title: 25 February 1888 Newtown colonial by-election
text: # 25 February 1888 Newtown colonial by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Newtown on 25 February 1888. The election was triggered by the resignation of William Foster, a member of the Free Trade Party, who had accepted appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 14 February 1888 | Resignation of William Foster. |
  | 15 February 1888 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
  | 22 February 1888 | Nominations |
  | 25 February 1888 | Polling day |
  | 29 February 1888 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Results
  
  1888 Newtown by-election Saturday 25 February :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Free Trade | Joseph Mitchell (elected) | 2,064 | 51.9 | |
  | | Protectionist | James Smith | 1,917 | 48.2 | |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,981 | 99.0 | +0.6 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 42 | 1.0 | -0.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,023 | 59.5 | +3.9 |
  | | Free Trade hold | Free Trade hold | Swing | | |
  