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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
The Hon. William Rolleston
The Hon. William Rolleston, sat in three successive Governments—the Hall, Whitaker, and third Atkinson Ministries—in which he held the portfolios of Lands, Immigration and Mines, and was continuously a Minister of the Crown from the 8th of October, 1879, to the 6th of August, 1884. He was also for a time Native Minister, and held the offices of Minister of Education and Justice in the Hall Administration. The hon. gentleman was born in 1831. He is a son of the late Rev. George Rolleston, M.A., who was for over fifty years rector of Maltby near Doncaster, Yorkshire. His brother Mr. George Rolleston, F.R.S., was a well-known Professor of Physiology in Oxford, The hon. gentleman was born in 1831 and educated at Rossall School, Lancashire, under the late Dr. Woolley, and subsequently at Emanuel College, Cambridge. Entering his college course in 1851, he took a foundation scholarship the next year, and three years after he graduated with honours in classics. Coming to New Zealand in 1858 Mr. Rolleston settled near Lake Coleridge. In 1863 he was appointed a member of the Education Committee which framed the Education system of the Province of Canterbury, and afterwards sat as a member of the Canterbury Education Board. Mr. Rolleston was elected to the Provincial Council and became Provincial Secretary in 1864. Four years later he was raised to the Superintendent and filled the office for eight years. Under the Colonial Government he became Under-Secretary for Native Affairs and Inspector of Native Schools. In 1868 he was returned to the House of Representatives for the Avon constituency, which he represented continuously till 1884, when he was elected for Geraldine. The hon. gentleman continued a member of the House till the general election of 1893, when he was defeated. On the retirement of the Hon. John Bryce in 1891 Mr. Rolleston was unanimously elected leader of the Opposition.