Woodville (New Zealand electorate)

In the 1887 electoral redistribution, although the Representation Commission was required through the Representation Act 1887 to maintain existing electorates "as far as possible", rapid population growth in the North Island required the transfer of three seats from the South Island to the north. Ten new electorates were created, including Woodville, and one former electorate was recreated.^[1]

The electorate was based on the town of Woodville. The localities of Ormondville, Dannevirke, and Norsewood were in the northern part of the electorate.^[2]

The Woodville electorate in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region of New Zealand was formed for the 1887 election.^[3] The 1887 election was contested by William Cowper Smith, Horace Baker and William Wilson McCardle, who obtained 922, 761, and 452 votes, respectively. Smith was thus declared elected.^[4]

Smith had since 1881 represented the Waipawa electorate. After the abolition of the Woodville electorate in 1890, he successfully contested the Waipawa electorate again in the 1890 election.^[5] McCardle had in 1884 unsuccessfully contested the Wairarapa North electorate against George Beetham.^[6]