1895 — Page 273

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Questions.

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

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

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

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

1. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years?

2. How are the profits of their labour accounted

for?

X. What was the total ammal cost of the Prison during the year 1895?

Answers.

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

(See question IX.)

The hours of labour throughout the year are from the 1st March to the 31st October from 6.15 to 4.15 pan., and from the 1st November to the 28th February from 6.45 A.M. to 4.15 v.m., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crank labour, full task, have to completo 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lbs. pressure, European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 4 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone- carrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.

Tailoring, shoe-making, carpentering, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, printing, book-binding, net making, tinsmithing, washing, cleaning, and incidental repairs to the Gaol buildings.

During the Coolie Strike in March 1895 one hundred Chinese prisoners were employed coaling ships.

Nil.

To defray the cost of additional books for the Chinese prisoners' library.

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1895 was $62,095.95, of which the sum of $2,291.67 was refunded for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:—

Military,

Naval,

$854.60

333,00

Debtors....

448,75

Waste Food sold.

49.20

Personal Emoluments refunded..................

7.78

Forfeitures,

270.36

Other Charges refunded,

1.50

Miscellaneous Receipts, .

134,83

Consulate prisoners,

78.23

Vagrant's gratuity refunded,

9.50

Convict Labour: Coaling ships,...... 103.90

$2,291.67

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' curnings during 1895?

The total amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of Prison Industrial Labour was $5,465.47, of which $344.46 was for 1894, and $6,121.01 for 1895.

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

The average time 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 bull's-eye lanterus to throw light into the dormitories when required.

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