1865 Gold Fields by-election

A by-election was held in the Gold Fields electorate on 29 May 1865. The by-election was won by Charles Edward Haughton, who defeated two other candidates.

Background

The Gold Fields electorate was a two-member constituency, and William Baldwin and George Brodie were the initial representatives starting with the 1863 supplementary election.[1] Baldwin resigned, and this triggered the by-election. His resignation took effect on 27 April 1865, but it was known about well before that date.[2] Henry Wirgman Robinson was appointed as returning officer, and he set the date for the nomination meeting for Monday, 22 May, with an election to be held if required the following Monday.[3] Robinson also defined the polling places: thirteen courthouses throughout Otago, and six campsites.[3]

Run up to the election

Charles Edward Haughton of Arrowtown was the first person to declare his candidacy; he was first mentioned in the newspapers on 12 April.[4][5] The local Queenstown newspaper, the Lake Wakatip Mail, came out in strong opposition to Haughton and thought him unqualified to represent the electorate.[6]

Other candidates were Messrs Manders of Queenstown, James Benn Bradshaw, Duncan Campbell, and Jackson.[7]

Nomination meeting

The nomination meeting was held at the courthouse in Lawrence, the centre of the Tuapeka district.[8] Manders and Jackson were delayed and could not get to the meeting in time, and their nominations were not allowed.[9] Campbell won the show of hands at the nomination meeting by a large margin, and a poll was demanded on behalf of Haughton.[8]

Election

Haughton received 227 votes out of a total of 506; his majority was 78 votes. Bradshaw came second with 149 votes. Campbell received 130 votes.[10][11]

1865 Gold Fields by-election[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charles Edward Haughton 227 44.86
Independent James Benn Bradshaw 149 29.45
Independent Duncan Campbell 130 25.69
Majority 78 15.42
Turnout 506

Bradshaw put a protest to the returning officer regarding the deputy returning officer at Nevis not having received the official instructions until after the close of the poll. The returning officer declared that his deputy at Nevis had been sworn in as required, and that the instructions had not arrived in time was immaterial as no elector had come to the polling station during the day.[10] The table below shows the results for the individual polling stations.[11]

Sortable and collapsible table
Polling station Haughton Bradshaw Campbell
Alexandra32180
Arrow6200
Blackstone Hill0110
Cardrona2300
Clyde0160
Cromwell960
Dunstan Creek249
Hamilton078
Hindon218
Hyde0021
Lawrence40364
Maori Point16195
Mount Benger0182
Mount Ida001
Nevis000
Nokomai090
Queenstown17322
Waipori1811
Waitahuna649
total 227 149 130

Haughton represented the Gold Fields electorate until the end of the term in 1866, and was then successful in the 1866 election in the Hampden electorate.[12] Bradshaw stood in the 1866 election in the Gold Field Towns electorate and was also returned.[13]

References
  1. Wilson 1985, pp. 181, 185, 263.
  2. Wilson 1985, p. 181.
  3. "Election Notice". Lake Wakatip Mai l (213). 13 May 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. "Monthly Summary of Current Events: Political". Lake Wakatip Mai l (213). 13 May 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. "Resident Magistrate's Court". Otago Daily Times (1053). 5 May 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. "Untitled". Lake Wakatip Mail (210). 3 May 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. "Untitled". Lake Wakatip Mail (216). 24 May 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  8. "Election for the Gold Fields". Otago Daily Times (1070). 25 May 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  9. "The Lake Wakatip Mail". Lake Wakatip Mail (217). 27 May 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  10. "The Gold Fields Election". Otago Daily Times (1085). 12 June 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  11. "The Gold Fields Election". Otago Daily Times (1085). 12 June 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  12. Wilson 1985, p. 203.
  13. Wilson 1985, p. 185.

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