REPORTED RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10589, 24 February 1900, Page 9

REPORTED RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.

REJOICINGS AT THE NEWS. (muss __wot'i_«o_ TXtxaakMß.) WELLINGTON, February 23. Tlie city was gaily decorated to-day in honour of the favo—ra-hle new- from the ac;„ of war in South Africa. NELSON, February 23. Public rejoicings have followed the news of the relief of Ladysmith. On the Press extras circulating, tne church and fire bells v. ere rung, and all the business places were closed, and ever two hundred cyclists paraded through tilie town. When a procession had been formed with tbe Garrison Band and _ie H Battery, with guns, having marched to Trafmlgar Park, a Royal salute was fired, speeches were delivered, and patrbtif -Migs fting. This evenkig tbe Volunteers again assembled, and *_red _ a feu-de-joit", and a procession of cyclists with Chinese kmterns rode through the street)-, white r-wkets were sent up from the atreet corner*, and coloured lights from C-borch Hill. Tiafalgar street was crowded with yetiple singing. GREYMOUTH, February 23. On receipt ot the news of the relief of Ltulysmit.h, the firebells and other bells were Dei ringing for the greater part of the afternoon. To-night the streets are crowded, bands are playing, and fireworks are being 1h oil. There i» great and general rejolc- "*' INVERCARGILL, February 23. The news of th* British successes In Sout-h Afiiet were received here with great rei ■Mi-lug*. Church, school, fire and town mils were set ringing/ und there was a pandemonium of fac-toiy whistles. The band was got together, the shop* were closed, and there was a gathering at the Rotunda, which wx# i-luref-s-ed by several citizens. In the schools, boys got beyond control, end from one, it is said, they went off In a body j and all were dismissed.

There. were great rejoicings at Timaru over the news of the relief of Ladysmith. Bunting was flying, bells ringing, steam whistles screeching, guns firing, and crowds tliocrmg. The schools broke up, and tbe pleasurable excitement prevailed some Hours, it wus renewed again in tlie evening with a procession of volunteers, bands, and flrewotl— . During the hearing of a case at the Waittwte Mttg-wtrate- Court on Thursday, the ringing of bells and other noises in the town disturbed the Court, the bell-ringing causing the impression of fire alarm. On the return of the constables it was explained that the disturbance outside arose from expreWons of joy on receipt, by wire, of news of relief of Ladynnith.