1856 Town of Christchurch by-election

New Zealand by-election April 2024 April 2022 1856 Town of Christchurch by-election New Zealand 1856 presidential no 1855 New Zealand general election 1855 general 1860 Town of Christchurch by-election 1860 by-election Christchurch (New Zealand electorate) 1856 11 18 y Richard Packer Independent politician MP Henry Sewell Richard Packer Independent politician Independent politician The Town of Christchurch by-election of 1856 was a by-election held in the Town of Christchurch electorate during the 2nd New Zealand Parliament, on 18 November 1856. The by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Henry Sewell and was won by Richard Packer. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18561231.2.15 Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 3 XV 79 31 December 1856 2 May 2013 Canterbury Papers Past Packer had been invited to stand for election in the 1855, but he had declined the requisition because of the popularity of Sewell, the incumbent.To Richard Packer Esq., M.P.C. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=LT18561119.2.10.3 29 May 2013 Lyttelton Times VI 422 19 November 1856 9 Papers Past Sewell resigned on 16 August 1856, the final day of the first session of the 2nd New Zealand Parliament.Scholefield 1950 68, 138McIntyre 1980 262 This was in preparation of his departure for England. Sewell was a member of the first Stafford Ministry and had agreed with Stafford to remain in Auckland, where the seat of Parliament was at the time, so that Stafford could attend to business in his home town Nelson for one or two months.McIntyre 1980 260 Sewell left at the end of October from Auckland on the William Denny for England via Sydney, i.e. he did not return to Canterbury first.McIntyre 1980 271–272 The by-election was held on Tuesday, 18 November 1856.Scholefield 1950 131 The Lyttelton Times, one of two newspapers in Canterbury at the time, merely reported that there was a general lack of excitement about the election.Local Intelligence https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=LT18561122.2.11 29 May 2013 Lyttelton Times VI 423 22 November 1856 6 Papers Past The lack of reporting of the voting suggests that Packer was elected unopposed; an advertised writ would confirm whether nomination day was the same as the date recorded for the election (the two only fall on the same day if there is only one candidate), but no writ appears in the Lyttelton Times. It is likely that the writ was advertised in Joseph Brittan's Canterbury Standard, as that newspaper was printed in Christchurch. Packer served in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament until his resignation on 28 December 1859.Scholefield 1950 131 The resulting by-election was contested by the publican and political novice Michael Hart, and by Sewell, who had returned from England. Hart accused Packer of having been a locum tenens (i.e. a placeholder) for Sewell. Christchurch Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=LT18600121.2.14 11 February 2012 Lyttelton Times XIII 752 21 January 1860 4 Papers Past This may or may not have been true, but at the very least, it could not have easily been arranged before Packer's election, as Sewell had not returned from Auckland before his return to England.McIntyre 1980 271–272 Notes References McIntyre W. David W. David McIntyre The Journal of Henry Sewell 1853–7 II 1980 Whitcoulls Publishers Christchurch 0-7233-0625-7 Scholefield Guy Guy Scholefield New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 First ed. published 1913 3rd 1950 Govt. Printer Wellington Christchurch 1856 Category:1856 elections in New Zealand Category:November 1856 Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:1850s in Christchurch