504 OFFICE WORK OF A GARRISON BATTERY. 
generally a number of employed men who, in conjunction with their 
employers, have many reasons ready to sho'w that they cannot attend at any 
hour of the day and night; and whatever care is taken, some men will, when 
too late, be found to have escaped. It is, for example, especially difficult to 
carry out the annual checking of next of kin, issue of clothing, and of great 
coats. A simple plan was introduced into a battery that practically had all 
its men either employed or on some duty every day of the year, even on 
muster day. Due notice having been given, say of signing books, Saturday 
was chosen for pay day, and the Nos. 1 received the pay for their subdi¬ 
visions as usual, but were sent to their own rooms with orders not to pay 
any man without a ticket. Each man, as he signed his accounts in the 
office, received, on production of his pocket ledger, a pay ticket (a small 
piece of tin with the number of the battery marked on it), and he then 
went to his N.C. officer to receive his pay and to give up his ticket. Con¬ 
siderable latitude was given, under the peculiar circumstances of the battery, 
as to the time the men signed, so that they could attend before or after 
dinner at their own arrangement and convenience. At first the N.C. officers 
returned, at the time fixed for them, with few tickets, and most of the pay 
unissued; but this soon ceased. The employers of the men could not com¬ 
plain, as they had to allow their men to come in for dinner ; and the old 
excuses disappeared. The N.C. officers coming in with their pay books had 
to give up a ticket for each man shown as paid. The money not issued was 
returned, and the names of men not paid, copied into the rough diary, formed a 
handy list of those that had yet to be seen. I can strongly recommend this plan. 
73. Once a month or quarter go overall the printed orders you receive— 
General Orders, Army Circulars, &c.—and see that wherever they alter a former 
order the alteration is either made in the original order or else that a clear 
reference to the change is made in the margin. The Queen's Regulations 
and the Pay Warrants soon become worse than useless if this is not 
done. There is no doubt but that a. biennial or triennial issue of all the 
working regulations, Queen's, pay, and clothing, so that all circulars previous 
to the last issue might be destroyed, would be a reform easily carried out, 
and a much-prized boon to officers. The unfortunate present tendency to 
issue important instructions on clothing, &c., in manuscript might be stopped 
with great advantage. 
Talcing over a Battery. 
74. This is a large subject, on which only a few notes are here offered. 
When the officer giving over the battery is to remain in the service, the work 
is comparatively easy, as the new Major starts fresh; all claims not stated in 
the balance sheet being dealt with by the former commander. Otherwise, 
this is very difficult work. The balance sheet can be first checked according 
to the information given in pars. 15 to 20. Next, the last received audits 
of the pay list, savings bank, clothing, and equipment ledgers should be 
produced. Then enquiry should be made as to any sales or issues of neces¬ 
saries and clothing, to see that these are duly accounted for. Stock is 
taken of all stores, clothing, &c., in hand, to see if they agree with the 
books. The savings bank ledger can only be checked by the actual attend¬ 
ance of all depositors within the year, with their pocket ledgers. The arms 
and equipment are inspected in detail, an armourer being present, as well as 
a collar-maker or proper tradesman. 
