1875 Wairau by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 April 2022 1875 Wairau by-election New Zealand 1872 By-election no 1872 Wairau by-election 1872 by-election 1875–1876 New Zealand general election 1875–76 general 1875 06 21 y 120x150px Joseph Ward Independent politician 202 53.30 120x150px William Sefton Moorhouse Independent politician 177 46.70 Member Arthur Seymour Joseph Ward Independent politician Independent politician The 21 June 1875 Wairau by-election was a by-election held in the Wairau electorate in the Marlborough Province during the 5th New Zealand Parliament. The by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Arthur Seymour and was won by Joseph Ward, who defeated William Sefton Moorhouse. Ward was a well-known politician in Marlborough. Moorhouse had political seniority over Ward and was at the time Mayor of Wellington, but had no personal connection to Marlborough. Background Arthur Seymour Arthur Seymour was a prominent politician in the Marlborough Province. Seymour was a member of the Marlborough Provincial Council almost continuously during its existence from 1860 to 1876. He was the leader of the Picton Party that managed to have the provincial buildings for Marlborough built in Picton instead of Blenheim. Seymour was Superintendent of Marlborough in 1864 and 1865, and when he was succeeded by William Henry Eyes, the capital seat was moved to Blenheim.Scholefield 1940b 292Scholefield 1940a 235 The reason for Seymour's 1865 resignation was his appointment to the Legislative Council. Seymour in turn resigned from the Legislative Council in 1872 so that he could contest the 1872 Wairau by-election caused by Eyes' resignation from the House of Representatives; Seymour won the election. In 1870, Seymour had commenced his second period as Superintendent for Marlborough Province.Scholefield 1940b 292 Seymour resigned from the House of Representatives in May 1875 to visit England, mainly to see his ailing father while he (his father) was still alive. Seymour informed the public at a meeting on 6 May that he had resigned from Parliament.The Wairau Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18750512.2.14 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express X 709 12 May 1875 6 Seymour stated that he would offer himself as a parliamentary candidate upon his return, and the meeting endorsed this intention. It was the first time that a Superintendent who visited England did not resign that role.Return of Mr Seymour http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18760115.2.12 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express XI 780 15 January 1876 5 Ward was present at Seymour's meeting at after Seymour had spoken, Ward announced his candidacy for the upcoming by-election. Just as Ward finished his speech, Moorhouse walked into the meeting and addressed those present for an hour, also announcing his candidacy. Joseph Ward Joseph Ward was a surveyor by trade, and he became a significant runholder who at one point had 50,000 sheep. He joined provincial politics in 1853 when the provinces were set up. For the first five years, he represented the Wairau electorate in the Nelson Provincial Council. The Marlborough Province split off from Nelson, Ward was elected onto the Marlborough Provincial Council and had continuous representation until the abolition of the provincial system in 1876.Scholefield 1940b 459f Ward also contested the 1872 Wairau by-election, but he lost against Seymour.The Nelson Evening Mail http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NEM18720220.2.6 18 October 2015 The Nelson Evening Mail VII 44 20 February 1872 2 For both Ward and Seymour, this had been their first attempt of getting elected to the House of Representatives. Seymour supported Ward's candidacy and asked the electors to support Ward and not "a stranger".Blenheim http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP18750507.2.11.9 18 October 2015 The Evening Post XI 58 7 May 1875 2 William Sefton Moorhouse William Sefton Moorhouse was a senior politician who had held many important roles, but he had no connection with Marlborough.Miller Graham M. 1m53 Moorhouse, William Sefton 13 September 2012 Moorhouse was a member of the 1st New Zealand Parliament, and by 1875, he had represented five different electorates in Canterbury and on the West Coast.Scholefield 1950 127 Moorhouse had twice been Superintendent of Canterbury Province and had the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel built, something that he stressed to the Wairau electors, who were keen for the railway to finally reach Blenheim. Moorhouse, who was in ongoing financial difficulty, had not contested the 1871, but had instead taken the job of registrar in the Crown Lands Department in Wellington, and he was made registrar general shortly afterwards. At the end of 1874, he won election as Mayor of Wellington, a role that he still held when he announced himself a candidate for the Wairau by-election. Results Four polling booths were provided in the Wairau electorate, and 283 votes were cast. Both candidates won two of the booths, but they had significantly different voter bases. Seymour won the election with a majority of 39 votes. The results by polling booth were as follows: Booth Moorhouse Ward total Blenheim125116241 Marlborough Town412667 Renwick73643 Wairau Valley21315 Flaxbourne21113 total177202379 During his absence, Seymour remained in contact with Marlborough via letters and telegrams. He intended to leave for New Zealand again in October 1875, but the ship was cancelled and his journey delayed by several weeks.Untitled http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18751124.2.9 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express X 765 24 November 1875 3Untitled http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18760112.2.9 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express XI 779 12 January 1876 3 Meanwhile, the 1876 election was approaching and an election committee formed for Seymour.Mr. Seymour's Committee http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18751229.2.9.2 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express X 775 29 December 1875 3 Meanwhile, George Henderson, a former Mayor of Blenheim,The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts 1906 http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc05Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d6-d4.html The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Cyclopedia Company Limited 22 February 2013 Christchurch Mr. Henry DodsonObituary http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18971015.2.20 20 October 2015 The Marlborough Express XXXII 225 15 October 1897 3 became a candidate in the Wairau electorate whilst Ward announced that he would stand in the Cheviot electorate instead.To the Electors of the District of Wairau http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18751218.2.8.2 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express X 772 18 December 1875 4The Marlborough Express http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18751215.2.7 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express X 771 15 December 1875 3 After further delays, Seymour finally arrived in Blenheim on 14 January 1876 to a welcome function, just two weeks prior to the election. Seymour won the election in the Wairau electorate with 201 votes to 179 for Henderson.The Wairau Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18760202.2.13 18 October 2015 The Marlborough Express XI 785 2 February 1876 4 Ward was beaten in the Cheviot electorate by Leonard Harper.Polling for Cheviot http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18760111.2.12 18 October 2015 The Press XXV 3233 11 January 1876 2 Notes References Scholefield Guy Guy Scholefield A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L I 1940a Department of Internal Affairs Wellington https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/dnzb-1940/scholefield-dnzb-v1.pdf 18 October 2015 Scholefield Guy Guy Scholefield A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addenda II 1940b Department of Internal Affairs Wellington https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/dnzb-1940/scholefield-dnzb-v2.pdf 18 October 2015 Guy Scholefield Scholefield Guy New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 3rd First ed. published 1913 1950 Govt. Printer Wellington Wairau 1875 Category:1875 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Marlborough District