British Columbia Prisoners Report. Your most obedient Servant: C. Todd

Gaoler      James Robson

Assistant Gaoler    J.W. Hutchinson

Assistant Gaoler    A. W. Rogers

Senior Convict Guard    Frederick Hussay

Convict Guard    Henry Murray

Medical Attendant    Dr. J. S. Helmcken

 

 

 

 http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs2016/345310/1879.pdf

 

 

 

Prison Report  1879

Owing to the fact that the Act requiring this report to be made by me being in force only since April of this year, I am unable in this, my first report, to give full statistics of the different gaols and lock-ups other than those at Victoria, New Westminister and Nanaimo.  I can only state with respect to the other gaols and lock-ups that they are generally in a good state of repair, and, with one or two exceptions, serve every purpose for which they were intended.

That at Esquimalt contains two cells, but is without a yard fence. Hence prisoners cannot get open-air exercise unless the constable is present.  Victoria gaol being near at hand renders it unnecessary to keep prisoners long at Esquimalt lock-up.

Cowichan lock-up contains two cells, a court-room and lavatory, and is in good repair.  It is situated at too great a distance from any habitation, to be safe either from rescue or from bush fires, unless there is a guard all the time. Built in 1877.

Comox lock-up contains two cells, a court-room and lavatory, and is in good repair.  It is situated at too great a distance from any habitation, to be safe either from rescue or from bush fires, unless there is a guard all the time.  Built in 1877.

Burrard Inlet lock-up is a rough log hut, inadequate for the requirements of the place.  

Lytton gaol or lock-up contains four cells, and is in good repair.

Clinton gaol or lock-up is also in good repair and contains four cells. Built in 1876.

Kamloops gaol or lock-up contains two cells, is in good repair, and built on the same model as those of Cowichan and Comox.

Osoyoos lock-up is old but serves all purposes, it being seldom required.

Mouth of Quesnelle lock-up contains six cells, and is in very good condition.

Stanley lock-up is in good repair.

Richfield gaol, as far as I know, answers all purposes for which it is required.

In Cassiar, there are two lock-ups, one at Laketon and one at McDame's Creek, both in good repair.

The gaol or lock-up at Metlakathla Mission is hexagonal in form, two-story high.  It contains four cells and a guard room on the ground floor, and one large, well-lighted room above, used as a day room and reading room for prisoners and constables.  The building is in good repair and handsomely painted, forming a distinctive feature of the town.

There is a new lock-up required at Burrard Inlet, and the fence around Kamloops gaol altering and raising several feet higher.

The wood-work at Victoria and New Westminster gaols is badly decayed, and will require constant repairs until the buildings are completely renewed.

The question of disposing of the gaol property at Victoria, and building a new gaol outside of the city, is even now worthy of the consideration of the Government.

I have the honour to remain, 

Sir,
Your most obedient servant

C. Todd,

Superintendent of Police.

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