George Vesey Stewart (1832–1920) was a New Zealand farmer, coloniser and local politician. He was born in Brighton, Sussex, England in about 1832.[1]
He was a member of the Orange Order, and recruited settlers for his colonial project in Katikati from Orange Order members in Ulster.[2]
The Шаблон:NZ election link in the newly formed Шаблон:NZ electorate link electorate was hotly contested. Four candidates were nominated: George Morris, who had previously represented the Шаблон:NZ electorate link electorate; Stewart, then the owner of the Bay of Plenty Times; William Kelly, who had also previously represented the East Coast electorate; and Henry Thomas Rowe, a surveyor and commission agent.[3] Rowe announced his retirement from the contest on 6 December three days out from election day, urging his supporters to vote for Stewart instead.[4] The unofficial results were released the day after the election (on Saturday, 10 December) and Morris had a majority of 13 votes over Stewart, with the official declaration to be made on 12 December.[5] This was deferred until 14 December, with Morris ahead by 10 votes.[6] Stewart stood for the Tauranga mayoralty a few months later and was elected the town's first mayor.[1]
