1865 Dunedin mayoral election

The Dunedin mayoral election held on 21 July 1865 was the inaugural mayoral election in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Five candidates stood for election. William Mason was successful, with James Paterson coming second. The other three candidates received much fewer votes than those two candidates. Edward Cargill acted as returning officer. Polling was undertaken in four wards: South, High, Bell, and Leith.[1] A secret ballot based on the first-past-the-post voting system was used in Dunedin,[1] in contrast to Christchurch[2] and Wellington, where mayors were chosen by the city councillors amongst themselves until 1875.[3]

Dunedin mayoral election, 1865[1][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Mason 495 46.52
Independent James Paterson 398 37.41
Independent Joseph A. J. Macgregor 88 8.27
Independent William W. Wilson 73 6.86
Independent Robert H. Forman 10 0.94
Majority 97 9.12
Informal votes 46 4.14
Turnout 1,110 29.52
Registered electors 3,760
  1. ^ a b c "The Election of Mayor". Otago Daily Times. No. 1119. 22 July 1865. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  2. ^ "To the Electors of the City of Christchurch". The Star. No. 2713. 8 December 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act 1875". University of Auckland. 21 October 1875. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. ^ "The Election of Mayor". Otago Daily Times. No. 1120. 24 July 1865. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2016.