Elections for this term were held in 68 European electorates between 14 January and 23 February 1871.
Anyone attempting to form an administration thus had to win support directly from individual MPs.
The fourth Fox Ministry was short lived, from 3 March 1873 to 8 April 1873.
It was succeeded by the Pollen Ministry, which lasted into the term of the sixth Parliament.
Electorates that were first formed for the 1871 elections were East Coast, Eden, Rodney, Thames, Waikato, Waitemata, Egmont, Manawatu, Buller, Grey Valley, Christchurch East, Christchurch West, Hokitika, Totara, Dunstan, Mount Ida, Tuapeka, Waitaki, Waikaia, and Wakatipu.
In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers with the general government in breach of election rules.
[60] Montgomery stood for re-election in a 10 August 1874 by-election[61] and was returned unopposed.
[47] Robert Stout, a later Prime Minister, first entered Parliament through the resulting 20 August 1875 by-election.