The by-election was caused by the death on 16 May of the incumbent MP James Rutherford.
On a show of hands Mr Gillies won, but the third candidate William A. Mosley demanded a poll.
[1] [2] The by-election was won by James McDonald.
However in the 1884 election Gillies won the seat and McDonald came third.
This New Zealand election-related article is a stub.