ed that he had entered the Free State with a very large force,
chiefly of artillery and cavalry, and hoped that the pressure on
Ladysmith would shortly be reduced. Heavy gun fire commenced in the
Colenso direction on the night of February 14th, and continued with
slight interruption till the 18th; and on the 15th the Boer pompom was
heard in action, which went to show that the opposing forces were not
very far from each other.

At the last public auction ever held in the town, i.e. on the 14th
evening, the prices were:--

Eggs, 48s. per dozen.
Vegetable marrows, 28s. each.
Mealies, 3s. 8d. each.
Pot of jam, 32s. 6d.
Crosse & Blackwell's piccalilli, 19s. 6d.
Tin of ox tongue, 20s. 6d.
2 oz. stick of cake tobacco, 22s.
Fifty cigars, 10 guineas.

As much as 25s. per stick was paid about this time for two ounces of
cake tobacco. No Kaffir leaf tobacco was to be bought in the town,
although as much as L5 per leaf was offered.

On the 15th the Railway Cutting Camp again received the attention of the
Long Tom gunners on Bulwana, who pitched some shells into the lines, but
without doing damage.

The news of the relief of Kimberley was received by the garrison on
February 17th, and it was reported that General French had captured five
laagers.

On Sunday, the 18th, the battalion and 13th Battery, the remains of the
Gloucester Regiment, and the Mountain Battery assembled as usual under
"Liverpool Castle" for Divine service. The Reverend J. Tuckey
officiated. The usual "extermination" service and prayers for the
"Right" were said, the hymns chosen being--

There is a blessed home
Beyond this land of woe;

and

There is a green hill far away,

sung sadly to the accompaniment of Buller's guns.

He appears to be nearer, and his shells have been bursting on a hill and
ridge in the distance, Colenso way.

The following statistics are of interest:--

Early in November the garrison of Ladysmith numbered about 13,500 men.
During the siege there were over 10,500 admissions to hospital.

Thirty-eight men had been killed by shell fire, and 430 men had died of
disease. Four shells only had accounted for nearly all the thirty-eight.

On February 19th news was sent in that General Buller had captured
Cingolo Mountain and Monte Christo, and that excellent progress was
being made by him. The Boers were seen trekking north all day; and in
the evening Buller's heliographs were seen flashing from Monte Christo,
and two