title: October 1856 Cumberland (North Riding) colonial by-election
text: # October 1856 Cumberland (North Riding) colonial by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Cumberland North Riding on 16 October 1856 because John Darvall had been appointed Solicitor General in the Parker ministry.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 3 October 1856 | John Darvall appointed Solicitor-General. |
  | 3 October 1856 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
  | 13 October 1856 | Nominations |
  | 16 October 1856 | Polling day |
  | 20 October 1856 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Result
  
  1856 Cumberland (North Riding) by-election Thursday 16 October :
  
  | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | John Darvall (elected) | John Darvall (elected) | 560 | 68.0 |
  | James Byrnes | James Byrnes | 264 | 32.0 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 824 | 100.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | 824 | 42.9 |
  