Hon. w. B. Rounseveii ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 331 commercial pursuits. For a long time, the pressure of their growing business, and the close attention demanded for careful fostering in order to establish it firmly ncicessitated the restriction of energy to their private interests. But public life at length moved Mr. W. B. Rounsevell's efforts. In 1875 he entered Parliament for the Burra, and represented that Constituency for 15 years, when Port Adelaide became the chosen seat of his ])olitical labors. He acquitted himself most creditably in the Assembly. He was an ardent supporter of his party, a strong debater, and a capable speaker. There was no lukewarmn(;ss attached to his conduct in the House. When party feeling ran high, and warm discussions made the political pulse beat faster, he was always at his post in the front rank of debaters. His ability to hold a ministerial office was recognised, and his past achievements warranted his promotion to a portfolio. When Mr. G. .S. Fowler resigned his position in the Morgan Ministry, Mr. Rounsevell was appointed Treasurer in May, 1881. The administration of this important office was continued by the new Minister till the retirement of the Government in the following June. The period of ministerial activity was too brief to admit of any material change being introduced in the admini.stration of his department. It was then his fortune to be seate^d in the ranks of the Opposition. The Bray Government was busy in bringing forward measures antagonistic to the ideas of their opjjonents, and a stream of hot debate flowed fast. Taxation and Land proposals met with a storm of solid resistance from the Opposition. Mr. Rounsevell ably supported the cause of his party, and declaimed with forceful effect. His unwearying efforts to bar their passage through the House, were welcomingly appreciated by his colleagues. At no previous time did he figure with such prominence, or render such distinguished services. The Government was doomed to lose the seals of office. In 1884 Sir John Colton formed his Administration, and Mr. Rounsevell was appointed to his former portfolio of Treasurer. Sir John and his Ministry suffered defeat, however, in June of the following year. With considerable vigor Mr. Rounsevell had set himself the task of reorganising certain portions of his department and of improving it. But the fickleness of Ministerial fortune stepped in and snapped the thread of his projected activity. At subsequent periods of parliamentary history Mr. Rounsevell filled the same Ministerial office in the Playford and Downer Governments. The experience which he had amassed from previous occupations of the po.st enabled him to proceed more definitely and with greater confidence with the responsible work of administering satisfactorily the numerous affairs of the Treasury Department. Much approval was shown towards the conduct of his office, and it was admitted by all unbiassed minds that Mr. Rounsevell's ability was congenial to this departmental exercise, and that his administrative efforts were fruitful of manifold success. He retired temporarily from public life in 1893, having earned the title of "Honorable" for life. At the general elections of 1899 he was again returned to the House of Assembly, this time for the district of Burra. In sporting, and especially coursing matters, great interest has been evinced by Mr. Rounsevell. He is a keen and true sportsman, and for many years consistently contributed his patronage and support to the welfare of the higher pastimes. In Glenelg Council matters his public usefulness was eagerly availed of and the office of Mayor of that municipality was held by him for two years. He took an active interest in municipal affairs durino- his connection with the Council, and did his utmost to advance thL" welfare and prosperity of the town. V2
