April 1865 Bruce by-election

April 1865 Bruce by-election

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Turnout	180 (36.0%)
Candidate Arthur John Burns William John Dyer Party Independent Independent Popular vote 102 78 Percentage 56.67 43.33
MP before election Thomas Gillies Independent Elected MP Arthur John Burns Independent

The April 1865 Bruce by-election was a New Zealand by-election held in the multi-member^[a] electorate of Bruce during the 3rd New Zealand Parliament on 8 April 1865. It was triggered on 9 January that year by the resignation of separationist Thomas Gillies and won by prominent settler Arthur John Burns. The more liberal businessman William John Dyer was the sole other contester of the by-election, finishing with 43.33% of the vote.

Five candidates were nominated but two of them had their nominations rejected by the Returning Officer. Both rejected nominees had nominated other electors earlier in the meeting; the Returning Officer believed this behaviour was childish and contrary to the "serious duty" of candidacy. A third nominee—Henry Clapcott—was proposed but withdrew prior to the election. The by-election was one of three by-elections in the electorate that were also in the 3rd Parliament, the others being the July 1865 by-election and the 1862 by-election. 11 months after the by-election came the 1866 election.

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