# 1887 New Zealand general election

The 1887 New Zealand general election was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes (67.1% turnout) were cast. In 5 seats there was only one candidate.

## 1887 electoral redistribution

The Representation Act 1887 had major implication for the procedure of revising electoral boundaries. The revision task was transferred from committees formed by MPs to a permanent Representation Commission. The act specified that a country quota of 18% be applied to all designated districts that excluded boroughs with a population above 2,000 people, and that all electorates were to have the same nominal population within a tolerance of 750 people. It was also stipulated that electoral boundaries were to be reviewed after each New Zealand census.
In the 1887 electoral redistribution, although the Representation Commission was required through the Representation Act 1887 to maintain existing electorates "as far as possible", rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Ten new electorates were created: Auckland Central, Woodville, Wellington South and Suburbs, Masterton, Wellington East, Waimea-Picton, Linwood, Rangitata, Waihemo, and Ponsonby. One former electorate, Wairarapa, was recreated.
1887 was the year the Independent Representation Commission was established to redraw electorate boundaries after each five-yearly population census. The country quota was reduced to 18%. A £10 candidate's deposit was introduced.

## The Scarecrow Ministry

The Stout-Vogel government had been soundly beaten. Only 34 returned members supported the government, whilst 52 opposition MPs were elected as well as nine independents. This led to much confusion in Wellington in September 1887 when the members gathered to form a government. John Bryce, William Rolleston and Robert Stout had all lost their seats. Sir John Hall said he was too old. Sir Julius Vogel's policies had been rejected by the voters.
So there was no alternative to Harry Atkinson, and after two weeks of negotiations he announced a ministry on 11 October. Only two ministers had served with him before. The Scarecrow Ministry was not expected to last, but did.
The years 1887 and 1888 were the worst of the Long Depression, and Atkinson cut salaries, raised loans and raised customs duties. He was not popular with the wealthy, but they feared the Opposition leaders Grey and Ballance even more. By 1890 Atkinson was too ill to make speeches in the House.

## Results

The following table shows the results of the 1887 general election:
| Electorate incumbent | Elected member defeated candidates | MP's term |
| Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs | Richard Hobbs | Fourth |
| Bay of Islands Held by R Hobbs | 2nd: John Lundon | Fourth |
| Marsden Held by E Mitchelson | Robert Thompson | First |
| Marsden Held by E Mitchelson | 2nd: Joseph Dargaville | First |
| Rodney Held by W Moat | William Moat | Second |
| Rodney Held by W Moat | 2nd: Jackson Palmer 3rd: A Colbeck 4th: J Hudson | Second |
| Waitemata Held by R Monk | Richard Monk | Second |
| Waitemata Held by R Monk | 2nd: Reader Wood | Second |
| Eden Held by J Tole | Edwin Mitchelson | Third |
| Eden Held by J Tole | 2nd: JA Connell | Third |
| Newton Held by T Peacock | Edward Withy | First |
| Newton Held by T Peacock | 2nd: Joseph Tole 3rd: HT Garrett | First |
| Ponsonby New electorate | Thomas Peacock | Third |
| Ponsonby New electorate | 2nd: CS Wright 3rd: E Cooper | Third |
| Auckland North Held by T Thompson | Thomas Thompson | Second |
| Auckland North Held by T Thompson | 2nd:Samuel Vaile | Second |
| Auckland West Held by J McM Dargaville | David Goldie | Second |
| Auckland West Held by J McM Dargaville | 2nd:John Shera 3rd: Edward W. Morrison | Second |
| Auckland Central New electorate | George Grey | Seventh |
| Auckland Central New electorate | Unopposed | Seventh |
| Parnell Held by FJ Moss | Frederick Moss | Fifth |
| Parnell Held by FJ Moss | 2nd:Seymour Thorne George | Fifth |
| Manukau Held by GM O'Rorke | Maurice O'Rorke | Eighth |
| Manukau Held by GM O'Rorke | 2nd: SS Osborne | Eighth |
| Franklin North Held by Frank Buckland | Frank Lawry | First |
| Franklin North Held by Frank Buckland | 2nd: Frank Buckland | First |
| Franklin South Held by E Hamlin | Ebenezer Hamlin | Fifth |
| Franklin South Held by E Hamlin | 2nd: Benjamin Harris 3rd: FB Kingsford | Fifth |
| Coromandel Held by A Cadman | Alfred Cadman | Third |
| Coromandel Held by A Cadman | 2nd: J Mackay | Third |
| Thames Held by W Fraser | William Fraser | Second |
| Thames Held by W Fraser | 2nd: James McGowan 3rd: J Frater | Second |
| Waikato Held by JB Whyte | John Blair Whyte | Fourth |
| Waikato Held by JB Whyte | 2nd: GW Russell | Fourth |
| Tauranga Held by GB Morris | William Kelly | Second |
| Tauranga Held by GB Morris | 2nd: Richard John Gill 3rd: H Kerr | Second |
| Waipa Held by E Lake | William Jackson | Second |
| Waipa Held by E Lake | 2nd: JB Teasdale 3rd: D Maxwell 4th: T Campbell | Second |
| East Coast Held by S Locke | Andrew Graham | First |
| East Coast Held by S Locke | 2nd: A McDonald 3rd: MJ Gannon | First |
| Taranaki Held by R Trimble | George Marchant | First |
| Taranaki Held by R Trimble | 2nd: Elliot 3rd: R Trimble 4th: T Kelly | First |
| New Plymouth Held by O Samuel | Oliver Samuel | Second |
| New Plymouth Held by O Samuel | 2nd: Edward Smith 3rd: Edward Dockrill | Second |
| Egmont Held by HA Atkinson | Harry Atkinson | Eight |
| Egmont Held by HA Atkinson | 2nd: Felix McGuire | Eight |
| Wanganui Held by J Ballance | John Ballance | Fifth |
| Wanganui Held by J Ballance | 2nd: Gilbert Carson | Fifth |
| Waitotara Held by J Bryce | George Hutchinson | First |
| Waitotara Held by J Bryce | 2nd: John Bryce 3rd: J Morgan | First |
| Napier Held by JD Ormond | John Davies Ormond | Seventh |
| Napier Held by JD Ormond | 2nd: Joseph Ivess | Seventh |
| Hawkes Bay Held by WR Russell | William Russell | Fourth |
| Hawkes Bay Held by WR Russell | 2nd: A Desmond | Fourth |
| Waipawa Held by WC Smith | Thomas Tanner | First |
| Waipawa Held by WC Smith | 2nd:J Harker 3rd:Fred Sutton 4th: ARW Lascelles | First |
| Rangitikei Held by RC Bruce | Robert Bruce | Second |
| Rangitikei Held by RC Bruce | 2nd: J Stevens 3rd: F Arkwright | Second |
| Manawatu Held by DH Macarthur | Douglas Macarthur | Second |
| Manawatu Held by DH Macarthur | 2nd: GL West | Second |
| Foxton Held by J Wilson | James Wilson | Third |
| Foxton Held by J Wilson | 2nd: ES Thynne 3rd: Sanson | Third |
| Woodville New Electorate | William Smith | Third |
| Woodville New Electorate | 2nd: Horace Baker 3rd: William Wilson McCardle | Third |
| Masterton New Electorate | George Beetham | Fifth |
| Masterton New Electorate | 2nd: Alexander Hogg 3rd: RS Hawkins | Fifth |
| Wairarapa New Electorate | Walter Buchanan | Third |
| Wairarapa New Electorate | 2nd: Henry Bunny | Third |
| Hutt Held by HS Fitzherbert | Henry Fitzherbert | Second |
| Hutt Held by HS Fitzherbert | 2nd: Thomas Mason | Second |
| Wellington South and Suburbs New Electorate | Charles Izard | First |
| Wellington South and Suburbs New Electorate | 2nd: J Coombe | First |
| Thorndon Held by A Newman | Alfred Newman | Third |
| Thorndon Held by A Newman | 2nd: William McLean | Third |
| Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston | Andrew Stuart-Menteath | Second |
| Te Aro Held by CJ Johnston | 2nd: Francis Humphris Fraser | Second |
| Wellington East New Electorate | George Fisher | Second |
| Wellington East New Electorate | 2nd: Robertson 3rd: T Carter | Second |
| Nelson Held by H Levestam | Henry Levestam | Fourth |
| Nelson Held by H Levestam | 2nd: Jesse Piper 3rd: WB Gibbs | Fourth |
| Waimea-Picton New Electorate | Arthur Seymour | Fourth |
| Waimea-Picton New Electorate | 2nd: Joseph Harkness 3rd: Charles H. Mills | Fourth |
| Motueka Held by R Hursthouse | John Kerr | Second |
| Motueka Held by R Hursthouse | 2nd: Richmond Hursthouse | Second |
| Buller Held by EJ O'Conor | Eugene O'Conor | Third |
| Buller Held by EJ O'Conor | 2nd: John Munro | Third |
| Wairau Held by H Dodson | Henry Dodson | Third |
| Wairau Held by H Dodson | 2nd: George Henderson 3rd: Sutherland John Macalister | Third |
| Inangahua Held by AA Stuart-Menteath | Richard Reeves | Third |
| Inangahua Held by AA Stuart-Menteath | Unopposed | Third |
| Greymouth Held by AR Guinness | Arthur Guinness | Second |
| Greymouth Held by AR Guinness | 2nd: Joseph Petrie | Second |
| Kumara Held by R Seddon | Richard Seddon | Fourth |
| Kumara Held by R Seddon | Unopposed | Fourth |
| Hokitika Held by J Bevan | Joseph Grimmond | First |
| Hokitika Held by J Bevan | 2nd: John Bevan | First |
| Cheviot Held by JD Lance | James Lance | Second |
| Cheviot Held by JD Lance | 2nd: J Macfarlane | Second |
| Ashley Held by WF Pearson | William Pearson | Third |
| Ashley Held by WF Pearson | 2nd: RL Higgins 3rd: JM Verrall | Third |
| Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson | Edward Richardson | Sixth |
| Kaiapoi Held by E Richardson | 2nd: Richard Moore | Sixth |
| Avon Held by L Harper | Edwin Blake | Second |
| Avon Held by L Harper | 2nd: Edward George Wright | Second |
| Linwood New Electorate | Andrew Loughrey | First |
| Linwood New Electorate | 2nd: William Flesher 3rd: Daniel Reese 4th: JT Partridge | First |
| Heathcote Held by F Jones | Frederic Jones | Second |
| Heathcote Held by F Jones | 2nd: JH Hopkins | Second |
| St Albans Held By FJ Garrick | William Reeves | First |
| St Albans Held By FJ Garrick | 2nd: Francis James Garrick | First |
| Christchurch North Held by J Vogel | Julius Vogel | Sixth |
| Christchurch North Held by J Vogel | 2nd: H Roberts | Sixth |
| Christchurch South Held by J Holmes | Westby Perceval | First |
| Christchurch South Held by J Holmes | 2nd: A Ayers 3rd: H Thomson 4th: E George | First |
| Sydenham Held by RM Taylor | Richard Taylor | Second |
| Sydenham Held by RM Taylor | 2nd: John Crewes | Second |
| Lyttelton Held by H Allwright | John Joyce | First |
| Lyttelton Held by H Allwright | 2nd: H Allwright | First |
| Akaroa Held by W Montgomery | Alexander McGregor | First |
| Akaroa Held by W Montgomery | 2nd: William Barnett 3rd: George Armstrong 4th: George Russell Joblin 5th: Frederick Arthur Anson 6th: John Edward Thacker | First |
| Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan | Arthur O'Callaghan | Third |
| Lincoln Held by AP O'Callaghan | 2nd: Alfred Saunders 3rd: John Davies Gilbert Enys | Third |
| Selwyn Held by E Wakefield | John Hall | Sixth |
| Selwyn Held by E Wakefield | 2nd: John McLachlan | Sixth |
| Ashburton Held by WC Walker | William Campbell Walker | Second |
| Ashburton Held by WC Walker | 2nd: Charles Purnell | Second |
| Rangitata New Electorate | Searby Buxton | First |
| Rangitata New Electorate | 2nd: William Rolleston 3rd: William Palmer | First |
| Timaru Held by R Turnbull | Richard Turnbull | Fifth |
| Timaru Held by R Turnbull | 2nd: Edward George Kerr | Fifth |
| Gladstone Held by JH Sutter | Arthur Rhodes | First |
| Gladstone Held by JH Sutter | 2nd: Jeremiah Twomey 3rd: F Franks | First |
| Waimate Held by WJ Steward | William Steward | Fourth |
| Waimate Held by WJ Steward | 2nd: John Manchester 3rd: Charles G Clarke | Fourth |
| Waitaki Held by TY Duncan | Thomas Duncan | Third |
| Waitaki Held by TY Duncan | 2nd: John Reid | Third |
| Oamaru Held by TW Hislop | Thomas Hislop | Fourth |
| Oamaru Held by TW Hislop | 2nd: William Henry Frith 3rd: John Church | Fourth |
| Waihemo New Electorate | John McKenzie | Third |
| Waihemo New Electorate | 2nd: John Buckland | Third |
| Dunedin West Held by WD Stewart | William Stewart | Fourth |
| Dunedin West Held by WD Stewart | 2nd: Thomas Dick | Fourth |
| Port Chalmers Held by J Mills | James Mills | Second |
| Port Chalmers Held by J Mills | 2nd: James Green | Second |
| Dunedin East Held by R Stout | James Allen | First |
| Dunedin East Held by R Stout | 2nd: Robert Stout | First |
| Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken | Frederick Fitchett | First |
| Dunedin Central Held by T Bracken | 2nd: Edward Cargill | First |
| Dunedin South Held by J Gore | Henry Fish | Second |
| Dunedin South Held by J Gore | 2nd: James Gore | Second |
| Roslyn Held by AH Ross | Archibald Hilson Ross | Second |
| Roslyn Held by AH Ross | 2nd: William Hutchinson 3rd: Walter Carlton | Second |
| Peninsula Held by W Larnach | William Larnach | Fourth |
| Peninsula Held by W Larnach | 2nd: Thomas Begg | Fourth |
| Caversham Held by W Barron | William Barron | Fourth |
| Caversham Held by W Barron | 2nd: Robert Rutherford | Fourth |
| Taieri Held by J Fulton | James Fulton | Fourth |
| Taieri Held by J Fulton | 2nd: W Carncross | Fourth |
| Mount Ida Held by S Mackenzie | Scobie Mackenzie | Second |
| Mount Ida Held by S Mackenzie | 2nd: Owen Hodge | Second |
| Bruce Held by D Reid | Crawford Anderson | First |
| Bruce Held by D Reid | 2nd: Donald Reid | First |
| Tuapeka Held by J Brown | James Brown | Seventh |
| Tuapeka Held by J Brown | 2nd: James Bennet | Seventh |
| Dunstan Held by V Pyke | Vincent Pyke | Sixth |
| Dunstan Held by V Pyke | Unopposed | Sixth |
| Clutha Held by JW Thomson | Thomas Mackenzie | First |
| Clutha Held by JW Thomson | 2nd: James William Thomson | First |
| Waikaia New electorate | Hugh Valentine | First |
| Waikaia New electorate | 2nd: Francis Wallace Mackenzie 3rd: FS Canning | First |
| Mataura Held by GF Richardson | George Richardson | Second |
| Mataura Held by GF Richardson | 2nd: James Mackintosh | Second |
| Hokonui Held by C Cowan | Cuthbert Cowan | Third |
| Hokonui Held by C Cowan | 2nd: Alfred Baldey | Third |
| Wakatipu Held by T Fergus | Thomas Fergus | Third |
| Wakatipu Held by T Fergus | Unopposed | Third |
| Wallace Held by H Hirst | Samuel Hodgkinson | Second |
| Wallace Held by H Hirst | 2nd: Henry Hirst 3rd: John McIntyre 4th: Theophilus Daniel | Second |
| Invercargill Held by J Hatch | Henry Feldwick | Third |
| Invercargill Held by J Hatch | 2nd: Henry Jaggers 3rd: Joseph Hatch 4th: Cyril Tanner 5th: John Walker Mitchell | Third |
| Awarua Held by James Parker Joyce | Joseph Ward | First |
| Awarua Held by James Parker Joyce | 2nd: George Froggart 3rd: James Walker Bain | First |
| Northern Maori Held by W Katene | Sydney Taiwhanga | First |
| Northern Maori Held by W Katene | 2nd: Wi Katene 3rd: Peotipi 4th: Kereraru 5th: Tomoro Kingi 6th: Aratapu | First |
| Eastern Maori Held by W Pere | James Carroll | First |
| Eastern Maori Held by W Pere | 2nd: Wi Pere 3rd: Alfred Warbrick 4th: Kereraru | First |
| Western Maori Held by H Taipua | Hoani Taipua |
| Southern Maori Held by T Parata | Tame Parata | Second |
| Southern Maori Held by T Parata | 2nd: Thomas Ellison 3rd: Kahu 4th: Hōne Taare Tīkao | Second |