1889 Oamaru by-election
The 1889 Oamaru by-election was a by-election held on 30 September 1889 in the electorate during the 10th New Zealand Parliament.
Background
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent MP Thomas William Hislop. The resignation was caused by the Ward-Hislop affair where Hislop was reproached by a Legislative Council committee for his manner of correspondence with a District Judge Ward. The report judged that he was using his Ministerial position to aid the business affairs of his personal friends. He had also resigned his ministerial portfolios.Campaign
Hislop stood again to regain his position as an MP. He was opposed by David Dunn. Dunn, the Liberal Party candidate, claimed to be "...one having no political experience at all." This was despite the fact that he had been elected Mayor of Oamaru in 1888.Hislop's majority was reduced from 136 to 134 after two votes were removed. One person was charged with voting twice.