1854 Town of Nelson by-election

rdf:langString 1854 Town of Nelson by-election

rdf:langString The 1854 Town of Nelson by-election was a by-election held in the multi-member electorate of Town of Nelson during the 1st New Zealand Parliament, on 17 June 1854, and was the first by-election in New Zealand political history. The Town of Nelson member of parliament William Travers and the neighbouring Waimea electorate's MP William Cautley resigned on 26 May 1854, two days after the start of the first Parliamentary session of the 1st New Zealand Parliament. On nomination day (17 June) Samuel Stephens and Francis Jollie were nominated (both candidates were nominated in absentia), and after a show of hands Stephens was declared elected. The outgoing MP Travers was subsequently elected two days later in the Waimea by-election, as expected, Jollie coming second.