He was interim prime minister from the death of Richard Seddon to the return from overseas of Joseph Ward.

[1] The death of Richard Turnbull triggered a by-election in the Timaru electorate, which was won by Hall-Jones on 18 August 1890.

Rejecting a proposal for another incline on the Rimutaka ranges he insisted on using a better route, resulting in the Raurimu Spiral.

[1] Several weeks after entering cabinet, Hall-Jones was also appointed minister of marine, a post which he was to hold for over a decade.

[7] Hall-Jones was also responsible for passing a bill granting protection to the famous navigation dolphin Pelorus Jack by Order in Council under the Sea Fisheries Act on 26 September 1904.

[9] However, Hall-Jones announced that he would only hold power until Sir Joseph Ward's return from abroad.