Dunedin and Suburbs South
Encyclopedia
Dunedin and Suburbs South was a parliamentary electorate
in the city of Dunedin
in Otago
, New Zealand
from 1862 to 1866. From 1863 it was a multi-member electorate.
, the Representation Act 1862 was passed. The Act stipulated that the two-member City of Dunedin
electorate was to be abolished in 1863 and replaced with Dunedin and Suburbs North
and Dunedin and Suburbs South. Clause 9 of the Act read:
The first elected member was Thomas Dick
, but he resigned from the City of Dunedin electorate during 1863, so a new election had to be held to determine the representative for Dunedin and Suburbs North. The last elected member was John Larkins Cheese Richardson
, who won the second by-election during 1862 in the City of Dunedin electorate. Richardson resigned on 12 September 1862, so a writ
was issued to elect a new member for the City of Dunedin electorate. This caused considerable confusion, as it was assumed that the electorate had ceased to exist, and the new Suburb electorates were to be established. Nevertheless, the returning officer went ahead as per the instructions given by Governor
George Grey
in the writ.
Following this discussion in the media, the election was not taken seriously. The nomination meeting in November 1862 was attended by "a selected audience of three electors, five boys, half-a-dozen diggers out of luck, one policeman and two reporters." Upon calling for nominations, the three electors had "an earnest discussion" and eventually resolved to put forward James Paterson
, who was duly declared elected. Paterson was not present at the meeting, and from the media reporting, it would not appear that he was aware that he was going to be nominated.
Paterson's election to the City of Dunedin electorate was upheld, and being the 'latest elected member', his seat was transferred to the Dunedin and Suburbs South electorate.
A second member was elected to the Dunedin and Suburbs South electorate in April 1863 – William Hunter Reynolds
. Both members served until the end of the term of the 3rd Parliament in January 1866.
All this happened during the time of the Central Otago Gold Rush
, which led to a significant increase in Otago's population. Changes to electorates reflected this situation. During this time, the Goldfields and later Goldfields Towns
electorates were established.
The electorate was abolished in 1866. At that time, the City of Dunedin electorate was re-established. The Dunedin electorates of Caversham
, Port Chalmers
and Roslyn
were all first established in 1866.
New Zealand electorates
An electorate is a voting district for elections to the Parliament of New Zealand. In informal discussion, electorates are often called seats. The most formal description, electoral district, is rarely seen outside of electoral legislation. Before 1996, all Members of Parliament were directly...
in the city of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from 1862 to 1866. From 1863 it was a multi-member electorate.
History
During the second session (from 7 July to 15 September 1862) of the 3rd Parliament3rd New Zealand Parliament
The 3rd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Elections for this term were held between 12 December 1860 and 28 March 1861 in 43 electorates to elect 53 MPs...
, the Representation Act 1862 was passed. The Act stipulated that the two-member City of Dunedin
Dunedin (New Zealand electorate)
Dunedin or the City of Dunedin or the Town of Dunedin was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It was one of the original electorates created in 1853 and existed, with two breaks, until 1905. Most of the time, it was a multi-member electorate.-History:From 1853...
electorate was to be abolished in 1863 and replaced with Dunedin and Suburbs North
Dunedin and Suburbs North
Dunedin and Suburbs North was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand from 1863 to 1866. It was a multi-member electorate.-History:...
and Dunedin and Suburbs South. Clause 9 of the Act read:
The existing two members of the City of Dunedin shall thenceforth, as long as they retain their seats, be respectively members of the district of Dunedin and suburbs North and Dunedin and suburbs South, in manner following, that is to say, the earliest elected member shall be a member for the district of Dunedin and suburbs North, and the last elected member shall be a member for the district of Dunedin and suburbs South.
The first elected member was Thomas Dick
Thomas Dick (New Zealand)
Thomas Dick was a 19th century New Zealand politician. He was Superintendent of Otago Province in 1865, then Minister of Justice from 1881 to 1882, and Minister of Education from 1881 to 1884.-Early life:...
, but he resigned from the City of Dunedin electorate during 1863, so a new election had to be held to determine the representative for Dunedin and Suburbs North. The last elected member was John Larkins Cheese Richardson
John Larkins Cheese Richardson
Sir John Larkins Cheese Richardson was a 19th century New Zealand politician, and a cabinet minister.-Military career:Richardson was born in India, where he was in the Army, and was known as Major Richardson.- Political career:...
, who won the second by-election during 1862 in the City of Dunedin electorate. Richardson resigned on 12 September 1862, so a writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
was issued to elect a new member for the City of Dunedin electorate. This caused considerable confusion, as it was assumed that the electorate had ceased to exist, and the new Suburb electorates were to be established. Nevertheless, the returning officer went ahead as per the instructions given by Governor
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
in the writ.
Following this discussion in the media, the election was not taken seriously. The nomination meeting in November 1862 was attended by "a selected audience of three electors, five boys, half-a-dozen diggers out of luck, one policeman and two reporters." Upon calling for nominations, the three electors had "an earnest discussion" and eventually resolved to put forward James Paterson
James Paterson (New Zealand)
James Paterson was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Otago, New Zealand. He was a cabinet minister, and on the Legislative Council....
, who was duly declared elected. Paterson was not present at the meeting, and from the media reporting, it would not appear that he was aware that he was going to be nominated.
Paterson's election to the City of Dunedin electorate was upheld, and being the 'latest elected member', his seat was transferred to the Dunedin and Suburbs South electorate.
A second member was elected to the Dunedin and Suburbs South electorate in April 1863 – William Hunter Reynolds
William Hunter Reynolds
William Hunter Reynolds was a 19th century businessman and Member of Parliament in Dunedin, Otago Region, New Zealand...
. Both members served until the end of the term of the 3rd Parliament in January 1866.
All this happened during the time of the Central Otago Gold Rush
Central Otago Gold Rush
The Central Otago Gold Rush was a gold rush that occurred during the 1860s in Central Otago, New Zealand...
, which led to a significant increase in Otago's population. Changes to electorates reflected this situation. During this time, the Goldfields and later Goldfields Towns
Goldfields Towns (New Zealand electorate)
The Goldfields Towns electorate was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in the Otago Region of New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed from 1866 to 1870 for the term of the 4th New Zealand Parliament....
electorates were established.
The electorate was abolished in 1866. At that time, the City of Dunedin electorate was re-established. The Dunedin electorates of Caversham
Caversham (New Zealand electorate)
Caversham was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in the Otago Region of New Zealand, from 1866 to 1908.-History:Caversham was first established in 1866 and abolished in 1890. It was recreated in 1893 and abolished again in 1908....
, Port Chalmers
Port Chalmers (New Zealand electorate)
Port Chalmers then Chalmers was a parliamentary electorate in the Otago region of New Zealand, from 1866 to 1938. It was centred on the town of Port Chalmers, the main port of Dunedin and Otago.-History:...
and Roslyn
Roslyn (New Zealand electorate)
Roslyn was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in the Otago Region, New Zealand from 1866 to 1890.-History:George Hepburn, the electorate's first representative who was elected in 1866, resigned in 1869. Henry Driver replaced him. Arthur John Burns was elected in the 1875 general...
were all first established in 1866.
Members
The electorate was represented by two Members of Parliament:| Election | Winners | |||
| 1862 by-election | James Paterson James Paterson (New Zealand) James Paterson was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Otago, New Zealand. He was a cabinet minister, and on the Legislative Council.... (City of Dunedin incumbent Dunedin (New Zealand electorate) Dunedin or the City of Dunedin or the Town of Dunedin was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It was one of the original electorates created in 1853 and existed, with two breaks, until 1905. Most of the time, it was a multi-member electorate.-History:From 1853... ) |
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| 1863 supplementary election | William Hunter Reynolds William Hunter Reynolds William Hunter Reynolds was a 19th century businessman and Member of Parliament in Dunedin, Otago Region, New Zealand... |
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