2nd New Zealand Parliament
2nd Parliament of New Zealand | |||||
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Overview | |||||
Legislative body | New Zealand Parliament | ||||
Term | 15 April 1856 – 5 November 1860 | ||||
Election | 1855 New Zealand general election | ||||
Government | Sewell ministry (until 1856) First Fox ministry (1856) First Stafford ministry (from 1856) | ||||
House of Representatives | |||||
Members | 37 | ||||
Speaker of the House | Sir Charles Clifford | ||||
Colonial Secretary | Edward Stafford — from 2 June 1856 William Fox — 20 May – 2 June 1856 Henry Sewell — until 20 May 1856 | ||||
Legislative Council | |||||
Members | 13 (at start) 19 (at end) | ||||
Speaker of the Council | Thomas Bartley — Frederick Whitaker until 12 May 1856 | ||||
Sovereign | |||||
Monarch | HM Queen Victoria | ||||
Governor | HE Rt. Hon Colonel Thomas Browne |
The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 15 April 1856, following New Zealand's 1855 election. It was dissolved on 5 November 1860 in preparation for 1860–61 election. The 2nd Parliament was the first under which New Zealand had responsible government, meaning that unlike previously, the Cabinet was chosen (although not officially appointed) by Parliament rather than by the Governor-General of New Zealand.
Historical context
[edit]At this time political parties had not been established (they were not established until after the 1890 election), meaning that anyone attempting to form an administration had to win support directly from individual MPs. This made forming (and retaining) a government difficult. The Sewell Ministry, the first responsible government, led by Henry Sewell, lasted only two weeks. The first Fox Ministry, the second responsible government, led by William Fox, also lasted only two weeks. The third responsible government, the first Stafford Ministry, led by Edward Stafford, was more stable, governing for the remainder of the 2nd Parliament and for the beginning of the 3rd.
Parliamentary sessions
[edit]Parliament sat for three sessions:[1]
Session | from | to |
---|---|---|
First | 15 Apr 1856 | 16 Aug 1856 |
Second | 10 Aug 1858 | 21 Aug 1858 |
Third | 30 Jul 1860 | 5 Nov 1860 |
Electoral boundaries for the 2nd Parliament
[edit]The 2nd Parliament, which initially used the same electoral boundaries as the 1st Parliament, consisted of thirty-seven representatives representing twenty-four electorates. Two regions of the colony (the inland regions of the lower North Island and the north-west corner of the South Island) were not part of any electorate, and so were not represented.
The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 allowed the General Assembly to add or alter electorates whenever this was desired, and this was first done in 1858 as described below. The amendment changed the boundaries to some electorates and supplementary elections were held the following year—held between 7 November and 18 December 1859—to fill vacancies.[2]
Initial composition of the 2nd Parliament
[edit]Changes during term
[edit]The turnover of MPs was very high in the 2nd Parliament, with 32 by-elections and a supplementary election being held. This situation was partly the result of a redistribution of boundaries to seven electorates, and the creation of four new electorates – agreed upon in the Electoral Districts Act, 1858, with the total number of MPs in Parliament rising from 37 to 41, and the number of electorates rising from 24 to 28. The electorates Bay of Islands and Northern Division were combined and then redivided, with Marsden resulting as a new electorate.[28] The Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay electorate was split into two separate components, Wairarapa and County of Hawke. All the previously unincorporated areas in the lower North Island were divided between Wairarapa, County of Hawke, Wanganui and Rangitikei, and Wellington Country.[29]
In the South Island, the southern portion of Wairau electorate, plus part of Christchurch Country, became the new Cheviot electorate.[30] The western portion of Dunedin Country was split off and became the new Wallace electorate. The northwest of the South Island remained the colony's only territory not part of an electorate.[30]
Members of Parliament belonging to one of the electorates that was split could choose which of the two new electorates they would want to represent, and by-elections were held during 1859 in the thus unrepresented electorates.[2]
At the opening of the 6th session of the Parliament on 10 April 1858,[31] the speaker read out 14 resignations.[32]
Existing electorates
[edit]- Akaroa
Cuff resigned on 12 January 1858[32][49] and was succeeded by William Sefton Moorhouse.
- Auckland Suburbs
Merriman resigned on 13 March 1860.[50] He was succeeded by Joseph Hargreaves, who was elected on 5 April 1860, and resigned on 24 July 1860.[51] Hargreaves was replaced by John Logan Campbell, who was returned unopposed on 4 August 1860.[52]
Brodie resigned on 6 December 1859[53] and was succeeded by Theophilus Heale.[54]
- Christchurch Country
Brittin resigned on 7 July 1856, returned to England on 'urgent business' and did not return to New Zealand.[55][53] He was succeeded in 1856 by John Ollivier,[56] who himself resigned on 21 January 1860.[57] Ollivier was succeeded by Isaac Cookson.
Hall resigned on 10 March 1860[58] and was succeeded by Charles Hunter Brown.
- City of Auckland
Campbell resigned on 19 November 1856.[59][32] He was succeeded by Thomas Forsaith.
Beckham resigned on 31 May 1859.[60] He was succeeded by Archibald Clark.[61]
- City of Wellington
Fitzherbert resigned on 17 March 1858,[62] and Featherston resigned on 24 March 1858.[63][32] Featherston apparently wanted to return to England.[64] Instead, he successfully stood for re-election within months. The other person returned in the same by-election was William Barnard Rhodes.[65]
- County of Hawke
The renamed County of Hawke (it had previously been Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay, until its southern portion was made into the separate electorate of Wairarapa). Thomas Henry Fitzgerald was elected as its representative on 26 April 1860.
- Dunedin Country
John and his father William Cargill resigned on 5 March 1858[59][32] and 16 December 1859,[59] respectively. The first vacancy was filled by John Parkin Taylor, who retired from parliament at the end of this term. The second vacancy was filled by Thomas Gillies.[66]
- Grey and Bell
Brown resigned on 14 August 1856[53] to (unsuccessfully) contest the Taranaki superintendency. He was again elected in 1858 and resigned in 1860, when his militia service required his full attention.[67] In between Brown's terms, John Lewthwaite (who resigned in 1858) represented the electorate.[32]
- Hutt
Bell resigned in 1858[32] and was succeeded by William Fitzherbert. Ludlam, the other representative of Hutt, resigned in 1856 and was replaced by Samuel Revans, who resigned again on 22 March 1858[32] and was succeeded by Alfred Renall.
- Motueka and Massacre Bay
Parker resigned in 1856 and was succeeded by Herbert Curtis.[68]
- Omata
East resigned in 1860. The subsequent by-election on 16 April 1860 was won unopposed by James Crowe Richmond.[69]
- Pensioner Settlements
Greenwood resigned[32] and Captain Jermyn Symonds was elected on 30 April 1858.[70]
- Southern Division
Taylor resigned on 13 April 1858 and was succeeded through an 1858 by-election by Theodore Haultain.
- Town of Christchurch
Sewell resigned his seat in late 1856 to return to England. He was succeeded by Richard Packer.[71] Packer resigned in 1859. Sewell, having returned from England, won the 1860 by-election.[72] He did not seek re-election at the end of the term, but was appointed Registrar-General of Lands towards the end of 1860.[73]
- Town of Dunedin
Macandrew resigned on 2 November 1858. He successfully contested the January 1859 by-election in the same electorate.[74]
- Town of Lyttelton
FitzGerald] resigned in 1857 due to ill health.[32][75] Crosbie Ward won the resulting by-election in May 1858.[76]
- Waimea
Elliot resigned in 1858.[32] He was succeeded by David Monro, who had already represented the electorate in the 1st Parliament.
Travers resigned in 1859 and was succeeded by Fedor Kelling.[68]
- Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay
Smith resigned on 10 March 1858.[32] He was succeeded by James Burne Ferguson.[77]
- Wairau
Wells resigned in 1858.[32] He was succeeded by Frederick Weld, who had already represented the electorate in the 1st Parliament.
- Wellington Country
Ward resigned on 22 March 1858.[32] He was succeeded by Alfred Brandon.
New electorates
[edit]- Cheviot
Cheviot was first created in 1859, with Edward Jollie its first representative.
- Marsden
Marsden was established in 1859. James Farmer was the first representative, elected on 16 December 1859.[78]
- Wairarapa
The Wairarapa electorate was created in 1859. Charles Carter was the first elected representative.
- Wallace
The Wallace electorate was created in 1859 and the first elections held on 30 November. Dillon Bell was the first elected representative.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 68.
- ^ a b McRobie 1989, p. 29.
- ^ a b c d Scholefield 1950, p. 102.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scholefield 1950, p. 99.
- ^ a b c d Scholefield 1950, p. 95.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 126.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scholefield 1950, p. 97.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 111.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 138.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 121.
- ^ a b c d e f Scholefield 1950, p. 120.
- ^ a b c d e Scholefield 1950, p. 106.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 131.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 104.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 140.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 136.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 113.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 148.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 109.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 143.
- ^ a b "Election of members to represent the Waimea districts". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. XIV. 7 November 1855. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 139.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 147.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 107.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 100.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 105.
- ^ a b c Scholefield 1950, p. 146.
- ^ McRobie 1989, pp. 28–29.
- ^ McRobie 1989, p. 28.
- ^ a b McRobie 1989, p. 31.
- ^ "The General Assembly of New Zealand". Otago Witness. No. 340. 5 June 1858. p. 4. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "House of Representatives". Otago Witness. No. 340. 5 June 1858. p. 5. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Present And Past Members Of Parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1906. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ "Canterbury". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XIII, no. 978. 11 November 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 130.
- ^ "Canterbury". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. XV, no. 79. 31 December 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 2 May 2013 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 134.
- ^ "The Elections". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XV, no. 1132. 4 May 1858. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 142.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 112.
- ^ a b Scholefield 1950, p. 127.
- ^ "Nomination and Election of a Member of the House of Representatives for the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay Districts". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 1, no. 45. 31 July 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 135.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 117.
- ^ "Canterbury". Wellington Independent. 17 May 1863.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 108.
- ^ "Northern Division election". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XVII, no. 1297. 25 May 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Grey and Bell election". Taranaki Herald. Vol. VIII, no. 409. 2 June 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 191.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 219.
- ^ Scholefield 1950, p. 203.
- ^ "Election for the Suburbs". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XVII, no. 1319. 7 August 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1985, p. 185.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited 1902, p. 103.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited 1903, p. 92.
- ^ "Canterbury". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XIII, no. 978. 11 November 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 224.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 202.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1985, p. 188.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 183.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited 1902, p. 102.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 197.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. 195.
- ^ Hamer, David (22 June 2007). "Featherston, Isaac Earl 1813 – 1876". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- ^ "Wellington". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 1, no. 47. 14 August 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- ^ Wilson 1985, p. ?.
- ^ Foster 1966, p. ?.
- ^ a b Cyclopedia Company Limited 1906, p. 33.
- ^ "Election". Taranaki Herald. Vol. VIII, no. 403. 21 April 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ "The Elections". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XV, no. 1132. 4 May 1858. p. 3. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ "Canterbury". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Vol. XV, no. 79. 31 December 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
- ^ "Mr. Sewell's Policy". Wellington Independent. Vol. XV, no. 1402. 31 January 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "New Plymouth, December 8, 1860". Taranaki Herald. Vol. IX, no. 436. 8 December 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "Election of a Member for the House of Representatives". Otago Witness. No. 372. 15 January 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ McIntyre, W. David (22 June 2007). "FitzGerald, James Edward 1818 – 1896". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Rice, Geoffrey W. "Ward, Crosbie". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Nomination and Election of a Member of the House of Representatives for the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay Districts". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. 1, no. 45. 31 July 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ Scholefield 1925, p. 90.
References
[edit]- The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Auckland Provincial District. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1902. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- "Present And Past members of parliament". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1906. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- "Former Members of the House of Representatives". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1908. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- Foster, Bernard John (1966). "BROWN, Charles". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
- Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- Scholefield, Guy (1925) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record (2nd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
External links
[edit]- Cartoon of drunk MP, 1856 by Alfred Domett