Thorndon (New Zealand electorate)

The previous electoral redistribution was undertaken in 1875 for the 1875–1876 election. In the six years since, New Zealand's European population had increased by 65%. In the 1881 electoral redistribution, the House of Representatives increased the number of European representatives to 91 (up from 84 since the 1875–76 election). The number of Māori electorates was held at four. The House further decided that electorates should not have more than one representative, which led to 35 new electorates being formed, including Thorndon, and two electorates that had previously been abolished to be recreated. This necessitated a major disruption to existing boundaries.{{sfn|McRobie |1989 |pp=43–48}}

The electorate was based on the inner-city suburb of Thorndon. The boundaries were defined as follows:{{cite web|title=Representation Act 1881(45 VICT 1881 No 14)|url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/ra188145v1881n14263/|publisher=New Zealand Legal Information Institute |access-date=8 May 2012}}

The district is bounded towards the West, North, and East by the limits of the Borough of Wellington, to a point in line with the continuation of Taranaki Street, thence by that line and street to Taranaki Place; towards the South by Taranaki Place, Dixon Street, Woolcombe Street, Mount Street, the road leading to and by Upland Farm, to the boundary of the borough.

The Thorndon electorate was created for the {{NZ election link|1881}}.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=273}} The previous multi-member electorates, including the two-member {{NZ electorate link|Wellington}} electorate, were abolished. The changes were the result of the Representation Act 1881.

William Levin{{cite news|title=The City Election |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP18811201.2.29 |access-date=7 May 2012|work=The Evening Post|volume=XXII |issue=129 |date=1 December 1881|page=2}} won the 1881 election against Thomas Dwan{{cite news|title=Nomination of Members for General Assembly |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THD18811202.2.20|access-date=7 May 2012 |work= Timaru Herald |volume=XXXV |issue=2246 |date=2 December 1881|page=3}} by 772 votes to 228.{{cite news|title=Wellington |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=HNS18811212.2.17.5 |access-date=7 May 2012|work=Hawera & Normanby Star|volume=II |issue=184 |date=12 December 1881|page=1}} Since the {{NZ election link|1879}}, Levin had represented the Wellington electorate. He resigned before the end of the parliamentary term 21 March 1884 due to ill health.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=212}}

The resignation caused the {{By-election link|Thorndon|1884}}. At the nomination meeting, Thomas Dwan, Alfred Newman and Henry Bunny were proposed as candidates, with Dwan winning the show of hands.{{cite news|title=Thorndon Election |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP18840505.2.28 |access-date=7 May 2012|work=The Evening Post|volume=XXVII |issue=106 |date=5 May 1884|page=3}} At the election on 14 May 1884, Newman, Bunny and Dwan received 636, 379 and 121 votes, respectively.{{cite news|title=The Thorndon Election |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DTN18840514.2.12.4 |access-date=7 May 2012|work=Daily Telegraph|date=14 May 1884|issue=3997|page=3}}

At the {{NZ election link|1884}}, Newman was re-elected unopposed.{{cite news|title=The Thorndon Seat |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MS18840715.2.20 |access-date=7 May 2012|work=Manawatu Standard|volume=IV |issue=195 |date=15 July 1884|page=3}} At the {{NZ election link|1887}}, Newman beat William McLean by 873 to 425 votes.{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1887 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1887-II.2.1.9.13 |publisher=National Library |access-date=25 February 2012 |page=3 |year=1887}}

The Thorndon electorate was abolished at the end of the parliamentary term in 1890.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=273}} Newman successfully contested the {{NZ electorate link|Hutt}} electorate in the {{NZ election link|1890}}.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=223}}

Thorndon was represented by two Members of Parliament.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=273}}

Key

{{Party index link|Independent politician}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |title=Electoral Atlas of New Zealand |last=McRobie |first=Alan |year=1989 |publisher=GP Books |location=Wellington |isbn=0-477-01384-8}}
• {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year=First published in 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}}

{{Historic electorates of New Zealand | state=collapsed}}

Category:Historical electorates of New Zealand

Category:Politics of the Wellington Region

Category:1881 establishments in New Zealand

Category:1890 disestablishments in New Zealand