George Vesey Stewart

George Vesey Stewart (1832–1920) was a notable New Zealand farmer, coloniser and local politician. He was born in Brighton, Sussex, England in about 1832.[1]

The 1881 election in the newly formed Tauranga electorate was hotly contested. Four candidates were nominated: George Morris, who had previously represented the East Coast electorate; Stewart, then the owner of the Bay of Plenty Times; William Kelly, who had also previously represented the East Coast electorate; and Henry Thomas Rowe, a surveyor and commission agent.[2] Rowe announced his retirement from the contest on 6 December three days out from election day, urging his supporters to vote for Stewart instead.[3] The unofficial results were released the day after the election (on Saturday, 10 December) and Morris had a majority of 13 votes over Stewart, with the official declaration to be made on 12 December.[4] This was deferred until 14 December, with Morris ahead by 10 votes.[5] Stewart stood for the Tauranga mayoralty a few months later and was elected the town's first mayor.[1]

Stewart stood in the 1893 election in the Bay of Plenty electorate and came a distant fourth.[6]

His brother's wife was Adela Blanche Stewart, who wrote the book My Simple Life in New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 Rorke, Jinty. "George Vesey Stewart". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Nomination of Candidates for the Tauranga Electorate". Bay of Plenty Times X (1152). 30 November 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "The Bay of Plenty Times". Bay of Plenty Times X (1158). 7 December 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Bay of Plenty Times". Bay of Plenty Times X (1161). 10 December 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Declaration of the Poll for the Tauranga Electorate". Bay of Plenty Times X (1164). 14 December 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  6. ↑ The General Election, 1893. Government Printer. 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
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