High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Town of Christchurch by-election in 1860 was caused during the term of the 2nd New Zealand Parliament by the resignation of Richard Packer from the Town of Christchurch electorate. The previous representative of the electorate, the politician Henry Sewell, had returned after three years in England and the general expectation was that Sewell would be the sole contender for election. The Lyttelton Times wrote several provocative editorials, generally endorsing Sewell for his obvious ability, but criticising him for not publicly talking about his policies and plans. Sewell eventually arranged a public meeting the evening prior to nomination day; this was the only public meeting during the election campaign. After a lengthy address, which was favourably received by the Lyttelton Times, a second contender for the office put his name forward at that meeting: the publican Michael Hart. Sewell, one of New Zealand's most senior politicians at the...