and better feeling manifested by the men against the lightening of the reins of prison discipline, yet I earnestly hope that when the new Superintendent, Mr. Sealy, has fairly got into routine, that feeling will eventually tone down, and things go on quietly and orderly.

The religious ministrations of our Chapel have been carried on as usual, consisting of full morning and evening service on each Sunday, as well as on Christmas Day. Morning prayers have been read daily in Chapel at 6:30 A.M., except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when the Litany and Lessons are used.

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (after careful preparation "classes") was administered to convict communicants on Christmas Day, all of whom, I am happy to say, were notified to me as free of report by the Superintendent, and trying to be exemplary in their conduct.

In the hospital the sick have been regularly visited, and on each occasion I have conversed with each patient.

There have been only two deaths during November and December, an Indian, a free man, and one a member of my own flock, who died from the effects of a fall out of the hospital window, from which he had thrown himself while in a state of temporary insanity.

I have substituted evening service here instead of a few prayers, and it seems to give general satisfaction to the patients.

Of the school, I cannot speak satisfactorily. The time allowed is so small-half-an- hour each division per week-that great results are out of the question, and if it were not for the majority of the men steadily making the most of their breakfast hour, the results would be even less than they are.

They manifest an anxious desire to improve themselves, and I earnestly ask is it not possible to give them more than half-an-hour per week for school instruction. I am sure it would be attended with the best results, and I should feel greater satisfaction in this important branch of my work, I have never yet had occasion to reprove any of them for want of attention during the time they are under instruction. The want of a good library is very much felt. At present our prisoners' library is very small, and needs a further supply of useful and instructive books, in order to render it an efficient means of encouragement to the prisoners to improve in their school education.

The men under punishment, penal class and sick in cells, have been visited daily, and suitable advice given to new arrivals or those going out on ticket of leave.

The want of a school for the warders' children is also felt, as the nearest school is an hour's pull from here by water, and private boats are against the rules, so there is no means of getting to it. I would respectfully suggest that a warder schoolmaster might he appointed; he could assist me in the convict school, and devote a few hours daily to the instruction of the children; or, if this is impracticable, I would respectfully suggest that a small sum (monthly) might be given to the wife of one of the warders, who now keeps a small school in the officers' quarters for children. I should be happy to superintend it, and give up some of my time to their religious instruction if it meets with his Excellency's approval. There were twenty-five children on the Settlement at the date of my last Report.

In reference to the prisoners' library, I beg leave to say that 1 drew up a list of suitable books on the 1st of August last, and sent it in to the late Superintendent — Captain Twyford—but the books have not yet come to hand.

I have, &c.

(Signed) WM. HARPER CAMPBELL, Chaplain,

Her Majesty's Penal Settlement.

(E.)-Concluding Remarks.

I think it necessary to increase the number of the warders, that the duties of the establishment may be carried on under one head; the present system of "police

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