This section is an excerpt fromResults of the 1858 New South Wales colonial election § Cumberland (South Riding).[edit]

1858 New South Wales colonial election:Cumberland (South Riding)
30 January ^[10]

Candidate		Votes	%
Edward Flood (re-elected 1)		1,271	42.3
Stuart Donaldson (re-elected 2)		955	31.8
Thomas Holt (defeated)		778	25.9
George Smith		0	0.0
Total formal votes		3,004	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		3,004	41.3

The other sitting memberJames Byrnes successfully contestedParramatta.Edward Flood was a sitting member forNorth Eastern Boroughs.Thomas Holt was the sitting member forStanley Boroughs. There was some debate as to whether George Smith had received no votes, withStuart Donaldson stating that he had seen one vote while Edward Flood said he had seen several.^[11]

This section is an excerpt from1857 Cumberland (South Riding) colonial by-election § Result.[edit]

1857 Cumberland (South Riding) by-election
Friday 12 June ^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Byrnes (elected)		769	58.4
Ryan Brenan		548	41.6
Total formal votes		1,317	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,317	36.2

William Manning resigned on account of ill-health.^[12]

This section is an excerpt fromNovember 1856 Cumberland (South Riding) colonial by-election § Result.[edit]

1856 Cumberland (South Riding) by-election
Tuesday 4 November ^[13]

Candidate		Votes	%
Stuart Donaldson (elected)		unopposed

The Qualifications Committee declared the election ofRyan Brenan was invalid as no poll had been conducted atCanterbury. Brenan was persuaded not to stand to allowStuart Donaldson to regain a seat, having lostSydney Hamlets in a ministerialby-election.^[14]

This section is an excerpt fromOctober 1856 Cumberland (South Riding) colonial by-election § Result.[edit]

1856 Cumberland (South Riding) by-election
Friday 17 October ^[15]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Manning (elected)		893	80.6
William Redman		215	19.4
Total formal votes		1,108	100.0
Informal votes		0	0
Turnout		1,108	40.3

The by-election was caused by the appointment ofWilliam Manning asAttorney-General in theParker ministry.^[15]

This section is an excerpt fromAugust 1856 Cumberland (South Riding) colonial by-election § Result.[edit]

1856 Cumberland (South Riding) by-election
Thursday 21 August ^[16]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ryan Brenan (elected)		435	42.7
Augustus Morris		367	36.0
Thomas W Shepherd		110	10.8
William Sherwin		107	10.5
Total formal votes		1,019	100.0
Informal votes		0	0
Turnout		1,019	37.1

Elias Weekes resigned in August 1856 after winning his appeal against his defeat inNorthumberland Boroughs.^[16]

This section is an excerpt fromResults of the 1856 New South Wales colonial election § Cumberland (South Riding).[edit]

1856 New South Wales colonial election:Cumberland (South Riding) ^[17]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Manning (elected 1)		833	38.7
Elias Weekes (elected 2)		576	26.8
Ryan Brenan		521	24.2
William Russell		220	10.2
Total formal votes		2,150	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,242	45.2

Polling was conducted on 9 April 1856. Manning had served in the old Legislative Council as an appointed member. Unlike other newly appointed Ministers, he did not have to resign and contest a ministerial by-election as he already held the office of Solicitor-General at the time of his election. Weekes was elected, but later won an appeal against his defeat inNorthumberland Boroughs, choosing to sit for that seat and resign from this seat. The subsequentby-election was won by Brenan.