1876 — Page 172

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Questions.

XIV. Is there or are there, any Chaplain or Chap- loius of any aud what religious persuasions?

XV. Are religious services regularly, or otherwise, performed for the benefit of the prisoners of any, 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 apprised, when prisoners of their respective persuasions enter the Prison?

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

XVIII. On what conditions are remissions of impri- sonment granted?

XIX. Have Coroner's Inquests heen 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 dur- ing the year 18707

2. Whint were the prevailing diseases?

XXI. What are shortly the rules as to diet?

Answers.

The Colonial Chaplain holds a service once a week, and visits the sick when required.

In addition to the service held by the Colonial Chap- Inin, a Missionary Student licensed by the Bishop of Victoria holds a service every Sunday.

The Reverend Mr. Lamont, Minister of the Union Church, generally holds a service on Sundays for the Presbyterian and other Dissenting prisoners; when he is unable to attend, the service is performed by a Clergyman of the London Missionary Society. The Prison is also visited by Roman Catholic Priests, who hold services for both European and Chinese prisoners of that persuasion.

All Dissenting Ministers are allowed free access to the Prison at such hours as do not interfere with the discipline of the Prison. Intimation is immediately sent to any Minister or Priest, if at any time a prisoner cxpresses à desire to see him.

None; but all are supplied with religious and other useful books.

Remissions of sentences are granted, as a rule, under n scale, which has been approved by the Secretary of State, and is similar to that in use in the Convict Pri- sons in England; also on medical grounds, and a few under special local circumstances.

Only one death occurred during the year 1876. An Inquest was held, the verdict being "from natural causes"; General Debility and Bronchitis being the cause of dentli.

Good.

Intermittent Fever and Diarrhea.

With the exception of debtors and defendants on remand or committed for trial, all prisoners are fed on penal diet of bread (or rice) and water for ten days (ie, five days at a time) in each month for the first six months of their imprisonment.

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:-

Brend,

Beef without bone,

Potatoes or Vegetables of the season,

T'en,..

Sugar,

1

Salt,

Firewood,.

Son,..

Every Chinese or Coloured prisoner recives daily:-

Rice,

Oil (with Vegetables and Fish),

Salt Fish, 3 days in each week,

Vegetables, 2 days in cach week,.

Fresh Fish, 2 days in each week,..

Cayenne and Chutney (with Fresh Fish),

Ten,

Salt,.

Firewood,

Soap,

16.

•11

TIS

Chinese or Coloured prisoners serving sentences of 3 years and over (penal servitude) receive besides the allowance specified in the above scale b. of Pork four times a week.