The Liberal Government led by Richard Seddon had trouble finding a suitable candidate and delayed Reeves' resignation until the day he left his home in Christchurch to take up the London post.

[6] The Governor, The Earl of Glasgow, received Reeves' resignation from the Christchurch electorate when he reached Lyttelton on 13 January.

[12] On the evening of 3 January, i.e. before the official announcement of Reeves' appointment had been made, he received a large deputation, and Scott informed them that he had already checked with his brother by telegram whether he would consent him leaving the business for parliamentary work.

[14][15] Scott withdrew from the election on 14 January, as it had transpired that his brother and business partner had to be overseas for much of the year, and he had thus to remain in Christchurch to look after their commercial interests.

The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893 was seen as a cynical attempt by Richard Seddon's—himself a former publican—to appeal to the masses, and it turned Taylor into an opponent of Seddon.

[21] Lewis was asked to stand in rural Canterbury electorates in 1890 and 1893, but he refused; partially because of a weak constitution of his health.

Lewis was on the committee of the National Association (i.e. the opposition) and was part of a small majority that decided that this by-election should be contested by conservative interests.

[24] On the same day as Lewis (8 January), Richard Molesworth Taylor (1835–1919) confirmed his candidacy by advertisement in the interest of the Liberal Party, although he was not their official candidate.

[20] Taylor came to New Zealand as a child from England, and spent his late teens and early twenties at the Victorian and New South Wales gold rushes.

On 23 January, Liberal Party organisers met and confirmed Richard Molesworth Taylor as the official government candidate.

[29] Three ministers of the crown travelled from Wellington to Christchurch to support Richard Molesworth Taylor; The Press commented that this had never happened before.

The Press commented that this was a "crushing defeat" for the government, as Lewis was a member of the opposition, and Tommy Taylor was one of the "most uncompromising opponents of the Premier".

When he called a meeting in Christchurch in June 1901 that was poorly attended—The Press argued that people were focussed on the upcoming royal visit instead—he felt unsupported by the constituency and resigned later that week.