1853 New Zealand provincial elections


The 1853 New Zealand provincial elections were the first elections in New Zealand to elect members and superintendents to the newly created Provinces of New Zealand. The elections were held between July and September 1853, at the same time as the 1853 New Zealand general elections for the central government, which were held between July and October. The provincial elections had higher voter turnouts than the general elections, with the elections for provincial superintendents having the highest voter turnout.

Results

Provincial councils

Auckland

The Auckland Provincial Council was originally made up by 24 members from six electorates: City of Auckland, Suburbs of Auckland, Pensioner Settlements, Northern Division, Southern Division, and Bay of Islands.
Electoral districtWinnerVotes Date
Northern DivisionAllan O'Neill208 1 August 1853
Northern DivisionPatrick Dignan204 1 August 1853
Northern DivisionJames Hill168 1 August 1853
Northern DivisionPatrick Donovan162 1 August 1853
City of AucklandJames Thomas Boylan575 20 July 1853
City of AucklandThomas Bartley513 20 July 1853
City of AucklandRobert Mitchell485 20 July 1853
City of AucklandJames O'Neill448 20 July 1853
City of AucklandJames Derrom367 20 July 1853
City of AucklandAndrew O'Brien363 20 July 1853
Suburbs of AucklandWilliam Field Porter86 20 July 1853
Suburbs of AucklandWilliam Connell84 20 July 1853
Suburbs of AucklandJohn Watson Bain75 20 July 1853
Suburbs of AucklandJohn Anderson Gilfillan72 20 July 1853
Southern DivisionJoseph Newman244 1 August 1853
Southern DivisionJames Dilworth222 1 August 1853
Southern DivisionWilliam Innes Taylor209 1 August 1853
Southern DivisionJames Macky189 1 August 1853
Pensioner SettlementsFrancis Charles Lewis342 22 July 1853
Pensioner SettlementsJoseph Brennan296 22 July 1853
Pensioner SettlementsWilliam Powditch291 22 July 1853
Pensioner SettlementsJohn Williamson263 22 July 1853
Bay of IslandsJames Busbyunopposed27 July 1853
Bay of IslandsGeorge Clarkeunopposed27 July 1853

New Plymouth

The New Plymouth Provincial Council was originally made up by nine members from three electorates:
Town of New Plymouth, Grey and Bell, and Omata.
Electoral districtWinnerVotes Date
Town of New PlymouthIsaac Newton Watt71 20 August 1853
Town of New PlymouthSamuel Vickers61 20 August 1853
Grey and BellPeter Elliott119 20 August 1853
Grey and BellGeorge Cutfield108 20 August 1853
Grey and BellRobert Parris106 20 August 1853
Grey and BellRichard Chilman98 20 August 1853
OmataThomas Good57 20 August 1853
OmataRichard Rundle57 20 August 1853
OmataGeorge Burton36 20 August 1853

Wellington

The Wellington Provincial Council was originally made up by eighteen members from five electorates: City of Wellington, Wellington Country, Hutt, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay, and Wanganui and Rangitikei.
Electoral districtWinnerDate
Hutt13 August 1853
Hutt13 August 1853
Hutt13 August 1853
Hutt13 August 1853
Wanganui and Rangitikei27 August 1853
Wanganui and Rangitikei27 August 1853
Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay10 August 1853
Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay10 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
City of Wellington9 August 1853
Wellington Country11 August 1853
Wellington Country11 August 1853
Wellington Country11 August 1853

Nelson

The Nelson Provincial Council was originally made up by fifteen members from seven electorates: Town of Nelson, Waimea East, Waimea South, Wairau, Motueka and Massacre Bay, Waimea West, and Suburban Districts.
Electoral districtWinnerVotes Date
Town of Nelson161 10 August 1853
Town of Nelson160 10 August 1853
Town of Nelson132 10 August 1853
Town of Nelson114 10 August 1853
Town of Nelson110 10 August 1853
Waimea Eastunopposed2 August 1853
Waimea Eastunopposed2 August 1853
Waimea South72 18 August 1853
Waimea South35 18 August 1853
Wairauunopposed10 August 1853
Wairauunopposed10 August 1853
Motueka and Massacre Bay48 19 August 1853
Motueka and Massacre Bay36 19 August 1853
Waimea Westunopposed3 August 1853
Suburban Districtsunopposed10 August 1853

Canterbury

The Canterbury Provincial Council was originally made up by twelve members from four electorates: Town of Christchurch, Christchurch Country District, Town of Lyttelton, and Akaroa. In Akaroa, there was a draw for second place between Rev. William Aylmer and William Sefton Moorhouse. The returning officer gave his vote to Aylmer; Moorhouse had a week earlier been elected to the House of Representatives beating Rhodes.
Electoral districtWinnerVotes Date
Town of Christchurch77 3 September 1853
Town of Christchurch74 3 September 1853
Town of Christchurch71 3 September 1853
Christchurch Country158 10 September 1853
Christchurch Country154 10 September 1853
Christchurch Country151 10 September 1853
Christchurch Country132 10 September 1853
Town of Lyttelton66 31 August 1853
Town of Lyttelton64 31 August 1853
Town of Lyttelton60 31 August 1853
Akaroa27 31 August 1853
Akaroa24 31 August 1853

Otago

The Otago Provincial Council was originally made up by nine members from two electorates: Town of Dunedin and Dunedin Country District.
Electoral districtWinnerVotes Date
Town of DunedinWilliam Cutten54 20 September 1853
Town of DunedinJames Adam50 20 September 1853
Town of DunedinAlexander Rennie39 20 September 1853
Dunedin Country DistrictJohn Hyde Harris146 28 September 1853
Dunedin Country DistrictJames Macandrew118 28 September 1853
Dunedin Country DistrictWilliam Reynolds114 28 September 1853
Dunedin Country DistrictJohn Gillies111 28 September 1853
Dunedin Country DistrictArchibald Anderson97 28 September 1853
Dunedin Country DistrictEdward McGlashan94 28 September 1853