1885 — Page 218

(X 3.)

Questions.

VI. Is ponal labour-that is labour by tread-mill, crank, or shot-drill-in force ?

VII. If so, during what poriods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours is such penal labour enforce? In stating hours of tread-wheel labour, give first, the total time on and off the wheel, etc.; secondly, the length of apolls and interval of rest.

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

IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Gnol, state :—

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

2. How are they supervised ?

3. How many escapes of prisonora, while being employed 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 1885 ?

Annoers.

All the prisoners of the above classes are separated at night, and in the yards, as much as possible.

There is no tread-mill labour, but shot-drill, crank- labour, stone-carrying and oakum-picking are in force.

(Soe question IX).

The hours of labour for all prisoners in this Colony throughout the year are from 7 A.M. to 4 г.., one hour being allowed for dinner. When penal labour is resorted to, men on the crank have to complete revo- lutions not exceeding 12,500 por 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-carrying or oakum-picking during the intervals.

Washing for the Civil and Lock Hospitals; tailor-.. ing, shoe making, carpentering, grass, and coir mat making, cane-chair making, ship swab and fendor making, printing, not making, white washing, cleaning, and incidontal repairs to the Gaol buildings.

On public works under the orders of the Surveyor General.

By 1 Head Turnkoy, 1 European Turnkey, 7 Assist- ant Turnkeys, and 4 Guards.

Throo in 1823 (Ono recaptured in 1883, and another in 1884.)

Extra food is issued to convicts on Public works at the cost of Surveyor General's Department. The system has not been found to work well. The Sur veyor General considers the Prison labour has in past timos not been worth more than the cost of extra food' to the Department. This matter has been brought to the notice of Government and is being considered by a Committee and it is hoped that during 1886 this work will prove more satisfactory.

The total expendituro of the Gaol in 1885 was $47,638.12, of which the sum of $1,404.00 was re- funded for the subsistence of Naval and Military Court Martial and Consulate, and Foreign Seaman prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-

Military, (£79.16.6)............................... Naval,

Consulates,

Foreign Seamon,...

Debtors,.......

Incidental articles sold,

.$431.34

246.75

162.75

3.50

535.83

24.83

$1,404.00

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisonors' earnings during 1885 ?

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

It has been customary in pust years to show under this head the total cash carnings for Prison industrial labor during the year. This in 1885 amounted to $3,757.47 being the proceeds of oakum picking, coir maat making, washing and monding Hospital clothing, fonder and swab making, net waking and a small account for carpentoring, tailoring, and shoo making. The cost of material purchased has not been deducted from this amount. This does not include the value of labor on Public works or for clothing and matting made in Gaol for Prison use, nor the value of Printing done for Public Offices.

The average timo during which the prisoners sleep is about 11 hours in 24.

The dormitories are not lighted; but Gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Turnkeys on duty are provided with bulls oye lanterna, to throw light into the dormitorios when required.

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