NEWS FROM OTHER CENTRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 27

NEWS FROM OTHER CENTRES.

SOME WAIT WHILE OTHERS REJOICE. AUCKLAND, May 18. Celebrations are deferred pending official news of the relief. HAWERA, May 18. The day is being celebrated by the firing of guns and the hoisting of bunting. There will be a general illumination to-night. I NAPIER, May 18. I The announcement of tho welcome news I of the relief of Maf eking was 'the signal for I a great outburst of patriotic enthusiasm. I Bells pealed, sirens screamed, bands playedi I crowds paraded the streets, and the day was I wholly given up to rejoicing. • I ,; . . .FEILDING, May 18. - I Feilding is calm, but will enthuse to-mor- I row, I PALMERSTON NORTH, May 18. I The news was warmly received here, but I the people are awaiting its official confirma-B tion before organising any celebration. ■ WELLINGTON, May 18. I The Wellington public were in a simmer of I excitement all day over the reported reliefß of Mafekingv bufc there was no demonstration. l Crowds hung about the main thoroughfaresH anxiously discussing the situation. Duringl evening several guns were discharged, andH bonfires lit on the hills at the northern' endH of the town. Crowds flocked into the cityß only to find that the Edgnals were a falseH alarm. The Hon. J. G-. Ward, Actingß Premier, has intimated his- intention to addres^J a public meeting froTn the post office shoulcfl official information be received of the relief ol the besieged town before 2 a.m. H Until official confirmation" is received oHj the relief -of 'Maf eking, "the New Zealand^B .Australia cable will be opened at 8 a.m. (Nei^B Zealand time) instead of 8.30 as at present. NELSON, May 18. ■ The relief of Mafeking was celebrated h^M an enthusiastic demonstration. At daybrea^H the bells were rung and guns and bombs di^H charged. In the afternoon' a. large proeessio^H was formed around Cathedral Hill, ar^B marched to Trafalgar Park. The- Waket^H Mounted Artillery and Rifle Companies beii^H present a salute and " feu-de-joie " were iire^H Prayer and thanksgiving were offered by t]^H E.eV. Mr Smalley,- president of the WesleyJ^B Conf erevice, ■ the Bishop - being abserßß Speeches were delivered by the Mayor (^^H J. Harley) and Mr Graham (member for N^H son), 'and cheers were given. At 7 o'clo^H there was a torchlight proce&sion and a gcHH display of fireworks. ' , CHRISTCHURCH, May IBM The news with regard to Mafeking piiblisfc^B this moraine caused a. good deal of excitem^^B in toWn. " The "newspaper offices were ifl^H staged by people anxious to get news, a^^| little knots of people gathered in the str^H i discussing the situation. Shortly before n(^H cHiito a crowd collected in front of the B^H

office, where it was announced officially thai a signal would be given, and watched the flagstaff, but as 4- struck and no flag appeared the crowd gradually dispersed. A rumour had spread that the post office authorities had received the desired information, but would not make it public until after 12. Just after 12 the City Council's carts arrived at Godley statue with the timber for a temporary platform to be erected there for speakers at the intended mass meeting, and as the work of erecting proceeded the crowd again gathered, hoping that the mayor had received official information; but they were again doomed to disappointment. A" good many flags were flying, and to-night an unusual number of *' people were in the street. At Lyttelton, as in Ohristchurch, it has been decided to wait for the official confirmation of the news before making any demonstration ; but at Leeston and Southbridge a general holiday was observed, and people gave themselves up to "Loyal" and "Brownie" each write to us suggesting that a penny subscription be started in Dunedin, and, if possible, throughout the colpnj'', to commemorate the relief of Mafeking. •" Loyal " proposes that * the sum raised be given to Colonel Baden-Powell j and his bravo men. and hopes the ladies will j assist; while "Brownie" thinks tbat as ] every man, woman, and child would contri- ] bute, an illuminated address might be sent | to the leader, and niedals, with a suitable ] design, showing that they were from New Zealand, provided for every member of the garrison. HOKITIKA, May 18. The circulation of the relief news excited great interest. Bunting was soon flying in . all directions, and confirmatory news is ■ eagerly awaited. School children were j granted a holiday. i A national shilling presentation testimonial | for Colonel Baden-Powell has been startedhere. ASHBUB.TON, Slay 18. Ashburton went wild over the relief of Mafeking-. Such a smilling, happy, rollicking crowd were never before seen -here. All sorts of devices are in progress for the cele- j bration of the event. There will be a pro- j cession this afternoon and a bonfire to-night. >

WAITING FOR OFFICIAL NEWS. WELLINGTON, May 18. A royal salute will be fired all over the nolony upon receipt of definite official news of the relief.