title: 1879 City of Nelson by-election
text: # 1879 City of Nelson by-election
  
  The 1879 City of Nelson by-election was a by-election held on 6 February 1879 in the City of Nelson electorate during the 6th New Zealand Parliament.
  
  The by-election was caused by the resignation of the incumbent MP John Sharp.
  
  The by-election was won by Acton Adams. He was described as the “Secularist” candidate; as with David Goldie in the 1879 City of Auckland West by-election; both favouring secular not denominational education.
  
  The following table gives the election result:
  
  1879 City of Nelson by-election :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Acton Adams | 369 | 61.3 |
  | | Independent | Albert Pitt | 252 | 38.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 119 | |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | |
  