Timothy Gallagher Independent Thomas Kynnersley Independent The 1870 Westland North by-election was a by-election held on 2 July 1870 during the 4th New Zealand Parliament in the West Coast electorate of Westland North.

The by-election was caused by the resignation of the incumbent MP Timothy Gallagher on 13 May 1870[1] over urgent and private business affairs.

[15] Three days prior to the provincial by-election, Franklyn withdrew, stating that he was "heartily sick of politics".

On 4 June, the Grey River Argus reported that Kynnersley had resolved to stand in Westland North.

In this context, the editor of The Westport Times speculated that the government was deliberately delaying the issuing of a writ for the by-election so that by the time a new candidate had been chosen, the current session of the government would be over and the next general election would be called.

Ten polling places were stipulated as such:[24] Kynnersley, who had been in Nelson as the provincial council was in session, arrived in Greymouth on 20 June to start a speaking tour of the electorate.

[25][26] On 27 June, Kynnersley left Greymouth on the Murray for Westport, where he arrived the following day after having encountered terrible weather and sea.