| Election Name: | 1899 Wellington by-election |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Flag Year: | 1899 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1896 New Zealand general election |
| Previous Year: | 1896 general |
| Next Election: | 1899 New Zealand general election |
| Next Year: | 1899 general |
| Election Date: | 25 July 1899 |
| Turnout: | 77.26% |
| Image1: | John Hutcheson.jpg |
| Image1 Size: | 100px |
| Candidate1: | John Hutcheson |
| Party1: | Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) |
| Popular Vote1: | 6,945 |
| Percentage1: | 58.28 |
| Image2 Size: | 100px |
| Candidate2: | Edwin G. Jellicoe |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 4,971 |
| Percentage2: | 41.72 |
| Member | |
| Before Election: | John Hutcheson |
| Before Party: | Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) |
| After Election: | John Hutcheson |
| After Party: | Liberal–Labour (New Zealand) |
The 25 July 1899 City of Wellington by-election was caused by the resignation of incumbent MP John Hutcheson over the Marine Scandal.[1] Hutcheson, along with MP Frederick Pirani had accused Premier Richard Seddon and Minister of Marine William Hall-Jones amongst others, of using influence to obtain Mariners certificates for unqualified candidates in contravention of the recent Shipping and Seamen's Act.[2] When the Marine Commission report [3] declared that the charges were unfounded Hutcheson resigned in order to exonerate himself by means of a by-election win.
General election, 1896 results: City of Wellington
1 Majority is difference between lowest winning poll (Fisher, 5859) and highest losing poll (Atkinson, 5831)
2 Turnout is total number of voters - as voters had three votes each total votes cast was higher (37,624)
The following table gives the election results:
1898 City of Wellington by-election