1868 Collingwood by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 July 2019 The 1868 Collingwood by-election was a by-election held on 18 March 1868 in the Collingwood electorate during the 4th New Zealand Parliament. The by-election was caused by the resignation of the incumbent MP Andrew Richmond on 7 February 1868.Wilson 1985 231 Richmond advertised his resignation in The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, advising that he would be unable to attend the next session and thanking his voters for their support over the previous eight years.To the electors of the District of Collingwood https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18680213.2.2.6 11 April 2024 The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle XXVII 19 13 February 1868 1 He intended to visit England.To Mr. E. Wastney, M.P.C., Suburban North https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18680306.2.43.2 11 April 2024 The Colonist XI 1090 6 March 1868 10 It had been widely known in late 1867 that Richmond intended to resign. In a letter to the Nelson newspaper The Colonist written on 19 December 1867, a writer using a pseudonym claimed that Richmond had resigned long ago had it not been for William Gibbs, who intended to succeed him, asking to wait until Gibbs has had the chance to canvass the electorate.The Colonist To the Editor of The Colonist https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18680107.2.12.2 10 April 2024 XI 1073 7 January 1868 3 As reported by a correspondent for the Nelson Evening Mail, Gibbs gave a speech at Motupipi School on 28 January where he apparently addressed the issue. Upon putting the question to him, Richmond had supposedly told Gibbs that he would delay his resignation for some months so that the miners working at the Aorere Goldfields had held their miners' licenses for more than six months, which enabled them to cast a vote.Motupipi https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18680204.2.8 10 April 2024 Nelson Evening Mail III 28 4 February 1868 2 A correspondent to the newspaper followed up and disputed that Gibbs had ever talked about Richmond at the meeting. Rather, this had been discussed at a hotel in Tākaka on an earlier occasion where both Arthur Collins and Gibbs spoke, and it had been Collins who had made the statements about Richmond.Correspondence https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18680221.2.19 11 April 2024 Nelson Evening Mail III 43 21 February 1868 3 Either way, it is unclear, though, whether miners could vote at all based on their miner's license given that the relevant legislation extending the franchise was not passed until 1862.Wilson 1985 284 There were three candidates. A requisition led by Sir William Stuart Forbes was put to Collins.To Arthur Collins, Esq. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18680309.2.14.2 11 April 2024 Nelson Evening Mail III 57 9 March 1868 3 Jabez Gibson led the requisition put to Wastney. Alexander Bow led the requisition put to Gibbs, which was issued before Richmond had resigned.To William Gibbs, Esq., J.P., M.P.C., Massacre Bay https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18680206.2.15.1 11 April 2024 The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle XXVII 16 6 February 1868 4 Wastney had been a member of Nelson Provincial Council since June 1867 for the Suburban North electorate. Gibbs had been a member of Nelson Provincial Council since 1855, first for the Massacre Bay electorate and since 1865 for the Collingwood electorate, reflecting a name change of the constituency. Collins was not on the provincial council; he would first be elected in November 1869.Scholefield 1950 212, 214 Four polling booths were provided for this election, and they were identical to those from the 1866 general election: Collingwood Court House, the police station at Slateford at the goldfields, George Taylor's house in Tākaka, and the school house in Clifton. Dr Henry Turnell was once again the returning officer. The nomination meeting was held at the Collingwood Court House on 16 March.Election notice https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18680303.2.2.6 11 April 2024 The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle XXVII 27 3 March 1868 1 The Lady Barkly sailed from Nelson to Collingwood, arriving early on election day and returning the following day so that Nelson-based electors could cast their vote.Collingwood election https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18680313.2.10.2 11 April 2024 Nelson Evening Mail III 61 13 March 1868 3 The by-election was won by Collins, by the narrow margin of three votes. Results Notes References Guy Scholefield Scholefield Guy New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 3rd First published in 1913 1950 Govt. Printer Wellington Wilson James Oakley New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First ed. published 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Collingwood 1868 Category:1868 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of the Tasman District Category:March 1868 in Oceania