Mr Russell arrived at that town by the first express from the north. Both meetings were held at the monument near the railway station.
At the first, at which about 100 persons were present, Mr Russell dealt with finance, land administration, and allied matters.
The second meeting, held at 7 p.m., was attended by about 200 people, the matters dealt with by the speaker including cheap money, defence, and the responsibility of the Government in connection with the Huntly mining disaster.
The Mayor of Palmerston (Mr R. Wheeler) officiated as chairman on each occasion, and votes of thanks to Mr Russell and confidence in the Liberal Party were carried unanimously at each meeting.
The meeting at 7 p.m. broke up with cheers for Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Russell. Mr Russell arrived at Waikouaiti the same evening about 8.30 and addressed a meeting of about 300 electors in the local Town Hall.
The Mayor of the borough (Mr G. J. L. Kerr) occupied the chair and Mr Macpherson, the Liberal candidate for the Oamaru seat, also occupied a seat on the platform.
• Timaru: The Hon. J. Allen delivered an address here on Saturday night, before an audience of 900 people.
He was given a very enthusiastic reception on appearing on the platform, and during a two-hour address was frequently applauded in a manner which indicated that he had the sympathy of the audience.
He replied pretty fully to the misrepresentations by his political opponents, and said it was nothing short of a scandal that Mr Massey should be charged with corruption because of the branch railway which was surveyed through a small portion of the ostrich farm in which he was interested.
The line had been surveyed years before the Reform Party came into power, and as the farm was already served by the main railway, this branch line would not benefit it to the extent of a halfpenny.
The Minister contended that the Reform Party had discharged its duties since it had come into power in a manner which had earned the confidence of the people, while the reforms it had instituted had met with the people's appreciation.
• A week ago yesterday the valedictory services were held in the Anderson's Bay Presbyterian Church which, with many repairs and sundry additions, had served its purpose for over 50 years.
On July 11 the foundation stones - there are two of them - were laid, one by Mrs Cameron, the other by Mesdames Somerville, Wilson, Samuel, McDonald, and Sanderson, all original members; and to these who are still surviving, must be added Mrs J. Walker, who made the first Bible cushion.
The old building is of wood, seats about 250 people and in the early days was lit up with candles; the present one is of brick, covered internally with granite plaster, seats 500 people, and is lit by electricity.
Of the total cost (nearly £4000), by special grants from the Synod, special collections, proceeds of bazaars, etc., about £3000 has been paid off.
Two outstanding features of the new church, as in the old, are the memorial windows giving a balance to each of the side walls, one in remembrance of Mrs Matthew Holmes, who was a staunch supporter of the church; the other in memory of Mr William Somerville, who came out in the Blundell, and was a steadfast and energetic office-bearer in the church up to the time of his death.
Yesterday the new church was opened by three special services, at which there officiated gentlemen representing all phases of church activities. - ODT, 7.12.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
