New Zealand general election, 1875–76

1875–76 general election
New Zealand
20 December 1875 – 29 January 1876
All 88 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives

  First party
 
Leader Julius Vogel
Party Independent
Leader's seat Wanganui
Last election 88 seats
Seats won 88
Seat change Steady
Popular vote N/A
Percentage N/A
Swing N/A
Prime Minister before election

Daniel Pollen
Independent

 Prime Minister-designate

Julius Vogel
Independent

The New Zealand general election of 1875–76 was held between 20 December 1875 and 29 January 1876 to elect a total of 88 MPs in 73 electorates to the 6th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 4 and 15 January 1876. A total of 56,471 voters were registered.

Background

Political parties had not been established yet; this only happened after the 1890 election.[1] The previous parliament had 78 representatives from 72 electorates.[2] In October 1875, Parliament passed the Representation Act 1875,[3] and resolved to increase the size of Parliament to 88 representatives through the following changes:[4]

With the two new electorates and the amalgamation in Christchurch, the number of electorates thus increased by one to 73. Eleven of the electorates were two-member electorates; two electorates were three-member electorates. To split Timaru into two electorates was proposed by the Timaru incumbent, Edward Stafford.[5] The new electorate for the Waikato, Waipa, was added on the proposal put forward by William Jackson, who retired at the end of the parliamentary term in 1875.[5]

Sir George Grey, 1885

The election was held over six weeks in December 1875 and January 1876.[2] The date of election is defined here as the day on which the poll took place, or if there was no contest, the day of nomination.[6] The first elections were held on 20 December 1875 in the City of Dunedin and City of Nelson electorates, returning a total of five members.[7] In Dunedin, the three positions were contested by eight candidates.[8] In Nelson, 20 December was the nomination day and the two candidates were returned unopposed.[9] In two electorates, elections were held on Christmas Eve, while 19 candidates were elected between Christmas and New Year.[10]

The last election was held in the Wairau electorate on 29 January 1876 between Arthur Seymour and George Henderson.[11] Seymour was successful.[12][13] Elections in the Maori electorates were held on 4 January Southern Maori and 15 January (all other Maori electorates).[2] A total of 56,471 voters were registered.[2]

George Grey stood in the general election for both the Auckland West and the Thames electorates. In the two-member Auckland electorate, only Grey and Patrick Dignan were put forward as candidates, and were thus declared elected on 22 December 1875.[14] The two-member Thames electorate was contested by six candidates, including Julius Vogel (who was Premier in 1875), William Rowe and Charles Featherstone Mitchell. On election day (6 January 1876), Grey attracted the highest number of votes and, unexpectedly, Rowe beat Vogel into second place (Vogel also stood in Wanganui, where he was returned). Hence Grey and Rowe were declared elected for Thames.[15] A protest against Grey's election was lodged with the returning officer the following day, stating that Grey had not been eligible to stand in Thames as he had already been elected in Auckland West. This petition was filed to the House of Representatives at the end of January.[16]

With this controversy going on for several months unresolved, Grey advised in mid June 1876 in a series of telegrams that he had chosen to represent Auckland West.[17] On 8 July, the report of the committee inquiring into his election for Thames was read to the House. It was found that this was in accordance with the law, but that he had to make a decision for which electorate he would sit.[18] On 15 July 1876, Grey announced that he would represent Thames, and he moved that a by-election be held in Auckland West for the seat that he would vacate there.[19]

The Government received a majority over the opposition in the election, but with political parties not forming until 1890, precise numbers cannot be given. One newspaper counted 48 of the members as Government supporters.[20] On 15 February 1876, the Pollen Ministry led by Daniel Pollen resigned. Julius Vogel, who had been Premier prior to Pollen, formed a new ministry and became Premier again.[21]

Result

Member Electorate MP's term Election date
Montgomery, WilliamWilliam Montgomery Akaroa Second 29 December 1875[22]
Brown, JohnJohn Brown Ashley Second 11 January 1876[23]
Rees, WilliamWilliam Rees Auckland East First 30 December 1875[24]
Grey, GeorgeGeorge Grey Auckland West Second 23 December 1875[25]
Dignan, PatrickPatrick Dignan Auckland West Third 23 December 1875[26]
Rolleston, WilliamWilliam Rolleston Avon Third 22 December 1875[27]
Murray, WilliamWilliam Murray Bruce Second 23 December 1875[28]
Henry, JosephJoseph Henry Buller First 5 January 1876[29]
Seaton, JamesJames Seaton Caversham First 21 December 1875[13]
Harper, LeonardLeonard Harper Cheviot First 8 January 1876[30]
Moorhouse, William SeftonWilliam Sefton Moorhouse Christchurch Fifth 21 December 1875[22]
Richardson, EdwardEdward Richardson Christchurch Second 21 December 1875[31]
Stevens, Edward Cephas JohnEdward Cephas John Stevens Christchurch Second 21 December 1875[32]
Ormond, John DaviesJohn Davies Ormond Clive Fourth 7 January 1876[33]
Thomson, James WilliamJames William Thomson Clutha Second 20 January 1876[34]
Wason, CathcartCathcart Wason Coleridge First 6 January 1876[35]
Gibbs, WilliamWilliam Gibbs Collingwood Second 29 December 1875[36]
Macandrew, JamesJames Macandrew Dunedin, City ofCity of Dunedin Sixth 20 December 1875[37]
Larnach, WilliamWilliam Larnach Dunedin, City ofCity of Dunedin First 20 December 1875[38]
Stout, RobertRobert Stout Dunedin, City ofCity of Dunedin Second 20 December 1875[39]
Pyke, VincentVincent Pyke Dunstan Second 27 December 1875[40]
Read, GeorgeGeorge Read East Coast First 6 January 1876[24]
Tole, JosephJoseph Tole Eden First 6 January 1876[41]
Atkinson, HarryHarry Atkinson Egmont Fourth 3 January 1876[42]
Lusk, HughHugh Lusk Franklin First 18 January 1876[37]
Hamlin, EbenezerEbenezer Hamlin Franklin First 18 January 1876[43]
Wakefield, EdwardEdward Wakefield Geraldine First 27 December 1875[44]
Teschemaker, FrederickFrederick Teschemaker Gladstone First 20 January 1876[34]
Carrington, FredericFrederic Carrington Grey and Bell Third 28 December 1875[45]
Kennedy, MartinMartin Kennedy Grey Valley First 12 January 1876[46]
Woolcock, CharlesCharles Woolcock Grey Valley First 12 January 1876[47]
Fisher, JamesJames Fisher Heathcote First 4 January 1876[48]
Barff, EdmundEdmund Barff Hokitika Second 14 January 1876[49]
Button, CharlesCharles Button Hokitika First 14 January 1876[50]
Fitzherbert, WilliamWilliam Fitzherbert Hutt Fifth 29 December 1875[48]
Lumsden, GeorgeGeorge Lumsden Invercargill First 24 December 1875[51]
Bowen, CharlesCharles Bowen Kaiapoi Second 21 December 1875[52]
Murray-Aynsley, HughHugh Murray-Aynsley Lyttelton First 28 December 1875[49]
Johnston, Walter WoodsWalter Woods Johnston Manawatu Second 10 January 1876[53]
Douglas, RobertRobert Douglas Marsden First 10 January 1876[54]
Wood, WilliamWilliam Wood Mataura Second 6 January 1876[47]
Williams, John WilliamJohn William Williams Mongonui and Bay of Islands Second 17 January 1876[55]
Hursthouse, RichmondRichmond Hursthouse Motueka First 6 January 1876[56]
de Lautour, CecilCecil de Lautour Mount Ida First 17 January 1876[26]
McLean, DonaldDonald McLean Napier Third 30 December 1875[57]
Russell, WilliamWilliam Russell Napier First 30 December 1875[58]
Sharp, JohnJohn Sharp Nelson, City ofCity of Nelson First 20 December 1875[13]
Curtis, OswaldOswald Curtis Nelson, City ofCity of Nelson Third 20 December 1875[59]
Richmond, AndrewAndrew Richmond Nelson SuburbsSuburbs of Nelson Fourth 30 December 1875[27]
Kelly, ThomasThomas Kelly New Plymouth Third 23 December 1875[46]
Swanson, WilliamWilliam Swanson Newton Second 24 December 1875[39]
O'Rorke, MauriceMaurice O'Rorke Onehunga Fourth 29 December 1875[33]
Wood, ReaderReader Wood Parnell Fourth 31 December 1875[47]
Kenny, CourtneyCourtney Kenny Picton Third 18 January 1876[46]
Reynolds, William HunterWilliam Hunter Reynolds Port Chalmers Fourth 10 January 1876[31]
Ballance, JohnJohn Ballance Rangitikei Second 5 January 1876[49]
Hodgkinson, SamuelSamuel Hodgkinson Riverton First 7 January 1876[60]
Sheehan, JohnJohn Sheehan Rodney Second 17 January 1876[13]
Burns, Arthur JohnArthur John Burns Roslyn Third 28 December 1875[61]
Fitzroy, CecilCecil Fitzroy Selwyn First 30 December 1875[48]
Reid, Donald Donald Reid Taieri Third 29 December 1875[24]
Grey, GeorgeGeorge Grey Thames Second 6 January 1876[62]
Rowe, WilliamWilliam Rowe Thames First 6 January 1876[27]
Stafford, EdwardEdward Stafford Timaru Fifth 28 December 1875[32]
Tribe, George HenryGeorge Henry Tribe Totara Second 10 January 1876[41]
Brown, James ClarkJames Clark Brown Tuapeka Third 22 December 1875[23]
Bastings, HoraceHorace Bastings Waikaia First 14 January 1876[63]
Whitaker, FrederickFrederick Whitaker Waikato Second 5 January 1876[64]
McLean, GeorgeGeorge McLean Waikouaiti Second 22 December 1875[57]
Baigent, EdwardEdward Baigent Waimea Second 7 January 1876[65]
Cox, AlfredAlfred Cox Waipa Third 11 January 1876[59]
Bunny, HenryHenry Bunny Wairarapa Fourth 4 January 1876[61]
Andrew, JohnJohn Andrew Wairarapa Second 4 January 1876[42]
Seymour, ArthurArthur Seymour Wairau Second 29 January 1876[13][66]
Shrimski, SamuelSamuel Shrimski Waitaki First 10 January 1876[67]
Hislop, Thomas WilliamThomas William Hislop Waitaki First 10 January 1876[60]
Macfarlane, JohnJohn Macfarlane Waitemata First 19 January 1876[68]
Manders, HenryHenry Manders Wakatipu First 7 January 1876[69]
Joyce, James ParkerJames Parker Joyce Wallace First 30 December 1875[53]
Bryce, JohnJohn Bryce Wanganui Third 7 January 1876[23]
Vogel, JuliusJulius Vogel Wanganui Fourth 7 January 1876[44]
Hunter, GeorgeGeorge Hunter Wellington, City ofCity of Wellington Second 23 December 1875[70]
Pearce, EdwardEdward Pearce Wellington, City ofCity of Wellington Second 23 December 1875[71]
Brandon, AlfredAlfred Brandon Wellington Country Fifth 31 December 1875[23]
Takamoana, KaraitianaKaraitiana Takamoana X-01Eastern Maori Second 15 January 1876[72]
Tawhiti, HoriHori Tawhiti X-02Northern Maori First 15 January 1876[34]
Taiaroa, Hori KereiHori Kerei Taiaroa X-03Southern Maori Second 4 January 1876[72]
Nahi, HoaniHoani Nahi X-04Western Maori First 15 January 1876[28]

Notes

  1. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 177.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "General elections 1853–2005 – dates & turnout". Elections New Zealand. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  3. ↑ "Representation Act 1875 (39 Victoriae 1875 No 77)". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "Special Parliamentary Telegram". Otago Daily Times (4267). 21 October 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Evening Sitting". Thames Star. VII (2119). 19 October 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 92.
  7. ↑ Scholefield 1950, pp. 102, 119, 121, 138, 141.
  8. ↑ "The General Elections". New Zealand Tablet. III (138). 24 December 1875. p. 12. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "The Elections". Colonist. XVIII (2008). 21 December 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  10. ↑ Scholefield 1950.
  11. ↑ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Mr. George Henderson". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Wairau Election". Nelson Evening Mail. XI (28). 31 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Scholefield 1950, p. 138.
  14. ↑ "(By Telegraph). Auckland. Dec. 22.". XXIII (1159). North Otago Times. 23 December 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  15. ↑ "The Elections". XXXII (5708). Daily Southern Cross. 8 January 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  16. ↑ "The Thames election : petition against sir George Grey's election.". XXXII (5724). Daily Southern Cross. 1 February 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  17. ↑ "Sir George Grey and the seats for the Thames and City West.". XXXII (5205). Daily Southern Cross. 17 June 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand Parliament". XXIV (2427). Taranaki Herald. 12 July 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  19. ↑ "Parliamentary". IV (401). Bay Of Plenty Times. 15 July 1876. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  20. ↑ "The New Parliament". Wanganui Herald. X (2693). 31 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  21. ↑ "The New Ministry". The Evening Post. XIII (38). 15 February 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  22. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 127.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Scholefield 1950, p. 97.
  24. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 134.
  25. ↑ Scholefield 1950, pp. 103, 110.
  26. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 103.
  27. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 136.
  28. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 128.
  29. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 113.
  30. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 112.
  31. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 135.
  32. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 140.
  33. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 130.
  34. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 143.
  35. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 146.
  36. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 108.
  37. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 121.
  38. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 119.
  39. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 141.
  40. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 133.
  41. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 144.
  42. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 93.
  43. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 111.
  44. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 145.
  45. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 100.
  46. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 118.
  47. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 149.
  48. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 106.
  49. 1 2 3 Scholefield 1950, p. 94.
  50. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 99.
  51. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 120.
  52. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 96.
  53. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 117.
  54. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 104.
  55. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
  56. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 116.
  57. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 124.
  58. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 137.
  59. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 102.
  60. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 114.
  61. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 98.
  62. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 110.
  63. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 95.
  64. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 147.
  65. ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 224.
  66. ↑ "The Wairau Election". The Marlborough Express. XI (785). 2 February 1876. p. 4. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  67. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 139.
  68. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 122.
  69. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 125.
  70. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 115.
  71. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 132.
  72. 1 2 Scholefield 1950, p. 142.

References

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