The Town of Nelson by-election 1854 was a by-election held in the multi-member electorate of Town of Nelson during the 1st New Zealand Parliament, on 19 June 1854, and was the first by-election in New Zealand political history.
The Town of Nelson MP William Travers and the neighbouring Waimea electorate's MP William Cautley resigned on 26 May 1854, two days after the start of the first Parliamentary session of the 1st New Zealand Parliament. On nomination day (17 June) Samuel Stephens and Francis Jollie were nominated (both candidates were nominated in absentia), and after a show of hands Stephens was declared elected. The outgoing MP Travers was subsequently elected two days later in the Waimea by-election, as expected.
Nomination meeting
The nomination meeting was held on 17 June 1854 at the Court House. The Returning Officer was J. Poynter. No contest was expected, so a minimal number of electors were present. First the writ was read by Poynter, and after it was read Poynter called for the small number of electors to proceed with the nominations. As the first nomination, Mr. Webb proposed Francis Jollie, which was seconded by Mr. Cann. B. Walmsley nominated Samuel Stephens, seconded by the outgoing MP William T. L. Travers. Both the candidates could not come to the meeting, since Stephens was in the Auckland Region and Jollie was either in Canterbury or Otago, and therefore there were no speeches from the candidates. Following a show of hands, Stephens was subsequently elected with Jollie not demanding a poll.