| Election Name: | 1890 Timaru by-election |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Flag Year: | 1890 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1887 New Zealand general election |
| Previous Year: | 1887 general |
| Next Election: | 1890 New Zealand general election |
| Next Year: | 1890 general |
| Turnout: | 868 (67.28%) |
| Candidate1: | William Hall-Jones |
| Party1: | Independent Liberal |
| Color1: | FBEC5D |
| Popular Vote1: | 422 |
| Percentage1: | 48.61 |
| Candidate2: | Edward G. Kerr |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 344 |
| Percentage2: | 39.63 |
| Member | |
| Before Election: | Richard Turnbull |
| Before Party: | Independent politician |
| After Election: | William Hall-Jones |
| After Party: | Independent Liberal |
The 1890 Timaru by-election was a by-election held on 18 August 1890 during the 10th New Zealand Parliament in the seat of Timaru, a partly urban seat in Canterbury on the East Coast of the South Island.
The by-election was triggered because of the death of sitting member of parliament Richard Turnbull. The election saw William Hall-Jones win the seat over his main opponent, Edward George Kerr.
Kerr had contested the against Turnbull,[1] and was the proprietor of The Timaru Herald. Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Stout was invited to contest the seat, but he declined.[2] William Hall-Jones had initially refused nomination citing crucial upcoming business interests. However, several locals persisted and Hall-Jones eventually accepted. Jeremiah Twomey, a newspaper proprietor and owner of the Temuka Leader and Geraldine Guardian also announced his candidacy, but later retired from the race before nominations closed.[3]
Hall-Jones, Kerr and W F Alpin were nominated, and after a show of hands went in favour of Hall-Jones a poll was demanded by the supporters of Kerr and Alpin.
The following table gives the election results: