PARLIAMENTARY PORTRAITS.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 23

PARLIAMENTARY PORTRAITS.

no. in.

THE HON WILLIAM ROLLESTON.

The Honourable William Rolleston, M. H.R for Halswell, and Leader of th© Opposition in the House of Representatives, is a Yorkshireman by birth, having been born on September 19tb, 183 L, at the village of Malt by, near Doncaster. His father, the Rev George Rolleston, was for upwards of fifty years Yicar of Maltby, and was widely known and respected. Educated at the famous English public school, Rossall, young Mr Rolleston entered at Emannel College, Cambridge, in the year 1851, and became Foundation Scholar of his College in the year following, graduating with honours in the Classical Tripos, in 1555. In 1858 he emigrated to New Zealand, leaving Eogland by the ship Regina, on July 15lh, and reaching Lyttleton on the 15th November. Taking up a run near Lake Coleridge, lie embarked in sheep-farming; many of the neighbouring mountains and streams owing their names to him. In 1563, having previously shown much interest iu the all-important subject of education, he wa3 appointed a member of tbe Education Commission, of which the late Mr Tancred wa3 Chairman. To this commission was due the framing of the education system of the Province of Canterbury. Mr Rolleston was one of the first to favour the adoption in force in the Colony. In 1875 he said in a message to the Provincial Council of Canterbury : ‘ Our best policy would be, I believe, of the system of free State education now to make education free in all Government schools, and such a result is I think, but a corollary upon the adoption of any responsibility by the State in the matter of education.' In 1877 the system of free education was adopted, and after a time Mr Rolleston became convinced that., so far as the State was concerned, the system must be eecu’ar. Rapidly becoming known for his ability and integrity in public matters, Mr Rolleston became Provincial Secretary for Canterbury in 1864, and when the goldfields on the West Coast were discovered in that year, he went as a member of the Government to Hokitika with Messrs Seed, Roohfort, and others, and took an active share in the work of organising the several departments of Government on the Coast. Returning from the Coast he asked to become a candidate for the Superintendency of Canterbury, which it was known was to be shortly vacated by Mr Bealey. Declining, however, the proffered honour, he was shortly afterwards requested by Mr Weld, then Premier of the Colony, to accept the dual position of Under Secretary for Native affairs and of Inspector of Native Schools. He took the position, and showed great adminstrative ability. In 1868, Mr Moorhouse resigned the S iperintendency of the Province of Canterbury, and Mr Rolleston was his successor. In 1870, Mr Moorhouse contested the Superintendency, but was defeated by Mr Rolleston, who was re-elected a third time in 1874, continuing in his honourable and responsible office until the provinces were abolished in 1876, when the people of Canterbury, wishing to make some personal recognition of his valuable services to the province, presented him with a very valuable service of plate. In 1860, Mr Rolleston entered the General Assembly as Member for the Avon district, which he continued to represent until the year 1884, when he became Member for Geraldine, defeating Messrs A. Cox and F. Franks. In the Ministry of 1879, under Sir John Hall, he held the portfolios of Education, Lands, and Immigration ; and was for a short time, in 1881, Native Minister. In 1882 he did memorable and valuable service by introducing the perpetual lease system in connection witli Crown Lands, and subsequently acted as Minister of Lauds, Mines and Immigration until the Atkinson Government went out of office in 1881. At the general election in that year he was defeated for the Rangitata, by Mr Buxton, by a small majority, but came back to Parliament after the election of December, 1890, having been elected Member for Halswell. He was then chosen a 3 Leader of the Opposition, the position he now occupies. Mr Rolleston can point to a long record of good work in the service of the Colony. He has been intimately connected with many social reforms, and when Superintendent of Canterbury did yeoman’s service iu the cause of education. Ho was one of the first members of the Senate of the University of New Zealand. It was mainly owing to his untiring advocacy that the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Sumner was established. By his efforts in connection with the settlement of the Crown Lands of the Colony and in building up the present education system, Mr Rolleston has earned the gratitude of his follow colonists, and his political honesty has gained for him a wide-spread respect. His North Country blood makes him occasionally a little obstinate in political matters, bub he is a courteous and honourable opponent, and is personally popular with the House. When the history of the Colony is written, the name of William Rolleston should bo set down as that of a high-minded, honourable gentleman, who has contributed in no small extent to tho prosperity »f the Colony and the happiness of its people. We are indebted to Cox’s ‘ Men of Mark’ in New Zealand 1 for the leading particulars of Ml* Rollerstoa's career.