1878 Wellington City mayoral election

The 1878 Wellington City mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year to decide who would take the office of Mayor of Wellington.

1878 Wellington mayoral election
27 November 1878
Turnout1,478
 
Candidate Joe Dransfield William Hutchison
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 740 738
Percentage 50.07 49.93
Mayor before election

Joe Dransfield

 Elected Mayor

Joe Dransfield

Background

Joe Dransfield, the incumbent Mayor, sought re-election for another year. He was opposed by former mayor William Hutchison, who had withdrawn from the previous year's election (along with another candidate) enabling Dransfield to be elected unopposed. Dransfield was elected once again.[1] The result was very close with two votes being the majority for Drandfield. There were a number of cases of personation reported on election day.[2] Supporters of Hutchison also attempted to get the election's legality reviewed in the Supreme Court, disputing the validity on several grounds, one being that five or six people enrolled having no legal right to vote.[3]

Election results

The following table gives the election results:

1878 Wellington mayoral election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joe Dransfield 740 50.07
Independent William Hutchison 738 49.93
Majority 2 0.13
Turnout 1,478

Notes
  1. Betts 1970, pp. 262.
  2. "Untitled". Wairarapa Standard. Vol. 8, no. 791. 30 November 1878. p. 2.
  3. "The Wellington Mayoralty". Grey River Argus. No. 3211. 29 November 1878. p. 2.
  4. "Wellington City Council - Election of Mayor". The Evening Post. Vol. XVI, no. 282. 28 November 1878. p. 3.

References
  • Betts, George (1970). Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. ISBN 0 589 00469 7.


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