1880 Rangitikei by-election

The 1880 Rangitikei by-election was a by-election held during the 7th New Zealand Parliament in the Rangitikei electorate of the North Island. This was the fourth by-election since the Rangitikei electorate was established for the 1861 election. The previous by-election took place in 1875 and the following one took place in 1892. Sir William Fox, Premier of New Zealand on four occasions, was elected to Parliament for his sixth and final time.

1880 Rangitikei by-election

← 1879 general 8 May 1880 (1880-05-08) 1881 general →
  William Fox in 1890
Candidate William Fox Donald Fraser
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 233 123
Percentage 54.82 28.94

Member before election

William Willis
Independent

Elected Member

William Fox
Independent

Background

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Despite William Jarvis Willis' election to Parliament only one year earlier in the 1879 election, he resigned on 5 April 1880 due to poor health.[1] A by-election was called for 8 May 1880 with former Premier of New Zealand William Fox, Marton politician Henry Lyon and Donald Fraser of Lower Rangitikei being the three candidates.[2]

Results

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1880 Rangitikei by-election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Fox 233 54.82
Independent Donald Fraser 123 28.94
Independent Henry Lyon 69 16.24
Majority 110 25.88
Turnout 425

Fox was elected to Parliament for a sixth and final term, serving as MP for Rangitikei until the 1881 general election. He was elected by a majority of 110 votes, or 25.88%, over runner-up Fraser.[3]

Some electors in Turakina were unable to vote as the local polling station opened at 9:40 a.m. instead of the legally-mandated 9 a.m., leaving some electors with no opportunity to vote as they had to go back to their daily routines.[4]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 246.
  2. ^ "The Rangitikei Election". The Wanganui Herald. Vol. 12, no. 3705. 5 May 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Rangitikei Election". Taranaki Herald. Vol. 28, no. 3425. 10 May 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. ^ "New Zealand Telegrams". Taranaki Herald. Vol. 28, no. 3424. p. 8 May 1880. Retrieved 17 May 2016.

References

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  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.