Wellington (New Zealand electorate)
# Wellington (New Zealand electorate)

Wellington (originally City of Wellington), was a parliamentary electorate in Wellington, New Zealand. It existed from 1853 to 1905 with a break in the 1880s. It was a multi-member electorate. The electorate was represented, over the years, by 24 members of parliament.

## Population centres

In December 1887, the House of Representatives voted to reduce its membership from general electorates from 91 to 70. The 1890 electoral redistribution used the same 1886 census data used for the 1887 electoral redistribution. In addition, three-member electorates were introduced in the four main centres. This resulted in a major restructuring of electorates, and Wellington was one of eight electorates to be re-created for the 1890 election.

## History

The electorate was one of the original electorates used in the 1853 election for the 1st New Zealand Parliament. During the period until 1871, Wellington was a three-member electorate.

In 1858, Isaac Featherston and William Fitzherbert resigned their seats in Parliament. Featherston apparently wanted to return to England. Instead, he successfully stood for re-election within months. The other person returned in the same by-election was William Barnard Rhodes.

The election for the 3rd Parliament was held on 11 December 1860, with the announcement of the official results on 15 December.

## Members of Parliament

Key

Independent  Liberal  Conservative  Liberal–Labour  Independent Liberal

### Three-member electorate (1853–1871)

| Election | Winner(s) | Winner(s) | Winner(s) |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1853 election | Charles Clifford | Robert Hart | James Kelham |
| 1855 election | Charles Clifford | Isaac Featherston | William Fitzherbert |
| 1858 by-election | Charles Clifford | Isaac Featherston | William Rhodes |
| 1860 election | William Taylor | Isaac Featherston | William Rhodes |
| 1866 election | William Taylor | Isaac Featherston | Charles Borlase |

### Two-member electorate (1871–1881)

| Election | Winner(s) | Winner(s) |
| - | - | - |
| 1871 election | George Hunter | Edward Pearce |
| 1875 election | George Hunter | Edward Pearce |
| 1877 by-election | George Hunter | William Travers |
| 1878 by-election | George Hunter | George Elliott Barton |
| 1879 election | William Hutchison | William Levin |
| (Electorate abolished 1881–1890) |||||

### Three-member electorate (1890–1905)

From 1881 to 1890, the Wellington electorate was replaced by three separate electorates: Te Aro and Thorndon during the whole nine years, and Wellington South (until 1887) then Wellington East (1887–1890)

| Election | Winner(s) | Winner(s) | Winner(s) |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1890 election | George Fisher | Kennedy Macdonald | John Duthie |
| 1892 by-election | George Fisher | William McLean | John Duthie |
| 1893 election | Francis Bell | Robert Stout | John Duthie |
| 1896 election | George Fisher | Robert Stout | John Hutcheson |
| 1898 by-election | George Fisher | John Duthie | John Hutcheson |
| 1899 by-election | George Fisher | John Duthie | John Hutcheson |
| 1899 election | George Fisher | Arthur Atkinson | John Hutcheson |
| 1902 election | George Fisher | John Duthie | John Aitken |
| 1905 by-election | Francis Fisher | John Duthie | John Aitken |
| (Electorate abolished 1905; see Wellington Central, Wellington East, and Wellington North) |||||||

In 1905 the Wellington electorate was again replaced by three electorates: Wellington Central, Wellington East, and Wellington North. In the 1905 election, all three Wellington incumbents stood in the new electorates, with Fisher and Aitken winning in Central and East respectively, while Duthie lost to Charles Izard in Wellington North – ending his parliamentary career.

## Election results

### 1905 by-election

1905 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent Liberal | Francis Fisher | 4,692 | 42.06 |
| | Liberal | Charles Izard | 3,441 | 30.84 |
| | Liberal–Labour | John Hutcheson | 3,021 | 27.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,251 | 11.21 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,154 | |
| | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Independent Liberal gain from Liberal | Swing | |

### 1902 election

1902 New Zealand general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | John Aitken | 7,808 | 55.29 |
| | Conservative | John Duthie | 6,886 | 48.76 |
| | Liberal | George Fisher | 6,685 | 47.34 |
| | Independent Liberal | Patrick O'Regan | 6,304 | 44.64 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Atkinson | 6,094 | 43.15 |
| | Liberal | John Findlay | 4,764 | 33.74 |
| | Liberal | James Godber | 1,437 | 10.18 |
| | Liberal | Edwin George Jellicoe | 1,384 | 9.80 |
| | Labour | David McLaren | 1,003 | 7.10 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | $381^1$ | 2.70 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 328 | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,365 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,122 | 66.56 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,218 | |

$^1$ Majority is difference between lowest winning poll (Fisher: 6,685) and highest losing poll (O'Regan: 6,304)

| Participation by gender | Participation by gender | Participation by gender | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| Female | Turnout | 7,312 | 72.00 |
| Female | Enrolled females | 10,155 | 47.86 |
| Male | Enrolled males | 11,063 | 52.14 |

### 1899 election

1899 New Zealand general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal–Labour | John Hutcheson | 7,436 | 51.06 | +2.38 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Atkinson | 6,703 | 46.02 | +1.75 |
| | Liberal | George Fisher | 6,442 | 44.23 | -0.26 |
| | Liberal | Kennedy Macdonald | 6,320 | 43.39 | |
| | Conservative | Thomas William Hislop | 6,297 | 43.23 | |
| | Independent Liberal | Edwin George Jellicoe | 4,751 | 32.62 | |
| | Liberal | Charles Luke | 3,812 | 26.17 | |
| | Independent Liberal | Thomas Carmichael | 1,004 | 6.89 | |
| | Liberal–Labour | William Earnshaw | 851 | 5.84 | |
| | Independent Liberal | Denton Burnett Duncan | 78 | 0.54 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | $122^1$ | 0.84 | +0.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,694 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,565 | 77.17 | +8.95 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,874 | | |

$^1$ Majority is difference between lowest winning poll (Fisher: 6,442) and highest losing poll (Macdonald: 6,320)

| Participation by gender | Participation by gender | Participation by gender | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| Female | Turnout | 7,080 | 79.30 |
| Female | Enrolled females | 8,928 | 47.30 |
| Male | Enrolled males | 9,946 | 52.70 |

### 1899 by-election

1899 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal–Labour | John Hutcheson | 6,945 | 58.28 |
| | Independent | Edwin George Jellicoe | 4,971 | 41.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,974 | 16.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,916 | |

### 1898 by-election

1898 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | John Duthie | 7,283 | 53.80 |
| | Liberal | Richard Clement Kirk | 6,254 | 46.20 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,029 | 7.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,537 | 77.26 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,522 | |

### 1896 election

1896 New Zealand general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal–Labour | John Hutcheson | 6,410 | 48.68 |
| | Independent | Robert Stout | 6,305 | 47.88 |
| | Liberal | George Fisher | 5,858 | 44.49 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Atkinson | 5,830 | 44.27 |
| | Liberal | Charles Wilson | 5,569 | 42.29 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Agnew Stuart Menteath | 5,559 | 42.22 |
| | Liberal | Francis Fraser | 1,811 | 13.75 |
| | Independent | Justinian John Kivern Powell | 185 | 1.40 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Warburton | 91 | 0.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 $^1$ | 0.21 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,618 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | $13,168^2$ | 68.21 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 19,304 | |

$^1$ Majority is difference between lowest winning poll (Fisher: 5,858) and highest losing poll (Atkinson: 5,830)

$^2$ Turnout is total number of voters – as voters had three votes each total votes cast was higher (37,618)

### 1893 election

1893 New Zealand general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Robert Stout | 6,218 | 46.73 |
| | Conservative | Francis Bell | 5,773 | 43.39 |
| | Conservative | John Duthie | 4,840 | 36.37 |
| | Liberal | Kennedy Macdonald | 3,863 | 29.03 |
| | Liberal | Francis Fraser | 3,729 | 28.02 |
| | Independent | Harry Vogel | 3,606 | 27.10 |
| | Liberal | William McLean | 3,438 | 25.84 |
| | Liberal | George Fisher | 2,385 | 17.92 |
| | Independent | Thomas Dwan | 1,157 | 8.70 |
| | Independent | William Travers | 1,093 | 8.21 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | $977^1$ | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 147 | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,249 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,306 $^2$ | 80.66 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,497 | |

1893 was the first election in which women could vote (the electoral act giving women the vote was passed ten weeks prior to the election). Electoral returns quantified female enrolment and turnout, and showed women's turnout was higher than men's while women's enrolment was lower.

| Participation by gender | Participation by gender | Participation by gender | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| Female | Turnout | 6,146 | 84.42 |
| Female | Enrolled females | 7,280 | 44.13 |
| Male | Turnout | 7,160 | 77.68 |
| Male | Enrolled males | 9,217 | 55.87 |

$^1$ Majority is difference between lowest winning poll (Duthie – 4,840) and highest losing poll (Mcdonald – 3,863)

$^2$ Turnout is total number of voters – as voters had three votes each total votes cast was higher (36,102 valid, and 147 invalid votes)

### 1892 by-election

1892 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | William McLean | 3,388 | 51.08 | +30.97 |
| | Conservative | Francis Bell | 3,245 | 48.92 | +5.31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 2.16 | -1.32 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,633 | 75.50 | +15.49 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,786 | | |

### 1890 election

1890 New Zealand general election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | George Fisher | 2,828 | 53.64 |
| | Conservative | John Duthie | 2,779 | 52.71 |
| | Liberal | Kennedy Macdonald | 2,482 | 47.08 |
| | Conservative | Francis Bell | 2,299 | 43.61 |
| | Liberal | Edwin George Jellicoe | 1,921 | 35.98 |
| | Liberal | Francis Fraser | 1,755 | 33.29 |
| | Liberal | William McLean | 1,060 | 20.11 |
| | Liberal | Robert Winter | 716 | 13.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 | 3.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,816 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,272 | 60.00 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,786 | |

### 1878 by-election

1878 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | George Elliott Barton | 506 | 41.04 |
| | Independent | Colonel E. Pearce | 463 | 21.41 |
| | Independent | William Hutchison | 263 | 37.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 3.49 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1232 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |

### 1877 by-election

1877 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | William Travers | 572 | 50.00 |
| | Independent | William Hutchison | 557 | 48.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 1.31 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1129 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | |

### 1858 by-election

1858 City of Wellington by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Isaac Featherston | 360 |
| | Independent | William Rhodes | 352 |
| | Independent | Jerningham Wakefield | 349 |
| | Independent | William Bowler | 347 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,408 |

**Table footnotes**

* ↑ Majority is the difference between lowest winning poll (Rhodes: 352) and highest losing poll (Wakefield: 349)

### 1855 election

1855 City of Wellington election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Charles Clifford | 290 |
| | Independent | Isaac Featherston | 289 |
| | Independent | William Fitzherbert | 258 |
| | Independent | Stephen Carkeek | 244 |
| | Independent | Robert Hart | 238 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,319 |

**Table footnotes**

* ↑ Majority is the difference between lowest winning poll (Fitzherbert: 258) and highest losing poll (Carkeek: 244)
