The Press. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1903. WILLIAM ROLLESTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11504, 10 February 1903, Page 4

The Press. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1903. WILLIAM ROLLESTON.

The tidings of William Rolleeton'e death were received yesterday nob only in Canterbury but throughout New Zealand with a feeling that the country is poorer for euch a lose. No country can afford to lose from its Councils the presence of a man bo trusted and respected l throughout a life of arduous public work, even by those who were his political opponents; least of all a young community just struggling into political manhood. New Zealand has been fortunate from itfl earliest dap in the character and ability of many able leadens; but perhaps none of these more generally impressed those with whom he was brought into contact than Mr Bolleeton, with the feeling that he gave himself up whole-heartedly to the fulfilment of hie duty. If he ever hesitated at first as to the course that tihould be pursued, (hie hesitation arose from & conscientious desire to do right* but never from any tendency towards political trimming or fear of consequences. Once hi* mind was made up, there never was a more resolute or determined fighter. We publish elsewhere a eloetch of Mr Rolleeton's career in New Zealand. Though he did not come out with the first colonists, he was attracted to thk settlement by what he knew of the aims and objects of the founders of Canterbury. He immediately attached himself to those who were etiil engaged in the public service, and they received him as a welcome and congenial fellow-worker. His station for the first fenyears absorbed all boa energies, andf he proved himself a capable farmer, whether among hie sheep at Mount Algidue, or later on hi* farm Mar Temdca. But tiough Iμ

had not much time to give to Kteruyv patsuits, he never lost Wβ earijrtaitee. A scholar of the eld publio school end University type, classical memories often' enabled him to forget the monotony of sheepfanning, nod later on to cast off the pitiful worries that too often degrade pontics. A man of his character and attainments could not long be left out of eight. At the request of the Stafford Government he undertook the inspection of native school*, and beefme Under-Secretory of the Native Department. The work he did then in the North. Island, although the general public knew liUSe of jt, earned for him the esteem of the leading public men of that time; and the experience he then gained was very useful in his Parliamentary career, where he did good service for the Maoris. But he always longed to return to his own Province, and in 1868 he was elected Superintendent of Canterbury, fo which office he was twice re-elected, so that he held the chief public office in Canterbury from the time he was first chosen until the Provinces ' were abolished in 1875. Though he often came into collision during that time with some of the leaders of the Council, he never lost the respect of that body, and to his foresight and prudence Canterbury owes to a great, extent the provision that was made out of our landed estates for scientific and educational institutions. At all times, whether, in Canterbury or an his place in the House of Representatives, he was on earnest supporter of every effort made to flomote public education. In this matter Eβ rightly judged it advisable to concentrate the attention of Parliament and people on what was practical and possible, rather than to postpone reform by discussing theoretical schemes for the future. Never was his level-headed sagacity more valuable than in helping to prevent the in* ter«sts of generations of children being sacrificed by trying to satisfy the conflicting demands of irreconcilable*. After the fall of Sir George Grey's Government, in 1879, Mr Rolleston took office in Sir John Hall's Government as Minister of Justice, of Education, and of Lands. His administration of the Land Department was characterised by great vigour and a readiness to consider new problems which arose from time to time. It is curious to note bow readily the modern so-called Liberal Party assume the credit of opening up the publio lands for the occupation of small settlers. To do the late Sir John McKe'nzie justice, he took an opportunity of giving credit to Mr Rolleston for originating the policy which has been—by! W ftnjtans Ktisely in many respects—de- j veloped by his successors. Mr Bolkston at the time incurred great odium among some of his own party by the innovation he introduced, but mort of those who differed from him then haro lived to see that if ■ the policy initiated by him bad been judiciously expanded by degree*, as experience dictated, we should at this date enjoy a much sounder and safer system of land administration thtt% the one now creating so much misgiving aa Km the immediate ffiture. The details of Mr Rollsston's life history I will be interesting to his fellow-coloniets. We desire here to draw attention specially to the sterling diameter which lias won so markedly the affection as well ac the respect of all sorts and! conditions of men—eye, and of women too. Hi* long and distinguished public service has; it is true, been unrecognised, so far tut publdo Jbtatottrs go. So ranch the worse for the .public honours, which have been scattered ejbout pretty promiscuously of hie. Tthey are considerably depreciated by the fact that the abundant honour tendered to Mr Rolleaton's memory is unofficial. Whatever people might think of iiis opinions on this or that subject, they recognised in him the bet characteristics of an English) gentleman-— etraiglitforwardnesa and courage. la political -warefare, he was sometimes stem, but never rude or offensive; and he •bowed his courage not by swaggering self-assertion or political mud-throwing, but by doggedly sticking to his colours, however- great might Dβ the ©d<ls ogadnlat ham, and by showing a readiness at all tiinee to stand or fall by his opinions. And in private lilt what a genial friend he was, his Parliamentary friends can bear witness, as well as has neighbours in town and country. Those who knew thikm intimately A wil long miss the charm of a cultivated , mind playing round all sorts of eubjecte, often in themselves *oiaerwhat dry andl dreary. . To his family and hi* friends in,private life the. losa is irreparable. But they cannot but feel thnt he was happy in having bom himself so (well in the battle, of life, happy in the friendship and affection of those around 'him, andl happy in dying peacefully in the midvt of a family devoted to him.