1884 Thorndon by-election

The 1884 Thorndon by-election was a by-election held on 13 May 1884 for the Wellington urban electorate of Thorndon during the 8th Parliament.

Wellington businessman William Levin resigned due to ill-health.[1]

He was replaced by Dr Alfred Newman.[2]

One of the losing candidates, Henry Bunny had represented the Wairarapa electorate from 1865 to 1881. He was widely expected to win.[3]

Thomas Dwan did not impress one reporter at the opening meeting of the campaign, saying that he did not give his usual "political mountebank" speech but a deadly dull one, and that he showed he knew as much about the country districts as a "Hindoo does about skating".[4]

Results

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The following table gives the election results:

1884 Thorndon by-election[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alfred Newman 636 55.99
Independent Henry Bunny 379 33.36
Independent Thomas Dwan 121 10.65
Majority 257 22.62
Turnout 1136

References

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  1. ^ Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. p. 120.
  2. ^ "Dr Newman at the Arcade". The New Zealand Herald. 16 May 1884.
  3. ^ "Thorndon Election". Hawera and Normanby Star. 14 May 1884.
  4. ^ "Mr Dwan's Candidature". Wairarapa Standard. 16 April 1884.
  5. ^ "Thorndon Election". Hawkes Bay Herald. 14 May 1884.
  6. ^ "Thorndon Election". The Evening Post. 16 May 1884.