New Zealand general election, 1887

New Zealand general election, 1887

7 (Māori) & 26 (general) September 1887

All 95 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives Turnout 67.1%   First party   Leader Harry Atkinson Party Independent Leader's seat Egmont Last election 95 seats Seats won 95 Seat change Popular vote N/A Percentage N/A Swing N/A

Prime Minister before election Robert Stout Independent Prime Minister after election Harry Atkinson Independent

The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September^[1] to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes (67.1% turnout) were cast.^[2] In 5 seats there was only one candidate.^[3]

1887 electoral redistribution

The Representation Act 1887 had major implication for the procedure of revising electoral boundaries. The revision task was transferred from committees formed by MPs to a permanent Representation Commission. The act specified that a country quota of 18% be applied to all designated districts that excluded boroughs with a population above 2,000 people, and that all electorates were to have the same nominal population within a tolerance of 750 people. It was also stipulated that electoral boundaries were to be reviewed after each census.^[4]

In the 1887 electoral redistribution, although the Representation Commission was required through the Representation Act 1887 to maintain existing electorates "as far as possible", rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Ten new electorates were created: Auckland Central, Woodville, Wellington South and Suburbs, Masterton, Wellington East, Waimea-Picton, Linwood, Rangitata, Waihemo, and Ponsonby. One former electorate, Wairarapa, was recreated.^[5]

1887 was the year the Independent Representation Commission was established to redraw electorate boundaries after each five-yearly population census. The country quota was reduced to 18%. A £10 candidate's deposit was introduced.^[4]

The Scarecrow Ministry

There was confusion in Wellington in September 1887 when the members gathered to form a government. John Bryce, William Rolleston and Robert Stout had all lost their seats. Sir John Hall said he was too old. Sir Julius Vogel's policies had been rejected by the voters.

So there was no alternative to Harry Atkinson, and after two weeks of negotiations he announced a ministry on 11 October. Only two ministers had served with him before. The Scarecrow Ministry was not expected to last, but did.

The years 1887 and 1888 were the worst of the Long Depression, and Atkinson cut salaries, raised loans and raised customs duties. He was not popular with the wealthy, but they feared the Opposition leaders Grey and Ballance even more. By 1890 Atkinson was too ill to make speeches in the House.

Results

The following table shows the results of the 1887 general election:^[6]

Electorate incumbent	Elected member defeated candidates	MP's term
Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs	Richard Hobbs	Fourth
	2nd: John Lundon
Marsden Held by E Mitchelson	Robert Thompson	First
	2nd: Joseph Dargaville
Rodney Held by W Moat	William Moat	Second
	2nd: Jackson Palmer 3rd: A Colbeck 4th: J Hudson
Waitemata Held by R Monk	Richard Monk	Second
	2nd: Reader Wood
Eden Held by J Tole	Edwin Mitchelson	Third
	2nd: JA Connell
Newton Held by T Peacock	Edward Withy	First
	2nd: Joseph Tole 3rd: HT Garrett
Ponsonby New electorate	Thomas Peacock	Third
	2nd: CS Wright 3rd: E Cooper
Auckland North Held by T Thompson	Thomas Thompson	Second
	2nd:Samuel Vaile
Auckland West[7] Held by J McM Dargaville	David Goldie	Second
	2nd:John McEffer Shera 3rd: Edward W. Morrison
Auckland Central New electorate	George Grey	Seventh
	Unopposed
Parnell Held by FJ Moss	Frederick Moss	Fifth
	2nd:Seymour Thorne George
Manukau Held by GM O'Rorke	Maurice O'Rorke	Eighth
	2nd: SS Osborne
Franklin North Held by Frank Buckland	Frank Lawry	First
	2nd: Frank Buckland
Franklin South Held by E Hamlin	Ebenezer Hamlin	Fifth
	2nd: Benjamin Harris 3rd: FB Kingsford
Coromandel Held by A Cadman	Alfred Cadman	Third
	2nd: J Mackay
Thames Held by W Fraser	William Fraser	Second
	2nd: James McGowan 3rd: J Frater
Waikato Held by JB Whyte	John Blair Whyte	Fourth
	2nd: GW Russell
Tauranga Held by GB Morris	William Kelly	Second
	2nd: Richard John Gill 3rd: H Kerr
Waipa Held by E Lake	William Jackson	Second
	2nd: JB Teasdale 3rd: D Maxwell 4th: T Campbell
East Coast Held by S Locke	Andrew Graham	First
	2nd: A McDonald 3rd: MJ Gannon
Taranaki Held by R Trimble	George Marchant	First
	2nd: Elliot 3rd: R Trimble 4th: T Kelly
New Plymouth Held by O Samuel	Oliver Samuel	Second
	2nd: Edward Metcalf Smith 3rd: E Dockrill
Egmont Held by HA Atkinson	Harry Atkinson	Eight
	2nd: Felix McGuire
Wanganui Held by J Ballance	John Ballance	Fifth
	2nd: Gilbert Carson
Waitotara Held by J Bryce	George Hutchinson	First
	2nd: John Bryce 3rd: J Morgan
Napier Held by JD Ormond	John Davies Ormond	Seventh
	2nd: Joseph Ivess
Hawkes Bay Held by WR Russell	William Russell	Fourth
	2nd: A Desmond
Waipawa Held by WC Smith	Thomas Tanner	First
	2nd:J Harker 3rd:Fred Sutton 4th: ARW Lascelles
Rangitikei Held by RC Bruce	Robert Bruce	Second
	2nd: J Stevens 3rd: F Arkwright
Manawatu Held by DH Macarthur	Douglas Macarthur	Second
	2nd: GL West
Foxton Held by J Wilson	James Wilson	Third
	2nd: ES Thynne 3rd: Sanson
Woodville New Electorate	William Smith	Third
	2nd: Horace Baker 3rd: William Wilson McCardle
Masterton New Electorate	George Beetham	Fifth
	2nd: Alexander Hogg 3rd: RS Hawkins
Wairarapa New Electorate	Walter Buchanan	Third
	2nd: Henry Bunny
Hutt Held by HS Fitzherbert	Henry Fitzherbert	Second
	2nd: Thomas Mason
Wellington South and Suburbs New Electorate	Charles Izard	First
	2nd: J Coombe
Thorndon Held by A Newman	Alfred Newman	Third
	2nd: William McLean
Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston	Andrew Stuart-Menteath	Second
	2nd: Francis Humphris Fraser
Wellington East New Electorate	George Fisher	Second
	2nd: Robertson 3rd: T Carter
Nelson Held by H Levestam	Henry Levestam	Fourth
	2nd: Jesse Piper 3rd: WB Gibbs
Waimea-Picton New Electorate	Arthur Seymour	Fourth
	2nd: Joseph Harkness 3rd: Charles H. Mills
Motueka Held by R Hursthouse	John Kerr	Second
	2nd: Richmond Hursthouse
Buller Held by EJ O'Conor	Eugene O'Conor	Third
	2nd: John Munro
Wairau Held by H Dodson	Henry Dodson	Third
	2nd: George Henderson 3rd: Sutherland John Macalister[8]
Inangahua Held by AA Stuart-Menteath	Richard Reeves	Third
	Unopposed
Greymouth Held by AR Guinness	Arthur Guinness	Second
	2nd: Joseph Petrie
Kumara Held by R Seddon	Richard Seddon	Fourth
	Unopposed
Hokitika Held by J Bevan	Joseph Grimmond	First
	2nd: John Bevan
Cheviot Held by JD Lance	James Lance	Second
	2nd: J Macfarlane
Ashley Held by WF Pearson	William Pearson	Third
	2nd: RL Higgins 3rd: JM Verrall
Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson	Edward Richardson	Sixth
	2nd: Richard Moore
Avon Held by L Harper	Edwin Blake	Second
	2nd: Edward George Wright
Linwood New Electorate	Andrew Loughrey	First
	2nd: William Flesher 3rd: Daniel Reese 4th: JT Partridge
Heathcote Held by F Jones	Frederic Jones	Second
	2nd: JH Hopkins
St Albans Held By FJ Garrick	William Reeves	First
	2nd: Francis James Garrick
Christchurch North Held by J Vogel	Julius Vogel	Sixth
	2nd: H Roberts
Christchurch South Held by J Holmes	Westby Perceval	First
	2nd: A Ayers 3rd: H Thomson 4th: E George[9]
Sydenham Held by RM Taylor	Richard Taylor	Second
	2nd: J Crewes
Lyttelton Held by H Allwright	John Joyce	First
	2nd: H Allwright
Akaroa Held by W Montgomery	Alexander McGregor	First
	2nd: William Barnett 3rd: George Armstrong 4th: George Russell Joblin 5th: Frederick Arthur Anson 6th: John Edward Thacker
Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan	Arthur O'Callaghan	Third
	2nd: Alfred Saunders 3rd: John Davies Gilbert Enys
Selwyn Held by E Wakefield	John Hall	Sixth
	2nd: John McLachlan
Ashburton Held by WC Walker	William Campbell Walker	Second
	2nd: Charles Purnell
Rangitata New Electorate	Searby Buxton	First
	2nd: William Rolleston 3rd: William Palmer
Timaru Held by R Turnbull	Richard Turnbull	Fifth
	2nd: Edward George Kerr
Gladstone Held by JH Sutter	Arthur Rhodes	First
	2nd: Jeremiah Twomey 3rd: F Franks
Waimate Held by WJ Steward	William Steward	Fourth
	2nd: John Manchester 3rd: Charles G Clarke
Waitaki Held by TY Duncan	Thomas Duncan	Third
	2nd: John Reid
Oamaru Held by TW Hislop	Thomas Hislop	Fourth
	2nd: William Henry Frith[10] 3rd: John Church
Waihemo New Electorate	John McKenzie	Third
	2nd: John Channing Buckland
Dunedin West Held by WD Stewart	William Stewart	Fourth
	2nd: Thomas Dick
Port Chalmers Held by J Mills	James Mills	Second
	2nd: James Green
Dunedin East Held by R Stout	James Allen	First
	2nd: Robert Stout
Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken	Frederick Fitchett	First
	2nd: Edward Cargill
Dunedin South Held by J Gore	Henry Fish	Second
	2nd: James Gore
Roslyn Held by AH Ross	Archibald Hilson Ross	Second
	2nd: William Hutchinson 3rd: Walter Carlton
Peninsula Held by W Larnach	William Larnach	Fourth
	2nd: Thomas Begg[11]
Caversham Held by W Barron	William Barron	Fourth
	2nd: Robert Rutherford
Taieri Held by J Fulton	James Fulton	Fourth
	2nd: W Carncross
Mount Ida Held by S Mackenzie	Scobie Mackenzie	Second
	2nd: Owen Hodge
Bruce Held by D Reid	Crawford Anderson	First
	2nd: Donald Reid
Tuapeka Held by J Brown	James Brown	Seventh
	2nd: James Bennet
Dunstan Held by V Pyke	Vincent Pyke	Sixth
	Unopposed
Clutha Held by JW Thomson	Thomas Mackenzie	First
	2nd: James William Thomson
Waikaia New electorate	Hugh Valentine	First
	2nd: Francis Wallace Mackenzie 3rd: FS Canning
Mataura Held by GF Richardson	George Richardson	Second
	2nd: James Mackintosh[12]
Hokonui Held by C Cowan	Cuthbert Cowan	Third
	2nd: Alfred Baldey
Wakatipu Held by T Fergus	Thomas Fergus	Third
	Unopposed
Wallace Held by H Hirst	Samuel Hodgkinson	Second
	2nd: Henry Hirst 3rd: John McIntyre 4th: Theophilus Daniel
Invercargill Held by J Hatch	Henry Feldwick	Third
	2nd: Henry Jaggers 3rd: Joseph Hatch 4th: Cyril Tanner 5th: John Walker Mitchell
Awarua Held by James Parker Joyce	Joseph Ward	First
	2nd: George Froggart 3rd: James Walker Bain
Northern Maori Held by W Katene	Sydney Taiwhanga[13]	First
	2nd: Wi Katene 3rd: Peotipi 4th: Kereraru 5th: Tomoro Kingi 6th: Aratapu
Eastern Maori Held by W Pere	James Carroll[13][14]	First
	2nd: Wi Pere 3rd: Alfred Warbrick 4th: Kereraru
Western Maori Held by H Taipua	Hoani Taipua
Southern Maori Held by T Parata	Tame Parata[15][16]	Second
	2nd: Thomas Ellison 3rd: Kahu 4th: Hone Taare Tikao

Notes

1. "THE GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS." (6043). Star. 27 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
2. "General elections 1853-2005 - dates & turnout". Elections New Zealand. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 286.
4. McRobie 1989, p. 51.
5. McRobie 1989, pp. 50–53.
6. "The General Election, 1887". National Library. 1887. pp. 1–4. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
7. "City West". Auckland Star. XVIII (219). 19 September 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
8. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Mr. Sutherland John Maclister". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
9. "Christchurch South". The Star (6034). 16 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
10. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "Flourmillers, Grocers, Etc". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
11. "Election Notes". Otago Daily Times (7972). 9 September 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
12. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "Old Colonists". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
13. "Maori Electorates". Hawera & Normanby Star IX (1724). 9 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
14. "Election News". Ashburton Guardian VII (1638). 17 August 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
15. "The Maori Members". The Press XLIV (6861). 20 September 1887. p. 6. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
16. "The Southern Native Member". The Press XLIV (6856). 14 September 1887. p. 6. Retrieved 16 January 2014.

References

• Bassett, Judith (1969). Sir Harry Atkinson. Wellington: AH & AW Reed.
• Bassett, Judith (1975). Sir Harry Atkinson, 1831–1892. Auckland: Auckland/Oxford University Presses. ISBN 0-19-647934-7.
• McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.