In March 1879 the Elections and Qualifications Committee overturned the 1879 Mudgee by-election, in which Richard Rouse had been declared elected by a margin of 1 vote over David Buchanan.
[1] The committee declared that Richard Rouse had not been elected the member for Mudgee, however no by-election was conducted.
Instead the committee declared that David Buchanan had been elected.
No reasons were published however The Sydney Morning Herald stated that it appeared that the majority of Mr Rouse was created by illegal voting.
[2] Buchannan's supporters petitioned the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly against the return of Rouse, alleging that