Nominations: Wednesday, 27 February 1884, Polling: Friday, 29 February 1884
Candidate
Votes
Votes %
Burdekin, Sydney (Elected)
2,138
50.47
Reid, George Houstoun (Defeated)
2,098
49.53
Formal Votes
4,236
Informal Votes
54
1.26
Total Votes / Turnout
4,290
48.08
Cause Category: Qualifications Committee
Notes: A constitutional loophole over the proclamation of Minister's jobs resulted in the Elections and Qualifications Committie declaring Reid as holding an office for profit, voiding his right to sit in Parliament. The government first attempted to retrospectively fix the constitutional loophole but was rebuffed by the Legislative Assembly, Reid then forced to a by-election at which he was defeated. (Twomey p.433-4 with references to parliamentary debates.)
Source: Report of nominations, SMH 28 February 1883, p.9 col.1-6, results from SMH 1 March, p.4 col.5-6, includes box results. Informal votes obtained from Daily Telegraph, 1 March, p.6? col.1-2.