Waimea (New Zealand electorate)

Waimea was a parliamentary electorate in the Nelson Province of New Zealand, from 1853 to 1887.[1] Initially represented by two members, it was a single-member electorate from 1861.

Geographic coverage

Waimea was located in the northern part of the South Island, facing the Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere. It is the area around the town (and since 1874 city) of Nelson, but excluded Nelson itself. It includes Wakefield, Brightwater, Richmond and smaller settlements north of Nelson. It was named after the Waimea River.

History

Waimea was represented by eleven Members of Parliament.[1]

Four members were nominated for the inaugural 1853 election: David Monro, William Cautley, Charles Elliott, and John Saxton.[2] Whilst Elliott and Saxton subsequently withdrew, Monro and Cautley wanted to go ahead with the poll held on 16 August, as one had been demanded on behalf of the other candidates. There was confusion at the Waimea South polling booth and votes were cast for all four candidates there.[3]

William Travers, MP for Nelson, and Cautley, MP for Waimea, both resigned on 26 May 1854 – the third day that the new Parliament was sitting. Travers subsequently contested the seat that Cautley had vacated, being elected in the 21 June 1854 Waimea by-election. Nomination day for the second Parliament in the Waimea electorate was Monday, 5 November 1855. Charles Elliott and Travers were the only candidates and were thus declared elected.[4]

Alfred Saunders was elected on 1 February 1861 and resigned on 31 October 1864. He was succeeded by John George Miles, who was elected in the 1864 by-election, which was held on 20 November.

Arthur Robert Oliver was elected on 23 February 1866 and resigned on 9 January 1867. He was succeeded by Edward Baigent, who was elected in the 1867 by-election, which was held on 28 June.

Joseph Shephard was elected on 13 February 1871, and re-elected on 8 December 1979, 9 December 1881 and 22 July 1884. He resigned on 15 April 1885 when he was appointed to the Legislative Council. The resulting 1885 by-election, which was held on 3 June, was contested by six candidates: John Kerr (253 votes), W. N. Franklyn (250 votes), William White (94 votes), Christian Dencker (91 votes), W. Wastney (59 votes) and Jesse Piper (32 votes). Kerr was thus elected.[5][6]

Members of Parliament

Key

  Independent  

multi-member electorate
Election Winners
1853 election David Monro William Cautley
1854 by-election William Travers
1855 election Charles Elliott
1858 by-election David Monro
1859 by-election Fedor Kelling[7]

Single-member electorate
Election Winner
1861 election Alfred Saunders
1864 by-election John George Miles[8]
1866 election Arthur Robert Oliver[9]
1867 by-election Edward Baigent[10]
1871 election Joseph Shephard[11]
1876 election Edward Baigent
1879 election Joseph Shephard
1881 election
1884 election
1885 by-election John Kerr[12]

Election results

1885 by-election

1885 Waimea by-election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Kerr 253 42.38
Independent William Norris Franklyn[14] 250 41.88
Independent William Whyte 94 15.75
Independent Christian Dencker 91 15.24
Independent William Wastney 59 9.88
Independent Jesse Piper 32 5.36
Turnout 597
Majority 3 0.50

1867 by-election
1867 Waimea by-election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edward Baigent 99 58.24
Independent Joseph Shephard 71 35.15
Independent Fedor Kelling 32 15.84
Turnout 202
Majority 28 13.86

1864 by-election
1864 Waimea by-election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John George Miles 88 53.01
Independent Fedor Kelling 78 46.99
Turnout 166
Majority 10 6.02

1854 by-election
1854 Waimea by-election[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Travers 126 64.0
Independent Francis Jollie 71 36.0
Turnout 197
Majority 55

1853 election
1853 general election: Waimea
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Cautley 190
Independent David Monro 169
Independent John Saxton 30
Independent Charles Elliott 14
Majority 139
Registered electors 359[18]

Notes
  1. Wilson 1985, p. 274.
  2. "Nomination of candidates to represent the Waimea district in the general assembly". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XII (596). 6 August 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  3. "Election intelligence". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XII (598). 20 August 1853. p. 5. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  4. "Election of members to represent the Waimea districts". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XIV. 7 November 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. "Official Declaration of the Poll". Colonist. XXVIII (4170). 20 June 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  6. "Summary Notes". Colonist. XXVIII (4122). 25 April 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  7. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  8. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  9. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  10. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  11. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  12. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  13. "Waikouaiti Election". Nelson Examiner. 6 July 1872.
  14. Scholefield 1940, pp. 280.
  15. "City Election". Nelson Evening Mail. 30 May 1872.
  16. "Waimea Election". Colonist. 2 December 1864.
  17. "The Elections". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XIII. 24 June 1854. p. 4. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  18. McRobie 1989, p. 30.

References
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