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William Rolleston

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TitleWilliam RollestonDescriptionRolleston town is named after William Rolleston, a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.

Rolleston first joined the Canterbury Provincial Council when he was appointed to the Canterbury Executive Council on 4 December 1863. His tenure on the Executive Council finished on 16 June 1865. On 23 January 1864, he was elected as a provincial councillor in the Heathcote electorate and remained a councillor until 23 June 1865. On 22 May 1868, he was elected unopposed as the 4th (and last) Superintendent of the Canterbury Province. He held that office until the abolition of the provinces on 31 October 1876.

Rolleston represented the Avon electorate from a by-election in 1868 to 1884. In 1878 as an MP Rolleston proposed a school for deaf children. The government agreed to open a state school for the deaf in Christchurch, and the Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institution opened in 1880.

In the 1879 general election, he was returned unopposed. He then represented Geraldine from 1884 to 1887. The Geraldine electorate was abolished in 1887 and replaced with the Rangitata, where he was defeated by Searby Buxton. He then represented Halswell from 1890 to 1893. The Halswell electorate was abolished in 1893, and he contested Ellesmere, where he was defeated. He then represented Riccarton from 1896 to 1899. He had won the 1896 election against George Warren Russell, but was defeated by him in 1899 by just one vote.

Rolleston served as Minister of Justice in the government of Premier John Hall from December 1880 to April 1881. He was also appointed Minister of Native Affairs in January 1881, heading the department as the Government prepared to invade the Māori settlement of Parihaka in November. Rolleston stood aside as minister on the night of 19 October 1881.

Rolleston married Elizabeth Mary Brittan in 1865 at Avonside, Christchurch; she was the daughter of Joseph Brittan. They had four daughters and five sons, including John, Frank and Arthur Rolleston.

Rolleston died in Kapunatiki, South Canterbury, 8 February 1903.Date of Birth1831Date of Death1903Place of DeathKapunatiki, South Canterbury

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PlaceRollestonMore InformationRead the full Te Ara biographyPhotograph of William Rolleston, c1899 Last edited by: Sarah Davy

Photograph of William Rolleston, c1870 Last edited by: Sarah Davy

Photograph of William and Mary Rolleston and their family, at Kapunatiki, 1888 Last edited by: Sarah Davy

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William Rolleston