 Beetham represented the Wairarapa West electorate on the Wellington Provincial Council from February 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in October 1876.He represented the Wairarapa electorate in Parliament, after winning the 1877 by-election, to 1881.He then represented the Wairarapa North electorate from to 1887, and the Masterton electorate from to 1890, when he was defeated by just 18 votes.