The Relief of Mafeking.

Manawatu Herald, 22 May 1900, Page 2

The Relief of Mafeking.

Great was the satisfaction ex. pressed on Saturday, when close upon

two o'clock the welcome news arrived

that Mafeking had been relieved. Extras notifying the fact were im-

mediately issued from the Manawatu

Herald office, and the Main street

of the town was speedily a mass of people,

By order of the Mayor the fire-bell was rung, which was quiokly echoed by the Church of England bell. Flags were hoisted in all parts, and the shipping at the wharf were dressed. The mill whistles blew, the small boys, always present with us, rang hand-bells up and dowiL the^ streets, and paraded with |p«|s.>| Sober-minded residents appeared afcd 1 joyfully fired their guns, and there was sufficient uproar for a time to make it apparent that something very < much out of the common had occurred. At the Hebald office a large placard was posted, and also at the Post Office in which the- relief of Mafeking was announced. As man met man, and a'so woman met woman hearty congratulations were exchanged. Everybody was de«T lighted, and this feeling will be re peated around the four quarters of the world, for such has our Empire become united. . ;

After a time a procession was formed from the Post Office to the triangle, and was headed by His Worship the Mayor, who "carried the red ensign, and was followed by a portion of the Brass Band, then by, a firing party of ten, under the command of Sergeant Henderson, and then by a large number of children, who were attended by the Revs. H. Leach and W. Woollass and by Mr W. S Stewart. The general public followed, mostly however, upon the footpaths. The Band nlayed " Soldiers; of the Queen/* the chorus of which was sung by the children.

Having arrived at the trijtogle a halt was made, when the Mayor hoisted the ensign, the gufcrd of honour firing a, feu dejoie, the band ' playing some bars of " God Save the Queen " between the three volleys. The Mayor then called for three cheers for the relief of Mafeking, whicji was heartily given, and then he called upon Mr Thynne to say a few words on his behalf.

Mr Thynne first read the following telegram just received from the Hon. J. Q. Ward :— " The glad tidings of the Belief of Mafeking have just been received, and it affords me the utmost pleasure to be able to convey the news to you. In congratulating Gol. Baden-Powell I have conveyed to him on behalf of the people of the colony our very warm appreciation of the noble way in which the de- ' fence of Mafeking has been main* tamed by him and the offioeis andb men under his guidance.- 'I; ji»vo assured him that the magnificent achievement will never be forgotten .• by the people of New Zealand, and that he has the highest respect and good will of us all." — J. GvWabd. He then said that they had met to rejoice in the relief of a town that had made a name for itself in history, for a most heroic defence. They had withstood for seven months the assaults of a much larger number of the enemy, and it was glorious to know that of the three towns beseiged, Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking, not one had succumbed to the enemy. However much the conduct of the troops was to be praised he thought that the quiet endurance of the women and children during*^ the siege deserved every reQbgmiiJbn.il. and he called for three cheers for them, which were heartily accorded. Mr Thynne proposed that the Mayor be requested to acknowledge the Hon. J. G. Ward's telegram at once, and to state that this gathering heartily agreed with the sentiments expressed therein, and that the Mayor should also state how successfully the rejoicings had gone that day. The gathering then sang " God Save the Queen," and Mr Ray called for three cheers for Colonel Baden- Powell, which were given with rigjjt good will. The Mayor also called for three chdirs

for the Queen.

The procession reformed and fired salutes at various points along the street.

The action of everyone concerned is to be heartily applauded. The members of the band turned out at very short notice and helped to make the programme a success. Sergeant Henderson, who by good luck had his uniform, made a capital officer, and his rank and file fired the volleys in very good time. .The Mayor had plenty to do and did it, and our manner of celebrating the relief of Mafeking was as good as it could be considering how quickly it was held after the news bad been received, and was a grand exhibition of true gladness and loyalty. Ift the evening the jubilations were continued, as the band paraded the streets and played inspiriting airs, and the firing squad also gave continual salutes which were echoed by various individuals, some of whom forgot to take the shot from their cartridges, with the result that life in the town resembled the dangers experienced by the relieved garrison. Rockets ascended, bells were rung, an effigy of Kruger was burnt, and the inhabitants are to be credited with making the event a very noted one in the annals of the town. During the evening the Mayor moved votes of thanks to the band, to the firing squad, and to Captain Manly for the loan of some rockets.