Wellington Country
Wellington Country was a former parliamentary electorate in the Wellington Region from 1853 to 1860 and then 1871 to 1881. The seat covered Miramar, Mākara, Porirua, the Kāpiti Coast and the Horowhenua District.
History
[edit]
William Barnard Rhodes was the first representative of Wellington Country. He served until the dissolution of Parliament in 1855[1] and (unsuccessfully) contested the City of Wellington electorate instead. The 1855 election was won by Dudley Ward, who resigned in 1858.[2] The ensuing 1858 by-election was won by Alfred Brandon, who served until the dissolution of Parliament in 1860.[3]
From 1860 to 1870, Wellington Country was replaced by the Porirua electorate, held by Brandon.[3] Wellington Country was re-established for the 1871 election. Brandon was challenged by Edward Thomas Gillon. Whilst there was criticism of Brandon not having had a good connection to his electorate,[4] Brandon won with a solid majority.[5] The next election in 1875 was contested by Gillon, Brandon, and J. H. Wallace.[6] Brandon was again successful and received 208 votes versus 141 for Gillon, with Wallace a distant last.[7] Brandon won the 1879 election and at the end of the parliamentary term in 1881, he retired from politics,[3] and the Wellington Country electorate was abolished.[8]
From 1911 to 1919 the geographic area was combined with Wellington Suburbs into Wellington Suburbs and Country.[9]
Members
[edit]The electorate was represented by three Members of Parliament.[8]
Key
| Election | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 1853 election | William Barnard Rhodes | |
| 1855 election | Dudley Ward | |
| 1858 by-election | Alfred Brandon | |
| (Electorate abolished 1860–1871, see Porirua) | ||
| 1871 election | Alfred Brandon | |
| 1875 election | ||
| 1879 election | ||
Election results
[edit]1858 by-election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Alfred Brandon[11] | 268 | 86.73 | − | |
| Independent | Francis Bradey[a][12][13][11] | 41 | 13.27 | − | |
| Majority | 227 | 73.46 | − | ||
| Total votes | 309 | - | - | ||
Notes
[edit]- ^ full name is Francis Henry Badey, but common name does not use his middle name
References
[edit]- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 135.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 146.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 97.
- ^ "The Evening Post". The Evening Post. Vol. VI, no. 283. 13 January 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "By Electric Telegraph". Otago Daily Times. No. 2792. 18 January 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Election Notes". Otago Daily Times. No. 4325. 29 December 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Interprovincial". The Press. Vol. XXV, no. 3227. 4 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 167.
- ^ Wilson 1985.
- ^ "COUNTRY DISTRICTS ELECTION". The Wellington Independent. Vol. X, no. 1310. 4 August 1858. p. 3. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ a b *Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- ^ "Historic site: Francis Bradey's Grave". Porirua City Council. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ Ward, Louis E. (1928). "Biographical Sketches". Early Wellington. Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. p. 337. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
Bibliography
[edit]- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
