The by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP J. Valentine Smith and was won unopposed by James Ferguson.
[1] Owing to an arbitrary shortening of the time between the issue of the writ and the holding of nominations at Castlepoint (where a single nomination was received) the election was over before many electors knew it was due to take place.
Charles Carter had published his intention to stand on 17 July – five days before the nomination.
[2] The validity of the election was called into question[3] and a petition was sent to the Governor requesting a new writ,[4] although it seems it was disallowed.
The Electoral Districts Act 1858 (coincidentally passed a few weeks after the election)[5] split the electorate in two with Ferguson declared as incumbent in County of Hawke and Carter winning Wairarapa in the 1859 supplementary election.