Lincoln by-election, 1889
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A 1889 by-election in the Lincoln electorate was held to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Arthur O'Callaghan from the Lincoln electorate. The by-election was won by Alfred Saunders, who beat John Ollivier.
Since the Lincoln electorate was established in 1881, it had been held by Arthur O'Callaghan. O'Callaghan was taken to the Christchurch Magistrate's Court over unpaid wages towards the end of 1888. He became insolvent and resigned from Parliament on 9 November 1888.John Ollivier, best known for his activities on the Canterbury Provincial Council and last represented in Parliament in 1860, announced his candidacy on the day of O'Callaghan's resignation. Other possible candidates whose interest was discussed in the media were Edward George Wright, William Rolleston and Alfred Saunders. Wright had contested the 1887 election in the Avon electorate and had been beaten by Edwin Blake. Rolleston had contested the Rangitata electorate in 1887 and had been beaten by Searby Buxton, ending 19 uninterrupted years as a Member of the House of Representatives.
In an editorial, the Wanganui Chronicle argued that Rolleston should be returned for his immense ability. The editor of the Ashburton Guardian put forward that if all four candidates should contest the election, then Ollivier would have the best chance of getting elected, as he was the only opposition politician, whereas the other three would split the votes as ministerialists. The editor of The Evening Post' lamented that it was likely that Saunders was to be returned:
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