At the inaugural election the majority of seats had been contested, and in many cases the majorities were very small. By 1892, however, most wards were uncontested.
There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances. In most cases there were contests between Liberal and Conservative candidates.
This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. One councillor was described as an Independent candidate but was also grouped in some reports with the Conservatives.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 42 councillors were elected.
Merionethshire County Council 1889: elected members
This table summarises the position following the election of aldermen. Eight were elected from among the elected members and eight from outside the council. This brought the total number of councillors and aldermen to 56.
Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following election of new aldermen
This table summarises the position following the by-elections for the three seats vacated following the election of aldermen. Technically these were new seats, taking the total number of councillors to 56. However, the Liberals defended three seats.
Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following by-elections
William Davies, farmer, of Caerblaidd, Ffestiniog and John Hughes, farmer, of Hafodfawrisaf, Maentwrog, were elected at the expense of George Henry Ellis, solicitor, of Penymount, Ffestiniog and Edward Henry Jonathan, draper, of Paris House, Four Crosses.[3]
Samuel Pope, having been caught in the controversy over use of the Welsh language in 1889, did not seek re-election. John Davies, Glanymorfa, was elected in his place, defeating W. Ansell, Corsygedol.[1]
The sitting member, Richard Thomas Jones, surgeon, of Penygarth Villa, Harlech defeated F.R. Lloyd of Bronygraig by a much larger margin than his success in 1889.[1]
John Parry Jones of the District Bank, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Robert Owen Jones, solicitor, of High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog were elected at the expense of Morris Jones, flour dealer, of Blaenbowydd House, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[3]
J. B. Jones, miller, of Brynyfelin and John Rowe, quarry manager, of Glasfryn View, Penrhyn, were elected at the expense of Edmund Morgan Roberts, farmer, of Cefntrefor- isaf, Talsarnau and John Morgan, grocer, of Canton House, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[3]
John Humphreys, physician and surgeon, of Fronwynion-street, Trawsfynydd and Robert Hugh Pughe, farmer, of Brynllefrith, Trawsfynydd, were elected at the expense of David Tegid Jones, farmer, of Y Goppa and William Evans, draper, of Meirion House, Trawsfynydd.[3]
In addition to the 42 councillors the council consisted of 14 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were sixteen Aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council:[4]
Only three of those elected were members of the council.[5]
Edward Watkin, land agent, Rhiwlas, standing as an Independent, defeated the Liberal candidate by fifteen votes. Richard Jones, who had been elected alderman, died three days later.[6]
Council elections in the preserved county of Gwynedd