Hokitika (New Zealand electorate)

Hokitika is a former parliamentary electorate in the West Coast region of New Zealand, based on the town of Hokitika. It existed from 1871 to 1890 and was represented by nine members of parliament. For a time, it was one of the two-member electorates in New Zealand.

History

The Hokitika electorate existed from the 1871 general election to 1890. John White was its first representative until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875, when he retired.[1]

Beginning with the 1875–76 general election, which was held in Hokitika on 14 January 1876, the electorate was represented by two members. Edmund Barff and Charles Button were elected, Robert Reid and Richard Seddon (the later Premier) were defeated, and Conrad Hoos withdrew just before the election.[2][3] Barff served the whole term until 1879,[4] while Button resigned in May 1878[5] and was succeeded by Seymour Thorne George in an 1878 by-election, and who a year later successfully stood in the Rodney electorate.[6]

Robert Reid[7] and Richard Seddon were elected in the 1879 general election. Seddon, who was later Premier ("King Dick"), was in 1881 elected for Kumara.[8] Reid contested the 1881 general election against Gerard George Fitzgerald, with the latter being successful.[9][10]

John Bevan won the 1884 general election,[11] and he was succeeded in the 1887 election by Joseph Grimmond.[12] In 1890, the Hokitika electorate was abolished.[13] Grimmond stood in the Westland electorate instead, but was defeated by Richard Seddon.[14]

Members of parliament

Hokitika was represented by nine members of parliament.[15]

1871 to 1875

From 1871 to 1875, Hokitika was a single-member electorate. It was represented by one Member of Parliament.

Election Winner
1871 election John White

1876 to 1881

From 1876 to 1881, Hokitika was a two-member electorate. It was represented by five Members of Parliament.

Election Winners
1876 election Edmund Barff Charles Button
1878 by-election Seymour Thorne George
1879 election Robert Reid Richard Seddon

1881 to 1890

From 1881 to 1890, Hokitika was again a single-member electorate, represented by three Members of Parliament.

Election Winner
1881 election Gerard George Fitzgerald
1884 election John Bevan
1887 election Joseph Grimmond

Election results

1884 election

General election, 1884: Hokitika[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent John Bevan 684 48.96
Independent Gerard George Fitzgerald 626 44.81 -11.63
Independent James Clarke[17] 87 6.23
Majority 58 4.15 -8.73
Turnout 1,397 69.26 -2.38
Registered electors 2,017

1881 election

General election, 1881: Hokitika[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Gerard George Fitzgerald 653 56.44
Independent Robert Reid 504 43.56
Majority 149 12.88 +4.25
Turnout 1,157 71.64
Registered electors 1,615

1879 election

General election, 1879: Hokitika[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Robert Reid 917 33.09
Independent Richard Seddon 800 28.87
Independent Peter Dungan[20] 561 20.25
Independent Edmund Barff 403 14.54
Independent Hamilton Cuming[20] 90 3.25
Majority 239[nb 1] 8.63
Turnout 2,771
Registered electors 1,823[21][nb 2]

1878 by-election

Hokitika by-election, 1878[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Seymour Thorne George 884 52.84
Independent Gerard George Fitzgerald 789 47.16
Majority 95 5.68
Turnout 1,673 91.77
Registered electors 1,823

1876 election

General election, 1876: Hokitika[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Edmund Barff 648 30.71
Independent Charles Button 586 27.77
Independent Robert Reid 527 24.98
Independent Richard Seddon 343 16.26
Independent Conrad Hoos 6 0.28
Majority 59[nb 3]
Registered electors 1,547[21][nb 4]

Table footnotes

  1. ↑ As two members were elected, majority is the difference between the second and third candidate
  2. ↑ Electors had two votes each
  3. ↑ As two members were elected, majority is the difference between the second and third candidate
  4. ↑ Electors had two votes each

Notes

  1. ↑ Wilson 1984, p. 245.
  2. 1 2 "Declaration of the Poll". West Coast Times (3219). 19 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "West Coast Times". West Coast Times (3213). 12 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 94.
  5. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 99.
  6. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 108.
  7. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 134.
  8. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 138.
  9. ↑ "Westland". Tuapeka Times. XIV (797). 14 December 1881. p. 5. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  10. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 106.
  11. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 96.
  12. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 110.
  13. ↑ Scholefield 1950, p. 159.
  14. ↑ "Westland". Clutha Leader. XVII (856). 12 December 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  15. ↑ Wilson 1984.
  16. ↑ Cooper, G. S. (1884). The General Election, 1884. National Library. p. 5. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "West Coast Times". West Coast Times (4658). 3 July 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  18. ↑ Cooper, G. S. (1882). Votes Recorded for Each Candidate. Government Printer. p. 2. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Hokitika District Election". West Coast Times (3260). 11 September 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  20. 1 2 "West Coast Times". West Coast Times (3234). 12 August 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  21. 1 2 McRobie 1989, p. 44.
  22. ↑ "The Hokitika Election". West Coast Times (2882). 29 June 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 24 February 2015.

References

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