-13
+
593
given; numerous cases of sickness among the Officers occurred.
No fewer than three being off duty at the same time. These
three were the three Senior Officers in my Department. One of
them was off duty for one month and the other two for two or
three days. This as may well be supposed helped to place the
work still more in arrears. I may also add that these receipts
have never been kept up to date (except for a few months in
"98) and when I took over charge; they were eighteen months in
arreers.
II
The instructions given to me by the P.M.G. were to
have all the Parcel Counter Foils (Insured or Ordinary) checked.
This was immediately done.
To give the Government, a fair idea of what the checking
of all the Counterfoils, up to date,really means. I beg to state
that every Counter-foil book contains 300 foils. The number
of these books used in one month is a little over 25. Some of
these books are easier checked then others: for iristence.
The San-Francisco Counter-foil receipt book can be checked by
using only three Journals and is on that account is one of
^
the easiest and quickest checked of any; not-with-stading all
this:- the checking of one San-Francisco foil book by the P.
M.G. and the A.P.M.G. (working together) occupied them nearly
three