[8] The by-election was held on 22 January 1883[9] and contested by William Larnach, Bishop Moran,[10] and Michael Donnelly.
At the nomination meeting, Bishop Moran received the highest number of votes,[11] but at the election, he came a distant last.
[12] The 1884 election was contested by Larnach, Owen James Hodge, and John Wells.
The election was won by Earnshaw, who received 780 votes versus 660 for Larnach.
[2] Earnshaw successfully contested the new City of Dunedin multi-member electorate in the 1893 election.