By an amendment to the Penitentiary Act, passed in the Session of 1877, the report of the Inspector of Penitentiaries was made to extend over the financial instead of the calendar year, and consequently there are no statistics yet published later than June. 1877. All the Penitentiaries were well administered, and all had to contend with the same trouble, lack of remunerative employment for the convicts.

The staff at St. Vincent de Paul has been thoroughly re-organized, and is now fairly efficient, and there is a marked improvement in the conduct of the Convicts. A stone barn was built for the housing of the products of the farm. A number of acres of the quarry farm cleared and drained; brick and lime burned in large quantities, and stone cut for a new extension of the building. Discipline was strictly maintained, and most satisfactory tranquility and security prevailed. Severe punishment was only once found necessary. The prisoners employed In the workshops generally like their work, and the permission to learn a trade is found an incentive to good conduct. The school is well conducted, and the library in good demand. The health of the prisoners was very good, and no deaths took place The expenditure for six months was $28,761, being an average of $133,32 for each Convict. The value of the prisoners' work is estimated at $15,521,60. Both the Roman Catholic and Protestant Chaplains bear testimony to the general good conduct of the Convicts. The schoolmaster reports the daily attendance at school as good, and the results satisfactory.

Kingston Penitentiary

had in it, on 30th June, 1877, 673 males and 22 females; 102 had been received since the beginning of the year; 6 had died and 104 had been discharged. The Warden states that generally speaking the Convicts work well, and their conduct is good. The greater part appreciate generous treatment and strive to deserve it. The expenditure for the six months was $51,610,77. The value of the labour performed by the Convicts was $52,766,91. A large part of this work was for the Dominion Government, and many useful and extensive works have been carried on, and great improvements made in the Prison. 19 convicts were pardoned during the half year and 6 re-committed. Out of 82 discharged, one earned no remission. The fewest days remission earned was 15; the greatest number 493 The average daily attendance at school was 108. The chaplains, schoolmaster and matron, give satisfactory reports of the improvement among the prisoners. In the

St. John Penitentiary

the number of Convicts, on the 30th June, were 71, and of common prisoners, 89. The conduct of the Convicts the Warden represents as generally very good, that, of the common prisoners very bad, and the number of punishments very large. The expenditure was $14,609.82. There was difficulty in finding employment; 20,625 day's work were done at different occupations. A farm of 10 or 12 acres was under cultivation. The average attendance at school was 22. In the

Halifax Penitentiary

there were 78 convicts, of whom 5 were females. 2 had died and 9 been discharged during the half year, and 10 had been received. With the exception of a clique of incorrigibles, the conduct was good, and everything proceeded satisfactorily. The expenditure was $10,415,96, and the value of the labour at $4,039,3. The average attendance at school was 22, and the library much sought after. In the

Manitoba Penitentiary

there were 19 prisoners, of whom three were female lunatics; 54 days remission of sentence was earned The value of labour is estimated at $1,790, and the expenditure $21,750. The school class was very successful, and the Chaplains give favorable reports. As a proof of the excellence of the Canadian prison system, the Inspector instances the very moderate percentage of re-commitals, 14 percent. The number of Convicts upon whom mild treatment and kindness are lost, is comparatively small, and the system of allowing them to "earn remission" has proved always most beneficial.