The 1879 Mataura by-election was a by-election held on 15 January 1879 during the 6th New Zealand Parliament in the electorate of Mataura in Southland.
The by-election was caused by the resignation of the incumbent MP William Wood on 10 December 1878.
[1] The by-election was won by James Shanks.
[2] Both Shanks and Kinross were described as "Greyites" or Government supporters, though Shank's views were said to be much more moderate than those of Kinross.
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