The by-election was caused by the resignation of the incumbent MP Andrew Graham on 21 October 1889.

[1] Graham was in financial difficulty and was later declared bankrupt, which he ascribed to mismanagement of his business whilst he was on a trip to Scotland.

Lawyer William Lee Rees, who contested the seat twice before unsuccessfully, again stood and came second.

[3] The following table gives the election result: Arthur served as MP for East Coast for only one year and was defeated in 1890 by William Kelly.

[5] Rees did not recontest the seat in 1890 and instead stood in the City of Auckland electorate and was successful.