MAFEKING DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 120, 22 May 1900, Page 2

MAFEKING DAY.

CELEBRATIONS IN AUCKLAND.

There were again some illuminations in town last evening in celebration of the relief of Mafeking. A number of business places were brilliantly lit up, and the artistic decorations at the South British Insurance Co.'s offices and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agencj' Co. attracted much attention. Amongst the special decoration in the city which were not previously mentioned were handsome strings of bunting stretched across Customs-street Ea§t at the mills of the Leyland* O'Brien Co. and Parker, Lamb and Co. '»

Among the many buildings in the city which were specially conspicuous for their decorations in honour of the relief of Mafeidng was the. Northern xMilling Company. This fine edifice was in every way suitable for a big show, as it is seen far and wide over the city, and for miles at Devonport and Northe_te. The decorations wer_ designed and carried out by the direction of the General Manager, Mr Virtue, and his willing staff <». workers, who entered con amore into the work. There were two fine flags, each measuring 40 x 12, flying from the centre and rear of the buildings, with the Union Jack and Ensign with other bunting on each part of the building. The whole looked very imposing, and must have cost much to erect.

The Singer Sewing Machine Co. had two large flags out in front of the building, the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes being side by side. At Mr Kohn's jewellery establishment, above the verandah was a bust tastefully draped with the red, white and blue.

Mr H. M. Smeetoh had on his verandah a large Maltese cross lit by gas.

A fine display of fireworks was given at Mount Albert last evening and attracted much attention.

The principal attraction in town last evening was the limelight and patriotic song programme given at the "Auckland Star" office in Shortlandstreet. Soon after eight o'clock there was a dense crowd of some thousands of people assembled in the street in front of the office and extending to the General Post Office, in spite of the unpleasant and damp condition of the streets, and the big audia, most

ence showed enthusiastic manner its warm appreciation of the fine entertainment provided. A. great number of portraits, war views, and comic sketches were thrown on the screen, and the words of the various patriotic songs sung- were also flashed on the screen with great distinctness, so that all in the street could read and join in. Part of FitzGerald Bros.' circus band was stationed in the doorway and played a number of well known national airs in fine style. The demonstration Was a truly patriotic-one, and the gathering cheered vociferously when the pictures of the many heroes of the war were shown on the screen, and joined enthusiastically in the singing of "Soldiers of the Queen," "Sons of the Sea," "Rule, Britannia," and "God Save the Queen." When the picture of Colonel Baden-Powell, a beautifully clear reproduction, was flashed on the white screen a great volume of cheers went up from the crowd, and the. spectators seemed to shout themselves hoarse in applauding the hero of Mafeking. The pictures of Lord Roberts, General French, and the many other conspicuous figures in these war times, were loudly cheered, as were also those of the New Zealand Contingents and the British soldiers now in the field in South Africa. Kruger's picture provoked tremendous uproar, hooting, hissing and rough interjections continuing all the time the Boer leader was on view. The exhibition, which closed about nine o'clock with the singing of "God Save the Queen," led by the baud, was very cordially applauded by the gathering, and formed a most success-

ful finale to the Mafeking relief jubilations.

Mr Hugh Campbell, Mayor of Par» nell, on behalf of the residents of that suburb, has sent a congratulatory telegram to Colonel Baden-Powell, as follow}.: —"Colonel Baden-Powell, 'Parnell rejoicing, relief heroic garrison.' " (Signed) Campbell, Mayor.