1887 New Zealand general election

	← outgoing members elected members →
All 95 seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives
Turnout	67.1%
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	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs	2nd: John Lundon	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Marsden Held by E Mitchelson	Robert Thompson	7000100000000000000♠First
Marsden Held by E Mitchelson	2nd: Joseph Dargaville	7000100000000000000♠First
Rodney Held by W Moat	William Moat	7000200000000000000♠Second
Rodney Held by W Moat	2nd: Jackson Palmer 3rd: A Colbeck 4th: J Hudson	7000200000000000000♠Second
Waitemata Held by R Monk	Richard Monk	7000200000000000000♠Second
Waitemata Held by R Monk	2nd: Reader Wood	7000200000000000000♠Second
Eden Held by J Tole	Edwin Mitchelson	7000300000000000000♠Third
Eden Held by J Tole	2nd: JA Connell	7000300000000000000♠Third
Newton Held by T Peacock	Edward Withy	7000100000000000000♠First
Newton Held by T Peacock	2nd: Joseph Tole 3rd: HT Garrett	7000100000000000000♠First
Ponsonby New electorate	Thomas Peacock	7000300000000000000♠Third
Ponsonby New electorate	2nd: CS Wright 3rd: E Cooper	7000300000000000000♠Third
Auckland North Held by T Thompson	Thomas Thompson	7000200000000000000♠Second
Auckland North Held by T Thompson	2nd:Samuel Vaile	7000200000000000000♠Second
Auckland West^[7] Held by J McM Dargaville	David Goldie	7000200000000000000♠Second
Auckland West^[7] Held by J McM Dargaville	2nd:John McEffer Shera 3rd: Edward W. Morrison	7000200000000000000♠Second
Auckland Central New electorate	George Grey	7000700000000000000♠Seventh
Auckland Central New electorate	Unopposed	7000700000000000000♠Seventh
Parnell Held by FJ Moss	Frederick Moss	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Parnell Held by FJ Moss	2nd:Seymour Thorne George	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Manukau Held by GM O'Rorke	Maurice O'Rorke	7000800000000000000♠Eighth
Manukau Held by GM O'Rorke	2nd: SS Osborne	7000800000000000000♠Eighth
Franklin North Held by Frank Buckland	Frank Lawry	7000100000000000000♠First
Franklin North Held by Frank Buckland	2nd: Frank Buckland	7000100000000000000♠First
Franklin South Held by E Hamlin	Ebenezer Hamlin	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Franklin South Held by E Hamlin	2nd: Benjamin Harris 3rd: FB Kingsford	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Coromandel Held by A Cadman	Alfred Cadman	7000300000000000000♠Third
Coromandel Held by A Cadman	2nd: J Mackay	7000300000000000000♠Third
Thames Held by W Fraser	William Fraser	7000200000000000000♠Second
Thames Held by W Fraser	2nd: James McGowan 3rd: J Frater	7000200000000000000♠Second
Waikato Held by JB Whyte	John Blair Whyte	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waikato Held by JB Whyte	2nd: GW Russell	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Tauranga Held by GB Morris	William Kelly	7000200000000000000♠Second
Tauranga Held by GB Morris	2nd: Richard John Gill 3rd: H Kerr	7000200000000000000♠Second
Waipa Held by E Lake	William Jackson	7000200000000000000♠Second
Waipa Held by E Lake	2nd: JB Teasdale 3rd: D Maxwell 4th: T Campbell	7000200000000000000♠Second
East Coast Held by S Locke	Andrew Graham	7000100000000000000♠First
East Coast Held by S Locke	2nd: A McDonald 3rd: MJ Gannon	7000100000000000000♠First
Taranaki Held by R Trimble	George Marchant	7000100000000000000♠First
Taranaki Held by R Trimble	2nd: Elliot 3rd: R Trimble 4th: T Kelly	7000100000000000000♠First
New Plymouth Held by O Samuel	Oliver Samuel	7000200000000000000♠Second
New Plymouth Held by O Samuel	2nd: Edward Metcalf Smith 3rd: E Dockrill	7000200000000000000♠Second
Egmont Held by HA Atkinson	Harry Atkinson	7000800000000000000♠Eight
Egmont Held by HA Atkinson	2nd: Felix McGuire	7000800000000000000♠Eight
Wanganui Held by J Ballance	John Ballance	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Wanganui Held by J Ballance	2nd: Gilbert Carson	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Waitotara Held by J Bryce	George Hutchinson	7000100000000000000♠First
Waitotara Held by J Bryce	2nd: John Bryce 3rd: J Morgan	7000100000000000000♠First
Napier Held by JD Ormond	John Davies Ormond	7000700000000000000♠Seventh
Napier Held by JD Ormond	2nd: Joseph Ivess	7000700000000000000♠Seventh
Hawkes Bay Held by WR Russell	William Russell	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Hawkes Bay Held by WR Russell	2nd: A Desmond	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waipawa Held by WC Smith	Thomas Tanner	7000100000000000000♠First
Waipawa Held by WC Smith	2nd:J Harker 3rd:Fred Sutton 4th: ARW Lascelles	7000100000000000000♠First
Rangitikei Held by RC Bruce	Robert Bruce	7000200000000000000♠Second
Rangitikei Held by RC Bruce	2nd: J Stevens 3rd: F Arkwright	7000200000000000000♠Second
Manawatu Held by DH Macarthur	Douglas Macarthur	7000200000000000000♠Second
Manawatu Held by DH Macarthur	2nd: GL West	7000200000000000000♠Second
Foxton Held by J Wilson	James Wilson	7000300000000000000♠Third
Foxton Held by J Wilson	2nd: ES Thynne 3rd: Sanson	7000300000000000000♠Third
Woodville New Electorate	William Smith	7000300000000000000♠Third
Woodville New Electorate	2nd: Horace Baker 3rd: William Wilson McCardle	7000300000000000000♠Third
Masterton New Electorate	George Beetham	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Masterton New Electorate	2nd: Alexander Hogg 3rd: RS Hawkins	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Wairarapa New Electorate	Walter Buchanan	7000300000000000000♠Third
Wairarapa New Electorate	2nd: Henry Bunny	7000300000000000000♠Third
Hutt Held by HS Fitzherbert	Henry Fitzherbert	7000200000000000000♠Second
Hutt Held by HS Fitzherbert	2nd: Thomas Mason	7000200000000000000♠Second
Wellington South and Suburbs New Electorate	Charles Izard	7000100000000000000♠First
Wellington South and Suburbs New Electorate	2nd: J Coombe	7000100000000000000♠First
Thorndon Held by A Newman	Alfred Newman	7000300000000000000♠Third
Thorndon Held by A Newman	2nd: William McLean	7000300000000000000♠Third
Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston	Andrew Stuart-Menteath	7000200000000000000♠Second
Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston	2nd: Francis Humphris Fraser	7000200000000000000♠Second
Wellington East New Electorate	George Fisher	7000200000000000000♠Second
Wellington East New Electorate	2nd: Robertson 3rd: T Carter	7000200000000000000♠Second
Nelson Held by H Levestam	Henry Levestam	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Nelson Held by H Levestam	2nd: Jesse Piper 3rd: WB Gibbs	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waimea-Picton New Electorate	Arthur Seymour	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waimea-Picton New Electorate	2nd: Joseph Harkness 3rd: Charles H. Mills	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Motueka Held by R Hursthouse	John Kerr	7000200000000000000♠Second
Motueka Held by R Hursthouse	2nd: Richmond Hursthouse	7000200000000000000♠Second
Buller Held by EJ O'Conor	Eugene O'Conor	7000300000000000000♠Third
Buller Held by EJ O'Conor	2nd: John Munro	7000300000000000000♠Third
Wairau Held by H Dodson	Henry Dodson	7000300000000000000♠Third
Wairau Held by H Dodson	2nd: George Henderson 3rd: Sutherland John Macalister^[8]	7000300000000000000♠Third
Inangahua Held by AA Stuart-Menteath	Richard Reeves	7000300000000000000♠Third
Inangahua Held by AA Stuart-Menteath	Unopposed	7000300000000000000♠Third
Greymouth Held by AR Guinness	Arthur Guinness	7000200000000000000♠Second
Greymouth Held by AR Guinness	2nd: Joseph Petrie	7000200000000000000♠Second
Kumara Held by R Seddon	Richard Seddon	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Kumara Held by R Seddon	Unopposed	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Hokitika Held by J Bevan	Joseph Grimmond	7000100000000000000♠First
Hokitika Held by J Bevan	2nd: John Bevan	7000100000000000000♠First
Cheviot Held by JD Lance	James Lance	7000200000000000000♠Second
Cheviot Held by JD Lance	2nd: J Macfarlane	7000200000000000000♠Second
Ashley Held by WF Pearson	William Pearson	7000300000000000000♠Third
Ashley Held by WF Pearson	2nd: RL Higgins 3rd: JM Verrall	7000300000000000000♠Third
Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson	Edward Richardson	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson	2nd: Richard Moore	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Avon Held by L Harper	Edwin Blake	7000200000000000000♠Second
Avon Held by L Harper	2nd: Edward George Wright	7000200000000000000♠Second
Linwood New Electorate	Andrew Loughrey	7000100000000000000♠First
Linwood New Electorate	2nd: William Flesher 3rd: Daniel Reese 4th: JT Partridge	7000100000000000000♠First
Heathcote Held by F Jones	Frederic Jones	7000200000000000000♠Second
Heathcote Held by F Jones	2nd: JH Hopkins	7000200000000000000♠Second
St Albans Held By FJ Garrick	William Reeves	7000100000000000000♠First
St Albans Held By FJ Garrick	2nd: Francis James Garrick	7000100000000000000♠First
Christchurch North Held by J Vogel	Julius Vogel	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Christchurch North Held by J Vogel	2nd: H Roberts	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Christchurch South Held by J Holmes	Westby Perceval	7000100000000000000♠First
Christchurch South Held by J Holmes	2nd: A Ayers 3rd: H Thomson 4th: E George^[9]	7000100000000000000♠First
Sydenham Held by RM Taylor	Richard Taylor	7000200000000000000♠Second
Sydenham Held by RM Taylor	2nd: J Crewes	7000200000000000000♠Second
Lyttelton Held by H Allwright	John Joyce	7000100000000000000♠First
Lyttelton Held by H Allwright	2nd: H Allwright	7000100000000000000♠First
Akaroa Held by W Montgomery	Alexander McGregor	7000100000000000000♠First
Akaroa Held by W Montgomery	2nd: William Barnett 3rd: George Armstrong 4th: George Russell Joblin 5th: Frederick Arthur Anson 6th: John Edward Thacker	7000100000000000000♠First
Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan	Arthur O'Callaghan	7000300000000000000♠Third
Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan	2nd: Alfred Saunders 3rd: John Davies Gilbert Enys	7000300000000000000♠Third
Selwyn Held by E Wakefield	John Hall	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Selwyn Held by E Wakefield	2nd: John McLachlan	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Ashburton Held by WC Walker	William Campbell Walker	7000200000000000000♠Second
Ashburton Held by WC Walker	2nd: Charles Purnell	7000200000000000000♠Second
Rangitata New Electorate	Searby Buxton	7000100000000000000♠First
Rangitata New Electorate	2nd: William Rolleston 3rd: William Palmer	7000100000000000000♠First
Timaru Held by R Turnbull	Richard Turnbull	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Timaru Held by R Turnbull	2nd: Edward George Kerr	7000500000000000000♠Fifth
Gladstone Held by JH Sutter	Arthur Rhodes	7000100000000000000♠First
Gladstone Held by JH Sutter	2nd: Jeremiah Twomey 3rd: F Franks	7000100000000000000♠First
Waimate Held by WJ Steward	William Steward	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waimate Held by WJ Steward	2nd: John Manchester 3rd: Charles G Clarke	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waitaki Held by TY Duncan	Thomas Duncan	7000300000000000000♠Third
Waitaki Held by TY Duncan	2nd: John Reid	7000300000000000000♠Third
Oamaru Held by TW Hislop	Thomas Hislop	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Oamaru Held by TW Hislop	2nd: William Henry Frith^[10] 3rd: John Church	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Waihemo New Electorate	John McKenzie	7000300000000000000♠Third
Waihemo New Electorate	2nd: John Channing Buckland	7000300000000000000♠Third
Dunedin West Held by WD Stewart	William Stewart	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Dunedin West Held by WD Stewart	2nd: Thomas Dick	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Port Chalmers Held by J Mills	James Mills	7000200000000000000♠Second
Port Chalmers Held by J Mills	2nd: James Green	7000200000000000000♠Second
Dunedin East Held by R Stout	James Allen	7000100000000000000♠First
Dunedin East Held by R Stout	2nd: Robert Stout	7000100000000000000♠First
Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken	Frederick Fitchett	7000100000000000000♠First
Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken	2nd: Edward Cargill	7000100000000000000♠First
Dunedin South Held by J Gore	Henry Fish	7000200000000000000♠Second
Dunedin South Held by J Gore	2nd: James Gore	7000200000000000000♠Second
Roslyn Held by AH Ross	Archibald Hilson Ross	7000200000000000000♠Second
Roslyn Held by AH Ross	2nd: William Hutchinson 3rd: Walter Carlton	7000200000000000000♠Second
Peninsula Held by W Larnach	William Larnach	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Peninsula Held by W Larnach	2nd: Thomas Begg^[11]	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Caversham Held by W Barron	William Barron	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Caversham Held by W Barron	2nd: Robert Rutherford	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Taieri Held by J Fulton	James Fulton	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Taieri Held by J Fulton	2nd: W Carncross	7000400000000000000♠Fourth
Mount Ida Held by S Mackenzie	Scobie Mackenzie	7000200000000000000♠Second
Mount Ida Held by S Mackenzie	2nd: Owen Hodge	7000200000000000000♠Second
Bruce Held by D Reid	Crawford Anderson	7000100000000000000♠First
Bruce Held by D Reid	2nd: Donald Reid	7000100000000000000♠First
Tuapeka Held by J Brown	James Brown	7000700000000000000♠Seventh
Tuapeka Held by J Brown	2nd: James Bennet	7000700000000000000♠Seventh
Dunstan Held by V Pyke	Vincent Pyke	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Dunstan Held by V Pyke	Unopposed	7000600000000000000♠Sixth
Clutha Held by JW Thomson	Thomas Mackenzie	7000100000000000000♠First
Clutha Held by JW Thomson	2nd: James William Thomson	7000100000000000000♠First
Waikaia New electorate	Hugh Valentine	7000100000000000000♠First
Waikaia New electorate	2nd: Francis Wallace Mackenzie 3rd: FS Canning	7000100000000000000♠First
Mataura Held by GF Richardson	George Richardson	7000200000000000000♠Second
Mataura Held by GF Richardson	2nd: James Mackintosh^[12]	7000200000000000000♠Second
Hokonui Held by C Cowan	Cuthbert Cowan	7000300000000000000♠Third
Hokonui Held by C Cowan	2nd: Alfred Baldey	7000300000000000000♠Third
Wakatipu Held by T Fergus	Thomas Fergus	7000300000000000000♠Third
Wakatipu Held by T Fergus	Unopposed	7000300000000000000♠Third
Wallace Held by H Hirst	Samuel Hodgkinson	7000200000000000000♠Second
Wallace Held by H Hirst	2nd: Henry Hirst 3rd: John McIntyre 4th: Theophilus Daniel	7000200000000000000♠Second
Invercargill Held by J Hatch	Henry Feldwick	7000300000000000000♠Third
Invercargill Held by J Hatch	2nd: Henry Jaggers 3rd: Joseph Hatch 4th: Cyril Tanner 5th: John Walker Mitchell	7000300000000000000♠Third
Awarua Held by James Parker Joyce	Joseph Ward	7000100000000000000♠First
Awarua Held by James Parker Joyce	2nd: George Froggart 3rd: James Walker Bain	7000100000000000000♠First
Northern Maori Held by W Katene	Sydney Taiwhanga^[13]	7000100000000000000♠First
Northern Maori Held by W Katene	2nd: Wi Katene 3rd: Peotipi 4th: Kereraru 5th: Tomoro Kingi 6th: Aratapu	7000100000000000000♠First
Eastern Maori Held by W Pere	James Carroll^[13]^[14]	7000100000000000000♠First
Eastern Maori Held by W Pere	2nd: Wi Pere 3rd: Alfred Warbrick 4th: Kereraru	7000100000000000000♠First
Western Maori Held by H Taipua	Hoani Taipua
Southern Maori Held by T Parata	Tame Parata^[15]^[16]	7000200000000000000♠Second
Southern Maori Held by T Parata	2nd: Thomas Ellison 3rd: Kahu 4th: Hone Taare Tikao	7000200000000000000♠Second

Notes

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References

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↑ Wilson 1985, p. 286.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 McRobie 1989, p. 51.
↑ McRobie 1989, pp. 50–53.
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[FOOTNOTEWilson1985286-3] Wilson 1985, p. 286.

[FOOTNOTEMcRobie198951-4] 4.0 ^4.1 McRobie 1989, p. 51.

[FOOTNOTEMcRobie198950.E2.80.9353-5] McRobie 1989, pp. 50–53.

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1887 New Zealand general election

Contents

1887 electoral redistribution

The Scarecrow Ministry

Results

Notes

References

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