1875 — Page 168

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Questions.

VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours, is much penal labour enforced? In stating hours of tread-wheel labour, give first, the total time où and off the wheel, etc.; secondly, the length of spells and intervals of rest.

VIII. What kind of labour, other than peual labour, is in use?

IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Gaol, state-

1. On what kind of work they are so employed?

2. How are they supervised?

3. How many escapes of prisoners, while being em- ployed beyond the Gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years?

4. How are the profits of their labour accounted for? X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1875 ?

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' earnings during 1875 ?

XII. What are the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormi- tories lighted; and how often are they patrolled du- ring the night?

XIII. What were the number and nature of the punishments inflicted for offences committed by pri- soners undergoing imprisonment?

Answers.

The hours of labour for all prisoners in this Colony throughout the year are from 7 A.M. to 4.30 P.M., one hour being allowed for dinner. When penal labour is resorted to, men on the crank have to complete revo- lutions not exceeding 15,300 per day; European pri- soners at shot-drill do 3 hours and Chinese prisoners 4 hours per day, in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone-breaking, stone-carrying, or oakum-picking during the intervals.

Washing clothes, bed- and mat-making, tailoring, shoe-making, carpentering, Prison-cleaning, and exe- cuting all incidental repairs to the Gal buildings. -

No prisoners are employed outside the Gaul since November, 1873.

Nil.

In the year 1873 only one prisoner escaped and was recaptured within half an hour after his escape; there were no escapes during the last two years ( 1874 and 1875).

Nil.

Deducting the amount received for subsistence of prisoners and lunatics during the past year, $1,247.57 (or £259.18.24), and $447.06 (or £98.2.9) represcut- ing prisoners' earnings, the total expenditure of the Prison during the year 1875 was $29,045.46 ( or £6,051 2.0), of which $945.65 (or £197.0.21), disbursed for new locks for the Prison and arms, etc., for the Gaol- Staff, formed an unusual item.

The amount of prisoners' earnings during the year 1875 was $447.06, the proceeds of oakum-picking and mat- making, which was the only profitable work carried on in the Gaul, the prisoners being kept as much as possible to strictly penal labour. Juuk is supplied by the Navoi Yard and the Storekeepers of the town for picking iuto oakum. The labour of the prisoners is charged for at the rate of d. per b. of oakun picked; the money is collected and paid into the Treasury.

The average time during which the prisoners sleep, is about 9 hours in 24.

The dormitories are not lighted, but gus is burning in all passages and corridors.

Turnkeys are on duty in the Gaol throughout the night, and patrol the corridors and passages constantly.

The number of prisoners reported for Prison offences during the year 1875 was 1,231; out of this number 12 were discharged, 134 cautioned, and 1,085 punish- ed in the manner detailed below, viz.:-

2 by dark-cell only,

21 by solitary confinement only, 88 by 004 by

"}

J7

on bread & water,

"

on rice & water,

For short

periods.

(of which number 19 were ordered to be em-

on

bear crank-labour, 6 to do shot-drill with

heavy shot for a time, and 1 to temporarily forfeit his pork-ration besides),

43 were put on crank-labour for a time,

20 ordered to do shot-drill with heavy shot for a period, 43 extra shot-drill for short spells after working hours, 122 had a supper meal stopped. (in addition to which punishment, 1 of this number had to do shot- drill with heavy shot for a time, and 3 to turn the crank for a period);

74 were ordered rice and water for one meal,

4 rice and water for two meals,

0

for three meals,

*1

71

1

11

"

for three days,

7 had their fish stopped at one supper meal,

1 had his pork-ration stopped for a time,

37 received corporal punishment,

2 were deprived of the use of the library,

1,031