1872 — Page 168

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Questions.

XV. Are religious services regularly, or otherwise, performed for the benefit of the prisoners of ang, and if any, what, religious persuasion?

XVI. Are Roman Catholic Priests and Dissenting Ministers allowed free access to prisoners of their own persuasion and are they apprized when prisoners of their respective persuasions enter the prison'?

XVII. What provision is made or the education of prisoners?

XVIII. On what conditions are remissions of im- prisonment granted?

XIX. Have Coroner's Inquests been held on every occasion of a death in prison during the past year? and what were the verdicts?

XX.-

(1) What was the sanitary state of the prison during the year 1872?

(2) What were the prevailing diseases?

XXI. What are, shortly, the rules as to Diet?

Answers.

Roman Catholic Priests visit the prison, and hold service every week, assisted by Chinese Priests.

All dissenting Ministers are allowed free access to the prison at such hours as do not interfere with the dis- cipline of the paisu. Intimation is immediately sent to any Priest or Minister who may be required by any prisoner at any time.

No provision is made for the education of prisoners, but all are supplied with religious and other useful books.

Remissions of sentences are granted, as a rule, under A scale which has been approved by the Secretary of State, which is similar to that in use in the convict prisons in England; also on Medical grounds, and a few under special local circumstances.

Yes. In every instance of the death of a prisoner an inquest is beld.

Sudden deach 1,-and 9 others; Verdicts, from natural causes; total 10.

Very good.

Intermittent Fever, Diarrhea, Dysentry, and Syphilis.

With the exception of Debtors and Defendants on remand or committed for trial, all Prisoners are fed on Penal Diet of Bread (or Itice) and Water for ten days, (ie., five days at a time) in each month for the first six months.

At other times, except when under punishment for Prison offences, the Diet of each Prisoner is as follows:

Every European or White Prisoner receives daily:-

Bread,

16.

Beef or Pork, without Bone,

7

Potatoes or Vegetables of the season,....

Sugar,

Tea,

sti

Salt,

Firewood, Soap,...

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Every Chinese or Colored prisoner receives daily

Rice,....

Oil with Vegetables and Fish,

Salt Fish, 3 days in each week, Vegetables 2 days in each week

with Cayenne and Chutney, Tea,

Salt, Firewood, Suap,

ib.

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