our hours, half a day; and two hours or less, a quarter day. A
proviso existed that a few days of continuous training in camp should
take place each year. The original number of full days in the year first
approved of was, I think, twenty-four, and the rate of pay 5s. a day.
Whole holidays, of which there are a good many in the colonies, were
available for full day, half-holidays and Saturday afternoons for
half-day, and all evenings for quarter-day parades. By the time I joined
the general's staff his system had been in force for over three years,
was giving satisfaction to all concerned, and similar conditions of
service were later on adopted in every one of the Australian colonies.

The itinerary for the half-year ending June 30, 1882, which General
Downes had approved of, kept me continually on the move. The days in
between my journeys in the country were fully occupied with the
compilation of reports and other administrative duties. It was all a new
experience to me. I travelled hundreds of miles. The residents in the
outlying districts offered me every hospitality. Horses, of course, were
always available. Kangaroo and wallaby hunts, shooting and fishing
parties, were arranged to fill up the time in spare days. The wild turkey
is indeed a wary bird; he wants a lot of stalking, especially in the open
salt bush plains. An ox or cow was often made use of to approach this
knowing bird. It was considered an excellent day's sport if we bagged a
brace or two.

Six months sped by. Then came the day when the general informed me that
the Government had approved of the raising of the Regular (Permanent)
Artillery unit. Fort Glanville had been completed, the guns mounted, and
the contractors had handed over the fort to the Government. I remember
the general's kind words to me so well. He told me he was pleased with my
work, that he had reported upon my success as staff instructor to the
volunteer force, that he had recommended me for the position of
Lieutenant Commanding the Permanent Artillery unit, and that the
Government had approved.

So at last I had got appointed to my own branch of the service--once
again I was a gunner. I took up my residence at the fort, where there was
barrack accommodation for about thirty men and quarters for one officer.
Within three weeks I had got together a first-class lot of young men, and
the general came down to inspect us. An efficient gunner is not made in a
day, no, nor even in a year,