1854_Waimea_by-election
1854 Waimea by-election
New Zealand by-election
The 1854 Waimea by-election was a by-election held in the multi-member electorate of Waimea during the 1st New Zealand Parliament, on 21 June 1854, and was the second by-election in New Zealand political history (and the first contested by-election), coming two days after the Town of Nelson by-election.[1]
The Waimea member of parliament William Cautley and the neighbouring Town of Nelson electorate's MP William Travers both resigned on 26 May 1854, two days after the start of the first Parliamentary session of the 1st New Zealand Parliament. On nomination day (20 June) William Travers and Francis Jollie were nominated (Jollie was nominated in absentia), and after a show of hands in favour of Jollie, Travers demanded a poll. William Travers was subsequently elected the following day.[1]