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Onslow Borough Council District Electors Lists
Descriptive Data
Archives Identifier00325Date Range1891?-1902DescriptionThis series consists of thirteen lists (with varying titles) recording information about those entitled to vote in local borough elections.
The franchise provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1886 allowed voting by owners (i.e. by rating and freehold qualification) of any rateable property, and allowed for plural votes in relation to the value of the property. It deprived defaulters, those in substantial arrears in their rates, of their right to vote. The law altered during the period covered by the rolls. The Municipal Franchise Reform Act 1898 extended voting rights to a 'residential occupant', that is, to a tenant or sub tenant of any building, paying not less than ten pounds per year, (virtually allowing defaulters to vote), to spouses of those qualified, and abolished plural voting in municipal areas. (It remained in counties) The burgess rolls changed in response.
The descriptive elements in the rolls up to 1897-1898 include:
- Number on roll,
- Surname, Christian name,
- Occupation,
- Description and situation of property,
- Number of properties on the Valuation Roll,
- Rateable value of each property,
- Total rateable value of properties of each burgess,
- Number of votes.
From 1899-1900 the ward lists were divided into three sections - Ratepayers, Freehold and Residential - but the last lists, 1901-1902, are again in one sequence. After 1898 the rateable property elements were a simple description of the land, not its quantity or valuation, and in its place there was column headed: Whether qualification is claimed in own right or in right of husband (or wife). This had entries, 'own', 'husband' and occasionaly 'wife'.
The lists divide into wards first in 1897-1898 (North, South) and from 1899-1900, North, South and East Wards. All the forms have the printed heading: 'Onslow Borough Council Burgess roll for ... Ward for the Borough of Onslow 189-'. From 1899-1900 on those with covers the name changes to 'Burgess lists...'. The last lists, 1901-1902, have 'Burgess Roll' crossed out and the hand written heading ' District Electors List'.
The first roll, for 1891, appears in three versions, one undated probably a draft as it has ticks and crosses against names (the later appear on the 'Defaulters list'), one with a Defaulter list attached and dated 1 June, and a final version certified as correct, signed by the Mayor and two Councillors, dated 23 June 1891 and with an offical stamp 'Seal of the Borough of Onslow'. Pencil annotations on a later list, 1900-1901, suggest that there was a final printed version. On these the final certification and signatures area for each section is circled and inscribed 'Dont print'.Quantity (Linear Metres)0.5MediumFileSystem of ArrangementChronological by year, by ward and then voting qualification section, alphabetically within sections or ward.Collection TypeWellington City Council
The franchise provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1886 allowed voting by owners (i.e. by rating and freehold qualification) of any rateable property, and allowed for plural votes in relation to the value of the property. It deprived defaulters, those in substantial arrears in their rates, of their right to vote. The law altered during the period covered by the rolls. The Municipal Franchise Reform Act 1898 extended voting rights to a 'residential occupant', that is, to a tenant or sub tenant of any building, paying not less than ten pounds per year, (virtually allowing defaulters to vote), to spouses of those qualified, and abolished plural voting in municipal areas. (It remained in counties) The burgess rolls changed in response.
The descriptive elements in the rolls up to 1897-1898 include:
- Number on roll,
- Surname, Christian name,
- Occupation,
- Description and situation of property,
- Number of properties on the Valuation Roll,
- Rateable value of each property,
- Total rateable value of properties of each burgess,
- Number of votes.
From 1899-1900 the ward lists were divided into three sections - Ratepayers, Freehold and Residential - but the last lists, 1901-1902, are again in one sequence. After 1898 the rateable property elements were a simple description of the land, not its quantity or valuation, and in its place there was column headed: Whether qualification is claimed in own right or in right of husband (or wife). This had entries, 'own', 'husband' and occasionaly 'wife'.
The lists divide into wards first in 1897-1898 (North, South) and from 1899-1900, North, South and East Wards. All the forms have the printed heading: 'Onslow Borough Council Burgess roll for ... Ward for the Borough of Onslow 189-'. From 1899-1900 on those with covers the name changes to 'Burgess lists...'. The last lists, 1901-1902, have 'Burgess Roll' crossed out and the hand written heading ' District Electors List'.
The first roll, for 1891, appears in three versions, one undated probably a draft as it has ticks and crosses against names (the later appear on the 'Defaulters list'), one with a Defaulter list attached and dated 1 June, and a final version certified as correct, signed by the Mayor and two Councillors, dated 23 June 1891 and with an offical stamp 'Seal of the Borough of Onslow'. Pencil annotations on a later list, 1900-1901, suggest that there was a final printed version. On these the final certification and signatures area for each section is circled and inscribed 'Dont print'.Quantity (Linear Metres)0.5MediumFileSystem of ArrangementChronological by year, by ward and then voting qualification section, alphabetically within sections or ward.Collection TypeWellington City Council
Access Information
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Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyOnslow Borough CouncilRelationship Date Range1890-1919
Related Series
Related SeriesOnslow Borough Council Rate books
Onslow Borough Council District Electors Lists. Archives Online, accessed 19/08/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/1818