Nominations: Wednesday, 30 January 1889, Polling: Monday, 4 February 1889
Candidate
Party
Votes
Votes %
Becher, Richard Farre
Protectionist
386
28.78
See, John (Re-elected)
Protectionist
955
71.22
Formal Votes
1,341
Informal Votes
28
2.05
Total Votes / Turnout
1,369
59.86
Persons Voting / Turnout
1,369
59.86
Notes: See's opponent was variously refered to in newspapers as RF Betcher and Reverend Beecher before the Daily Telegraph's election summary used the correct spelling Becher. This and the religious reference helped identify Becher as a local Baptist minister. Becher's names were obtained from the Clarence River Historical Society, whose records suggest that Becher's decision to oppose See was unpopular and he left the region shortly afterwards. See had not been opposed since 1880 and next faced a political opponent at the 1894 election. The classification of Becher as a Protectionist has been drawn from the Telgraph rather than the SMH listing of him as an opposition candidate.
Source: SMH 7 February 1889, p.7 col.7, booth results were published 6 February, p.7 col.7