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

References

1. "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.