Richard Turnbull Independent William Hall-Jones Independent Liberal The 1890 Timaru by-election was a by-election held on 18 August 1890 during the 10th New Zealand Parliament in the seat of Timaru, a partly urban seat in Canterbury on the East Coast of the South Island.

[1] The election saw William Hall-Jones win the seat over his main opponent, Edward George Kerr.

Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Stout was invited to contest the seat, but he declined.

[3] William Hall-Jones had initially refused nomination citing crucial upcoming business interests.

[1] Jeremiah Twomey, a newspaper proprietor and owner of the Temuka Leader and Geraldine Guardian also announced his candidacy, but later retired from the race before nominations closed.