In 1865 the Bruce electorate included Tokomairiro, Waihola, East Taieri, suburbs of Dunedin, Inch Clutha, Lawrence, Warepa and Pomahaka.
[2] Charles Kettle and Thomas Gillies were the only two candidates for the newly constituted two-member electorate of Bruce.
The resulting by-election, held on 26 July, was contested by James Macandrew and John Cargill.
William Murray won the 1871 election for Bruce, was confirmed in 1876 and 1879, but defeated in 1881 by James Rutherford, who died in 1883.
[9] Donald Reid won the resulting 1885 by-election, but was defeated at the 1887 general election by Crawford Anderson.
He retired at the end of the term, and the 1890 general election was won by James William Thomson, who resigned again in 1892.