The No. 2 Battalion.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9450, 28 September 1899, Page 1

The No. 2 Battalion.

PAEROa, September 27. A correspondent, signing himself "Tommy Atkins," junr.", writes as follows to to-day's Gazette : Consistent rumors have lately been afloat to the effect that the headquarters of No. 2 Battalion are to be shifted from Paeroa to Thames and that a Thames gentleman is to be. made Major.of the Battaljon. I would like to point out three strong reasons why this should not upon any consideration whatever be permitted: 1. The Thames is too far away, and would entail needless expense on all companion which attempted to attend daylight parades there; whereas Pottos being central for Waihi and Te Aroha, the expenses wot Id be considerably diminished, and would only mean expenses to the Thames Company. Whereas by the Thames being head>quarters it would necessitate a cousiderable expenditure on the part of three companies, namely, Ohinemuri Nos 1 and 3, and the Te Aroha Company (3 to 1). Therefore a strong reason why Paeroa should be the head quarters, as I understood was always intended. 2. It has been understood all along that a drill instructor would be stationed in Paeroa. In the event of Thames being made the headquarters the drill instructor, who is expected from Home, would be stationed there, which would be much more inconvenient to the three companies (again 3 to 1) than if he was stationed in the most central place—Paeroa. 3. In the event of the above rumours turning out to be true, several volun* teers have said that it would cause a complete dismemberment of the above named companies—a thing to be specially deplored in these troublesome times. It is stated that the Waihi Company, in particular, absolutely decline to serve under the gentleman in question.