 During the term of the 4th Provincial Council in early 1863, he stood in the City of Christchurch electorate, and he represented that electorate until the dissolution of the 4th Council in May 1866.When the Superintendency of James FitzGerald came to an end in 1857, it was generally expected that Joseph Brittan would succeed him.Brittan published his political views in a long letter that appeared in the "Lyttelton Times" for several months.