title: 1880 Paddington colonial by-election
text: # 1880 Paddington colonial by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Paddington on 20 February 1880 because John Sutherland resigned when his company accepted a government contract to re-roll railway rails.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 3 February 1880 | John Sutherland resigned. |
  | 4 February 1880 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
  | 18 February 1880 | Nominations |
  | 20 February 1880 | Polling day |
  | 25 February 1880 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Result
  
  1880 Paddington by-election Friday 20 February :
  
  | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | William Hezlet (elected) | William Hezlet (elected) | 1,306 | 83.0 |
  | John Douglass | John Douglass | 267 | 17.0 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,573 | 98.3 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | 27 | 1.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | 1,600 | 29.8 |
  