1875–1876 general election
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
Premier before election

Daniel Pollen
Independent

 Subsequent Premier

Julius Vogel
Independent

The 1875–1876 New Zealand general election 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]

  • one additional member for City of Dunedin (from two to three)
  • the single member electorates of Christchurch East and Christchurch West to amalgamate and form the City of Christchurch electorate with three members
  • one additional member for Timaru (Geraldine was formed as a new electorate)
  • one additional member for Waitaki (from one to two)
  • one additional member for Grey Valley (from one to two)
  • one additional member for Hokitika (from one to two)
  • one additional member for Napier (from one to two)
  • one additional member for Wanganui (from one to two)
  • one additional member for Thames (from one to two)
  • a new Waipa electorate (with one member)

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
William Montgomery Akaroa Second 29 December 1875[22]
John Evans Brown Ashley Second 11 January 1876[23]
William Rees Auckland East First 30 December 1875[24]
George Grey Auckland West Second 23 December 1875[25]
Patrick Dignan Auckland West Third 23 December 1875[26]
William Rolleston Avon Third 22 December 1875[27]
William Murray Bruce Second 23 December 1875[28]
Joseph Henry Buller First 5 January 1876[29]
James Seaton Caversham First 21 December 1875[13]
Leonard Harper Cheviot First 8 January 1876[30]
William Sefton Moorhouse Christchurch Fifth 21 December 1875[22]
Edward Richardson Christchurch Second 21 December 1875[31]
Edward Cephas John Stevens Christchurch Second 21 December 1875[32]
John Davies Ormond Clive Fourth 7 January 1876[33]
James William Thomson Clutha Second 20 January 1876[34]
Cathcart Wason Coleridge First 6 January 1876[35]
William Gibbs Collingwood Second 29 December 1875[36]
James Macandrew City of Dunedin Sixth 20 December 1875[37]
William Larnach City of Dunedin First 20 December 1875[38]
Robert Stout City of Dunedin Second 20 December 1875[39]
Vincent Pyke Dunstan Second 27 December 1875[40]
George Read East Coast First 6 January 1876[24]
Joseph Tole Eden First 6 January 1876[41]
Harry Atkinson Egmont Fourth 3 January 1876[42]
Hugh Lusk Franklin First 18 January 1876[37]
Ebenezer Hamlin Franklin First 18 January 1876[43]
Edward Wakefield Geraldine First 27 December 1875[44]
Frederick Teschemaker Gladstone First 20 January 1876[34]
Frederic Carrington Grey and Bell Third 28 December 1875[45]
Martin Kennedy Grey Valley First 12 January 1876[46]
Charles Woolcock Grey Valley First 12 January 1876[47]
James Fisher Heathcote First 4 January 1876[48]
Edmund Barff Hokitika Second 14 January 1876[49]
Charles Button Hokitika First 14 January 1876[50]
William Fitzherbert Hutt Fifth 29 December 1875[48]
George Lumsden Invercargill First 24 December 1875[51]
Charles Bowen Kaiapoi Second 21 December 1875[52]
Hugh Murray-Aynsley Lyttelton First 28 December 1875[49]
Walter Woods Johnston Manawatu Second 10 January 1876[53]
Robert Douglas Marsden First 10 January 1876[54]
William Wood Mataura Second 6 January 1876[47]
John William Williams Mongonui and Bay of Islands Second 17 January 1876[55]
Richmond Hursthouse Motueka First 6 January 1876[56]
Cecil de Lautour Mount Ida First 17 January 1876[26]
Donald McLean Napier Third 30 December 1875[57]
William Russell Napier First 30 December 1875[58]
John Sharp City of Nelson First 20 December 1875[13]
Oswald Curtis City of Nelson Third 20 December 1875[59]
Andrew Richmond Suburbs of Nelson Fourth 30 December 1875[27]
Thomas Kelly New Plymouth Third 23 December 1875[46]
William Swanson Newton Second 24 December 1875[39]
Maurice O'Rorke Onehunga Fourth 29 December 1875[33]
Reader Wood Parnell Fourth 31 December 1875[47]
Courtney Kenny Picton Third 18 January 1876[46]
William Reynolds Port Chalmers Fourth 10 January 1876[31]
John Ballance Rangitikei Second 5 January 1876[49]
Samuel Hodgkinson Riverton First 7 January 1876[60]
John Sheehan Rodney Second 17 January 1876[13]
Arthur John Burns Roslyn Third 28 December 1875[61]
Cecil Fitzroy Selwyn First 30 December 1875[48]
Donald Reid Taieri Third 29 December 1875[24]
George Grey Thames Second 6 January 1876[62]
William Rowe Thames First 6 January 1876[27]
Edward Stafford Timaru Fifth 28 December 1875[32]
George Henry Tribe Totara Second 10 January 1876[41]
James Clark Brown Tuapeka Third 22 December 1875[23]
Horace Bastings Waikaia First 14 January 1876[63]
Frederick Whitaker Waikato Second 5 January 1876[64]
George McLean Waikouaiti Second 22 December 1875[57]
Edward Baigent Waimea Second 7 January 1876[65]
Alfred Cox Waipa Third 11 January 1876[59]
Henry Bunny Wairarapa Fourth 4 January 1876[61]
John Andrew Wairarapa Second 4 January 1876[42]
Arthur Seymour Wairau Second 29 January 1876[13][66]
Samuel Shrimski Waitaki First 10 January 1876[67]
Thomas William Hislop Waitaki First 10 January 1876[60]
John Macfarlane Waitemata First 19 January 1876[68]
Henry Manders Wakatipu First 7 January 1876[69]
James Parker Joyce Wallace First 30 December 1875[53]
John Bryce Wanganui Third 7 January 1876[23]
Julius Vogel Wanganui Fourth 7 January 1876[44]
George Hunter City of Wellington Second 23 December 1875[70]
Edward Pearce City of Wellington Second 23 December 1875[71]
Alfred Brandon Wellington Country Fifth 31 December 1875[23]
Karaitiana Takamoana Eastern Maori Second 15 January 1876[72]
Hori Tawhiti Northern Maori First 15 January 1876[34]
Hōri Kerei Taiaroa Southern Maori Second 4 January 1876[72]
Hoani Nahi Western 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. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. 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. No. 4267. 21 October 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Evening Sitting". Thames Star. Vol. VII, no. 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. Vol. III, no. 138. 24 December 1875. p. 12. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "The Elections". Colonist. Vol. XVIII, no. 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. Vol. XI, no. 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". Vol. XXIII, no. 1159. North Otago Times. 23 December 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  15. ↑ "The Elections". Vol. XXXII, no. 5708. Daily Southern Cross. 8 January 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  16. ↑ "The Thames election : petition against sir George Grey's election". Vol. XXXII, no. 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". Vol. XXXII, no. 5205. Daily Southern Cross. 17 June 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand Parliament". Vol. XXIV, no. 2427. Taranaki Herald. 12 July 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  19. ↑ "Parliamentary". Vol. IV, no. 401. Bay Of Plenty Times. 15 July 1876. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  20. ↑ "The New Parliament". The Wanganui Herald. Vol. X, no. 2693. 31 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  21. ↑ "The New Ministry". The Evening Post. Vol. XIII, no. 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. Vol. XI, no. 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

  • Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
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