Akaroa by-elections, 1874

Following the resignation of Robert Heaton Rhodes from his Akaroa seat in the New Zealand parliament, William Montgomery contested the 20 April 1874 by-election against Walter Pilliet. The results were 168 and 76 votes, respectively, i.e., a margin of 92 for Montgomery. He thus entered parliament during the 5th term.[1]

Akaroa by-election, 1874 (1st)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Montgomery 168 68.85
Independent Walter Pilliet 76 31.15
Turnout 244
Majority 92 37.70

In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers with the general government in breach of election rules. The select committee accepted that the breach was inadvertent.[2] Montgomery stood for re-election in the second by-election, on 10 August 1874[3] and was returned unopposed.[4]

Akaroa by-election, 1874 (2nd)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Montgomery
William Montgomery returned unopposed

References