1878 Hokitika by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 February 2015 1878 Hokitika by-election New Zealand 1878 presidential no 1875–1876 New Zealand general election 1876 general 1879 New Zealand general election 1879 general Hokitika 1878 06 26 y 120x120px Seymour Thorne George Independent politician 884 52.84 120x120px Gerard George Fitzgerald Independent politician 789 47.16 MP Charles Button Seymour Thorne George Independent politician Independent politician The Hokitika by-election 1878 was a by-election held in the multi-member Hokitika electorate during the 6th New Zealand Parliament, on 26 June 1878. The by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Charles Button and was won by Seymour Thorne George, who defeated Gerard George Fitzgerald. Thorne George was suggested as a candidate by the premier, Sir George Grey; he was the Premier's nephew, and lived in the North Island. Background Button had first been elected to the House of Representatives in the 1876 general election. He had contested the two-member Hokitika electorate with four other candidates, and as the second-highest polling candidate, he was successful; the other successful candidate was Edmund Barff.Declaration of the Poll http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18760119.2.7 20 February 2015 West Coast Times 3219 19 January 1876 2Wilson 1985 187 When Hokitika electorate constituents passed a resolution in 1878 that thanked Button but expressed regret that he did not support Sir George Grey, Button handed in his resignation on 22 May.Mr. C.E. Button Dead http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19201229.2.88 3 May 2013 The New Zealand Herald LVII 17665 29 December 1920 6http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780517.2.5 West Coast Times 17 May 1878 28 February 2015 2846 2Wilson 1985 187 Candidates Electors presented a petition to Robert Reid, asking to allow him to be nominated, but he declined as his business affairs needed his attention.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780603.2.6 West Coast Times 3 June 1878 23 February 2015 2860 2 Reid had been one of the candidates in the 1876 election, and had been narrowly beaten into third place. Another person asked to stand was the shop keeper and lay preacher D. W. Virtue, but he also declined.Harper 1964 15 A local newspaper, the West Coast Times, mentioned that whilst Gerard George Fitzgerald was apparently interested, he would stand no chance. The newspaper was dismissive of Fitzgerald ("would not be likely to meet with general support") and questioned whether the returning officer would even accept his nomination;http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780610.2.6 West Coast Times 10 June 1878 25 February 2015 2866 2 this referred to his bankruptcy earlier in the year.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780216.2.2.7 County Council Gazette West Coast Times 16 February 1878 22 February 2015 2770 1 Fitzgerald was the first to formally declare his candidacy on 10 June 1878 by placing an advertisement in the West Coast Times.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780610.2.10.2 To the Electors of the Electoral District of Hokitika West Coast Times 10 June 1878 25 February 2015 2866 3 The following day, the West Coast Times ran the most critical editorial about Fitzgerald:http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780611.2.6 West Coast Times 11 June 1878 25 February 2015 2867 2 The electors are now asked to return a gentleman to Parliament who is rightly considered unfit for the public service, who was, in fact, if not in name, dismissed for conduct for which there is no excuse. He is quite competent to be a member of the House, but incompetent to sit on the Magistrate's Bench! Is Parliament become a refuge for the destitute? Is the Insolvency Court a half-way house to the Legislature? Does a long experience of questionable company tend to qualify a man to represent a large constituency in Parliament? Mr Fitzgerald is well known to every one in Hokitika and on the Coast. Why should he show his contempt for this constituency by offering them his services? The premier at the time, Sir George Grey, was very popular with people on the West Coast. Robert Reid was a strong supporter of Grey, and Reid owned the West Coast Times''' from 1874 to 1883, doing everything he could to support the Grey administration.West Coast Times http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=CL1.WCT&essay=1 National Library of New Zealand 2 March 2015Robert Caldwell Reid http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18970320.2.7 2 March 2015 West Coast Times 10514 20 March 1897 2 A Hokitika man enquired by telegram whether Grey could recommend a good candidate from outside the area. Sir George replied: My nephew Seymour Thorne George would be glad to represent your district if you sent him a requisition asking him to do so. He was with me when I visited your district in February last. G. Grey The Grey River Argus was most critical of this situation. Thorne George, at the time in his mid-20s, was described by them as a "perfect nobody".Untitled http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=GRA18780604.2.6 28 February 2015 Grey River Argus 21 3058 4 June 1878 2 Thorne George replied to the requisition by telegram from Wellington on 10 June, acceding to the request.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780614.2.12.3 General Assembly Election West Coast Times 14 June 1878 28 February 2015 2870 3http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780617.2.18.4 Election Notices West Coast Times 17 June 1878 28 February 2015 2872 3 He arrived in Hokitika by coach from Christchurch on 19 June and gave his first public speech on the following evening in the Hokitika town hall.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780620.2.7 West Coast Times 20 June 1878 28 February 2015 2875 2 Richard Seddon, who had contested the 1876 election coming fourth, was noted as not being inclined to run in the by-election. Like Fitzgerald, Seddon was in financial difficulties and a few months later, in October, he filed for bankruptcy.Burdon 1955 40 As a staunch liberal and supporter of George Grey, Seddon organised support for Thorne George.Burdon 1955 41 There was also a discussion whether to ask Button to stand again. The West Coast Times argued that the vote passed at the meeting that resulted in his resignation may not have been representative. The newspaper reported on 14 June that Button had decided against contesting the election.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780614.2.7 West Coast Times 14 June 1878 28 February 2015 2870 2 Another candidate was Andrew Cumming, a well-known individual and for some years trading in Hokitika.The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts 1906 http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc05Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d10-d5.html The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Cyclopedia Company Limited 28 February 2015 Christchurch Mr. Andrew Cumming S. Croumbie-Brown of Kumara announced himself as a candidate. A staff member of the Kumara Times'', he was virtually unknown in the district.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780612.2.5 West Coast Times 12 June 1878 28 February 2015 2868 2 Nomination meeting and subsequent events thumb|Hokitika township and the Hokitika River; photograph published as a wood engraving in the Official Handbook of New Zealand 1875Vogel Julius Julius Vogel The Official Handbook of New Zealand 1875 1875 Government of New Zealand Wellington 156 http://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1875-official-handbook/1875-official-handbook.html#idchapter_1_23833 28 February 2015 The hustings were erected outside the Hokitika Magistrate's Court building for the nomination meeting on 20 June at noon. Marcus Furlong South was the returning officer. Because of heavy rain, the nomination meeting was held inside the court, with the returning officer taking the bench. The merchant James Chesney nominated Thorne George, with the merchant Joseph Churches seconding the nomination. Fitzgerald was nominated by John Bevan and seconded by George Davidson, an engineer, blacksmiths and ironfounder. The third person to be nominated was Croumbie-Brown, but by then, the rain had stopped and the waiting crowd demanded forcefully for the remaining affairs to be held on the hustings. The returning officer moved the affairs outside and asked for a show of hands, which he declared in favour of Fitzgerald. A formal poll was asked for on behalf of Croumbie-Brown. Fitzgerald then gave an address to the electors, and towards the end, it started raining again. The other two candidates said that they would not keep the electors while it was raining, and the proceedings were terminated.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780621.2.7.1 The Nomination West Coast Times 21 June 1878 28 February 2015 2876 2 Cumming placed an advertisement the day after the nomination meeting giving reasons why he had withdrawn from the contest.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780621.2.9.4 Election Notices West Coast Times 21 June 1878 28 February 2015 2876 3 Croumbie-Brown announced his resignation from the contest after a 22 June meeting held by Thorne George in Kumara in front of an alleged crowd of 1,200 people.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780624.2.8.6 Mr. George's Meeting at Kumara West Coast Times 24 June 1878 28 February 2015 2877 2 Results thumb|By-election results by polling booth Polling day was Wednesday, 26 June 1878, and voting was done between 9 am and 4 pm. The only polling booth in Hokitika was at the Magistrate's Court building,http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18780626.2.4 West Coast Times 26 June 1878 28 February 2015 2879 2 but 13 further booths were throughout the electorate. There were 1,673 votes cast in the election by secret ballot. A New Zealand census had been held in 1878McLintock 2009 and this had resulted in an updated electoral roll for the Hokitika electorate of 1,823 names.McRobie 1989 44 The turnout was thus over 91% at the by-election. Fitzgerald had a small majority at the Hokitika booth, but overall Thorne George won the by-electionWilson 1985 199 with a majority of just over 5% of the votes. Thorne George represented the Hokitika electorate until the end of the parliamentary term. In the 1879, he announced that he would contest the Rodney electorate north of Auckland (where he was successful).Wilson 1985 199 There were four liberal candidates for the two seats in the Hokitika electorate, and Seddon sought and obtained an endorsement from George Grey for his candidacy: "You are worthy; stand yourself."Burdon 1955 41f The opposition candidate Robert Reid and Seddon were returned for the Hokitika electorate.Wilson 1985 229, 233Burdon 1955 42 Notes References Burdon Randal Mathews Randal Mathews Burdon King Dick: A Biography of Richard John Seddon https://archive.org/details/kingdickbiograph0000burd registration Whitcombe and Tombs 1955 Christchurch Jonathan H. Haslam George S. Harper http://www.methodist.org.nz/files/docs/wesley%20historical/20%283%29%20gold%20diggings%20and%20the%20gospel%20.pdf Gold Diggings and the Gospel: The Westland Diary of the Rev. G.S. Harper 1865-66 Wesley Historical Society 23 February 2015 1964 A. H. McLintock First published in 1966 http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/population/page-2 An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga 22 April 2009 24 February 2015 The Census Alexander Hare McLintock Electoral Atlas of New Zealand McRobie Alan 1989 GP Books Wellington 0-477-01384-8 Wilson Jim Jim Wilson (librarian) New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Hokitika 1878 Category:1878 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the West Coast Region