1886 Dunedin Central by-election

The 1886 Dunedin Central by-election was a by-election held on 19 October 1886 in the Dunedin Central electorate during the 9th New Zealand Parliament.

The by-election was caused by the death on 1 September of the incumbent MP James Benn Bradshaw. The by-election was won by Thomas Bracken.

William Hutchison who was interested in standing in both Wellington and Dunedin seats, and who had represented Wellington South in parliament was a controversial candidate. There were suggestions that Mr Bracken had agreed to stand down.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Results

The following table gives the election result:

1886 Dunedin Central by-election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Thomas Bracken	501	59.71
	Independent	William Hutchison	255	30.39
	Independent	Charles Robert Chapman	80	9.54
	Independent	William Darling	3	0.36
Majority			246	29.32
Informal votes			8
Turnout			847

References

1. "Dunedin Central". Evening Star. 14 October 1886.
2. "Dunedin Central". Evening Star. 18 October 1886.
3. "The Post on the Central Election". Evening Star. 16 September 1886.
4. "Dunedin Central Election". Evening Post. 22 September 1886.
5. "Dunedin Central Election". Evening Post. 24 September 1886.
6. "Dunedin". North Otago Times. Vol. XXXI, no. 6176. 14 October 1886. p. 2.