Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 13 September 1913, page 2


A' MAN'S DUTY IS TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY.

REMINISCENCES OF THE HON. W. B ROUNSEVELL POLITICIAN, BUSINESS MAN, SQUATTER AND ALL-ROUND SPORTS MAN A STIRRING LIFE AND NO REGRETS INCIDENTS OF THER OLD COACHING DAYS FORTUNE MISSED IN PHOSPHATES PARLIAMENTARY ANECDOTES, BUT 'I DARE NOT TELL THE BEST"

It is given to few men to live such a full life as that through which the Hon. W. B. Rounsevell has passed, and at 72 years of age to still be in full pos session of all his facuIties, with a remark-able memory and a brain as sound as a bell, with which to transact a multitude of affairs. Perhaps the key to it was given when one called upon Mr. Rounsevell at Glenelg the other day to have a chat with

him for the Show number of 'The Mail.' We found him on a Monday afternoon just sponging his eyes after his midday nap, which had been taken on an old fashioned couch which came from India in the early days of South Australia. Years ago one had read that an elixir for long life was a nap of from about half an hour immediately after luncheon. 'Is this your, daily habit?' one asked Mr. Rounsevell, and was not surprised when he replied—'I have had my nap after luncheon every day for years. My father did it before me. He told me what it meant to him and I have proved its inestimable value.' We had often desired to have a yarn with Mr. Rounsevell for this column, but we specially delayed it for this particular issue, because no man in South Australia could be more suitable for a sketch at the time of the Royal Agricultural Show than William Benjamin Rounsevell. He has played a prominent part in many walks of life— in business, in politics, in sport, and in developing the rural industries of South Australia. In the latter connec tion he has been a leading figure in the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural So-ciety, whose annual Spring Show was concluded to-day. It was difficult to decide how to lead up to Mr. Rounsevell's reminiscences. It took two fairly full afternoons to get some of them from him. One thought led to an-other, and a volume might be written by a man who has so many and such varied experiences; indeed it is almost a pity if he should not in his leisure mo-ments take the opportunity to elaborate some of the memories which our two days' talk brought to mind. It would be impossible in this sketch, with its limita-tion of space, to tell all the stories that Mr. Rounsevell was able to recount, and it is to be hoped that later on he will be able to amplify them. The most im-portant part of his career resolved around politics, but it will perhaps be best to take his reminiscences in some thing of chronological order. Only the elder generation will remem-ber that Mr. Rounsevell in his early days was closely connected with coaching; in-deed, his father was the pioneer of coach-ing in South Australia. Mr. Rounsevell, sen., came to South Australia from Corn-wall in 1839. He had been induced to come here by Sir Rowland Hill, who in troduced penny postage into England, and was at the time immigration agent in Lon-don for Australia. 'My father,' said Mr. Rounsevell, 'was the son of a Cornish farmer, and, like his ancestors since the days of the Nor-man Conquest, farmed the land for cen-turies- sturdy English yeomen. His first billet in South Australia was to fell and saw timber for the South Australian Com-pany, he having brought out pit saws with him. Then he joined the police force and became a senior sergeant. In 1852 he went to the Victorian gold diggings, but did not stay there long. Prior to that he had estab lished a livery and letting stable in Pirie street on land he had bought, and where Graves, Hill & Co. now have their head-quarters. While father was away in Vic toria my mother conducted the business. 'When father came back from Victoria he began the running of coaches, and thus established what ultimately grew into a very extensive business — the largest ever owned by one man in Australia. Later on, to gether with the coaching business, he undertook mail contracting, and con-tinued until December 1868, when he sold out to Cobb & Co., who bought 2,000 broken-in horses from him.' 'Of course, that is where you began your connection with coaching which old residents remember so well?' 'Yes; I was born at Pirie street in 1842. I had my early education at Whinham and St. Peter's Colleges, and was drilled in office work and bookkeeping by William Kay, of Townsend, Botting, & Kay. When I was still a youth I began to participate actively in the coaching business.' 'That is when you were known as 'Mas ter Ben'?' 'Yes; there were two brothers of us— one known as 'Master John' and myself as 'Master Ben.' When we were old enough we were given charge of two separ-ate branches of the business. John man aged the roads north from Kapunda; I had charge of the line to Yorke's Pen insula and the southern roads; and father looked after the first stage from Adelaide -— in fact, was general boss. Although I say it, he was a wonderful organiser. Many a time John and I have gone to him with what appeared to us to be insuper-able difficulties, but he could smooth out all the troubles. My word, he did like a fight, by which I mean he revelled in opposition. We had opposition, too, in our business, particularly in connection with the mail contracts, and my father got all those by tendering alternately for separate lines and in a lump sum for the whole lot. The lump sum tender secured the work.' 'When he went out of the business what became of it?' 'It was transferred to Cobb & Co., a company representing four quarter inter-ests: Peleg Whitford Jackson and Jasper Bingham Meggs, two Canadians, had a quarter, Fuller, Hill & Co., Henry Ro-bert Fuller, Henry Hill, and George Mills had a quarter; Joseph Darwent had a quarter, and I also had one. I did not retain mine long. Then the Canadians

and Darwent retired, and Hill & Co. took over the whole business. They re-tained it for many years but the line is now merged into Graves, Hill, & Co., Ltd.' 'I suppose you had some stirring exper-iences in connection with coaching?' ' 'I could fill a book with them. The old coaching days were stirring times. We were bound under a penalty of 1/ per minute for late delivery, which was at times unavoidable, especially in winter time, when we had to travel over unmade roads, which our present-day travellers would think impassable. Passengers had frequently to get out and walk in the back country, where the coaches were run with grassfed horses. Sometimes the poor things had hard work to live without hauling a well-laden coach, although they would have only one stage per week of about 20 miles. I could tell many a racy anecdote of these ancient times on the roads, moving incidents of flood and field, never again to be experienced in South Australia, where we have one of the best (if not the best) conducted railway sys-tems in the world, and freest from deadly accidents. Why, in the old days in winter time it took three days to get to the Burra Burra Mines. A coach with five or six horses to Gawler, then a big Port cart with, four horses to Kapunda. Then a smaller cart with three horses, the har-ness showing a good deal of greenhide, and some of the horses a good deal of raw. I more than once escaped death from coach accidents, and was nearly drowned in crossing the Light, which was running a banker; but Mick Terry was driving. He cleared out the passengers and mails, went back with the coach, and made a dash for it. The leaders got a footing, but the polers failed, and one losing his foot-ing was drowned. Running coaches on night tracks was often perilous, especially if the usual team for the stage was shift-ed for night work, and often there was nothing for it but to camp out till dawn. We had troubles and worries in plenty, but youth and hope kept us going. In the 1866-7 drought we paid £150 per ton car-riage on horsefeed. Passengers some times were perverse. For instance, the great northern coach ran from the Burra to Mount Remarkable (now Melrose). the mails and passengers northwards being taken in , specially made spring carts. Once, on returning from the Blinman, the horses jibbed in a sandy creek. All the passengers got out except four squatters, who would not. They had paid to be carried, and would be. J. R., who was on board, removed the horses from the cart. Still they were obdurate. After altercation, J. R., holding the shafts, said, 'Two minutes, and up you go,' which at the end of two minutes they did. The horses were rehitched, took the empty cart out of the creek, and the journey was resumed. This was fol-lowed by a law suit for assault and bat-tery of four gentlemen by one youth! 'So I might ramble on. Some incidents were nearly tragical. Take an example. I was travelling to Mount Gambier in a South African Port cart, accompanied by the driver and a guard armed to the teeth to fend off bushrangers — save the mark! They were little accustomed to firearms. When going along the Coorong we sighted some wild turkey. I always carried a fowling piece. We circled round the game, I slipped out of the cart and shot one, which we gathered, and I was about to get into the cart, when bang went the guard's revolver, and I was with-in an ace of ending my coaching career. The bullet went through my hat. ''I remember many a trip we had in days of drought from Port Augusta to Yudna-mutana. They were terrible journeys. In time of drought, in carrying the horse feed, they would leave Port Augusta with six teams of horses, and all of them would go as far as Hookina. There was no feed on the way, and we had to supply the horses with what feed we had on board. At Hookina two teams would return, and four more would go on to the nest stage, from which we might send two of them back, and possibly turn them loose. Finally Yudnamutana would be reached with only one team, with a small balance of the fodder with which we had started. Of course we were carrying mails, too, but I am sure after all these years my old newspaper friends will not be surprised to hear that many a bundle of 'Obser-vers' and 'Chronicles' were thrown away, and that only the letters reached Yudna-mutana. Another remarkable incident was the way a coach was burned in the north on a hot summer's day. A real old-time brickfielder was blowing from the north. We were driving against it when one of us in front of the coach smelt fire. We looked around and saw smoke. It was the work of a moment for one of us to drag out the mails, while others tried to loose the horses. We saved the mails, but before we could get the horses out the coach, the wood in which was as dry as tinder, was a mass of flames, and it made the atmosphere so unendurable that we had to abandon the efforts to remove the horses. All the woodwork of the coach was destroyed, and nothing but the metal was left. Fortunately, with the wind blowing away from the animals, although they got frantic, they were not injured.' 'Before we leave your coaching days, did you not have the reputation of being a great whip?'' 'No, I was only a fair whip, by my bro-ther John a great one. I can say this, how-ever, as a remembrance of my coaching days, that I still like to drive behind horseflesh. I have met many tempters regarding the motor car, but I learned years ago to love horses, and nothing would induce me to get a motor. Every-body in Adelaide who knows Mr. Rounse-vell is familiar with his figure driving up the Bay road in his victoria and getting out of it to attend one of many public meetings which still claim his attention. When your father gave up coaching did he settle down in South Australia?.' 'No, he went to England for a trip.

and thereby hangs an interesting inci-dent, which is given point by the events of later days. I suppose one missed a fortune, but, after all, 'Yesterday is dead.' After he had sold out father went to England. On reaching the old country he called upon Messrs. Burnard & Lack, of Plymouth, with whom over 30 years before he had worked for six weeks rather than be idle while he was waiting to catch the ship for Australia. One o£ the partners, I am not sure which, was a very rich man, and the other was a chemist. They used to import copro-lites, which they ground down, and by the addition of chemicals converted into superphosphate. When my father told them he come from South Australia, and conveyed to them some of its possibili-ties in the direction of cultivation, they told him that if he would take out superphosphate and apply into the soil be could easily become a millionaire. Father, however, said that the soil was too young, and had not been worked out, therfore did not need any stimulant. Nevertheless, he sent me out a ton to Corryton Park, which he had purchased, and I used it there with wonderful re-sults in the garden and on grasses, but it never occurred to me to apply it to farming, of which I had already had some experience. I suppose I might have devloped the use of superphosphate, and I have often thought that possibly I missed a fortune by not experimenting in that direction. Incidentally, I should like to say that I have read recently in 'The Mail' some argument as to who should have the credit of hav-ing successfully introduced super-phosphate to agriculture. My mem-ory tells me that credit is due to Jack Cudmore. I. know this, that he had been using superphosphate on Yorke's Pe-ninsula when the Correll Brothers went over there from Salisbury. By the use of super they improved the yield from 5 to 6 to 20 bushels. What they did, however, was not generally adopted at the time by other farmers. Of course Professor Lowrie came along later and became the great propa-gandist of the value of superphosphates, and there is no doubt that to him the great credit is due of the im-proved yield on South Australian farm-lands. However, not only what did I myself miss, but what might Jack Cudmore and the Correll Brothers have done if they had gone into the super business as farms have done in recent years?' 'Talking of agriculture, Mr. Rounsevell, reminds one that you have taken an active part in rural pursuits?' 'Yes; but before I settled down I had a trip to England in 1870, and had the time of my life. I saw little of the Con-tinent, for the Franco-Prussian war was being fought, but I had a most interest-ing time in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. I visited all the big shipping ports, and saw all the factories I could. England struck me then as a wonderful place. She is still small, but by results she is still Great Britain. When I return-ed to South Australia I started sheep and cattle raising at Corryton Park, and Moo-looloo. Before then however, I had had considerable experience of farming. In connection with father's old coaching business he had farms north, south, and east of Adelaide, and I had charge of them. We used to grow our own hay and convey it to the nearest coaching depots. I was the first man to put a plough in Yorke's Peninsula, at Greens Plains. When we took up land there I cultivated it before we had time to put up a fence. Then we had farms near Kingston, at Mount Barker, Nairne, Willunga, and at Wild Horse Plains. The most notable one of all was on the ground now occu pied by the Parkside Lunatic Asylum, which consisted of three original sections of 134 acres each; at least they were sup posed to be only 134 acres each, but they were nearer 140 acres. The old chains which were brought out from England were over long. This land belonged to Sir Rowland Hill — the two adjoining sec-tions to Mr. Nathaniel Knox. We rented it from Mr. John Howard Clark, at one time editor of the 'Register.' I had charge of the cultiva-tion of the land for many years, and used to get 3 and 4 tons of hay per acre off it. I learned early to follow the methods of an English agricultural reformer (Ald. Michie), who had found out the value of deep ploughing and resting the land (fal lowing). I was so impressed with his teaching that I used to plough nine or ten inches deep with excellent results. In connection with these early days of farming I may say that we employed the first steam chaffcutter in South Australia, and before then my brother John, myself, and the stable men used to do the chaffing by manual labour. Finally, when the land was resumed for the pur-pose of the Parkside Lunatic Asy-lum my father sold his lease for a good price. At Corryton Park I raised sheep and cattle, and got some wonderful results. While father was in England he sent me out to the Park some of Pace's perennial rye, which I grew successfully. Another grass he sent was ribleaf or lamb's tongue, and I believe it was the first that came to South Australia. I gave some of it to my uncle John, who planted it at Tara, near Littlehampton, and it spread from there nearly all over the hills. The rye grass my father sent me I used in the orchard and in the pad-dock immediately north of the homestead, which was afterwards called Rylands, and is still called such to this day.' 'You did not continue squatting for manv years?' 'No. I had the usual experiences of a northern squatter in the seventies of great profits and great losses. In one period of drought I took up Coxare (?) and by shifting all my cattle from Palsey (?) Springs was able to save all my adult sheep. I sold on both my sheep and cattle runs in 1884 (?). Two years later, wearying of idleness, I bought Johnston, Furness & Blakeney's wine and spirit business. Later on I sold out to the

South Australian Brewing Company, which also took over Mr. W. K. Simms's and Sir Edwin Smith's breweries.' Mr. Rounsevell, as has already been mentioned in connection with his farming operations and coaching days, has taken a prominent part in the development of rural interests. In the early seventies he settled at Corryton Park. He took a pride in breeding cattle for his stations in the north. He bred his own bulls and his own rams. The Shorthorns he bred from M7 cows and pedigreed bulls, and he bought the rams which produced his flocks from the Murrays. He imported im-proved Lincoln sheep. He also brought out to the Park Indian game fowls (Cor nish birds), English game. Indian runner ducks (the first introduced to Australia), pheasants, partridges, and hares. 'In later years,' said Mr. Rounsevell, 'I devoted my attention so far as cattle are concerned more particularly to Jerseys. I imported the cows to begin with from Melbourne, but the bulls I used were bred by A. J. Murray, of Mount Crawford. As you know, I took many prizes with my Jerseys, and it is only a few years ago that I sold out all my stock.' 'You have taken a prominent part in the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society?' 'I have done my best to improve its status. I was president for two years, and I am very proud of my connec-tion with the society. You must not forget that its council of 60 mem bers give all their time without any re-ward save that of serving the coun try. The educational value of the so-ciety it would be difficult to compute. It tends to improve stock, agriculture, and agricultural mechanics, and the induce-ment it gives to the development of raw products it would be hard to value in cold type.' When Mr. Rounsevell is at home now-adays it is at 'Tremere,' on the Adelaide road, at Glenelg. He lives in an inter-esting old house, the name of which means 'a place by the sea.' His own story is this:— 'My dining hall was originally the Glenelg Town Hall (and a beautiful room it is). When my father took the house from the late Mr. R. B. Colley, who had been Mayor of Glenelg, and was then oc-cupying it, he added a large drawing room, and subsequently I built other apartments, but the original town hall has never been touched. l gave Mr. John Jude his first building contract in connection with the additions to this place. It is an interest-ing recollection that Lady Daly, the wife of Sir Dominic Daly, then Governor of South Australia, died in this house, which had been leased by the Government dur-ing the absence of my father in England. Another thing I remember about this old place is that I used to go out and have my morning bathe in an arm of the Pata-walonga right in front of the house, but that has been filled in since.' Mr. Rounsevell has nearly all his life been intimately associated with sport. Years ago he ran some racehorses. 'At least,' he said, 'a confederacy ran horses, consisting of four Williams — William L. Reid, William Pile, myself, and William Gerrard, who only supplied the horses, but did not pay any of the expenses. We had an extensive stable at Lockleys, and many horses in training, and each of us had some besides.' 'What was the best horse you ever had?' 'That would be difficult to say, but among others were: — Device, a winner of the St. Leger, Follfarine, Cowarie, which I bred myself, and with whom I won the Echuca Cup, Prometheus, Don Carlos, and Electricity.' 'You have taken a great interest in the South Australian Jockey Club?' 'Yes. Mr. Henry Hughes and myself are the only two survivors of the original members of the S.A.J.C. In those days Mr. Hughes, Mr. Gabriel Bennett, and myself formed the handicapping commit-tee. It was only the other day that Mr. Hughes told me that after his final retire-ment from handicapping he destroyed some of the old handicaps which we three had framed. As you know, the original S.A.J.C. got into troubled waters, and seven of us had to liquidate a debt of about £3,000 which was owing to the bank. At that time the secretary was Mr. C. J. Coates, and afterward Mr. Sim Barnard. We used to meet in 'Register' Chambers. Later on the present S.A.J.C. was formed, with the late Sir Richard Baker as chairman. I was appointed to the committee, and I held my seat until a few years ago, when I resigned. Since then I have acted as steward.' Few who attend races at Morphettville are unfamiliar with the figure of Mr. Rounse vell, walking from the weighing-in enclo-sure to the old stewards' stand, from the corner of which for many years he has watched races with a keen, observant eye, the value of which has often been ap-preciated by his fellow stewards. 'What is your opinion of the totaliza-tor?' Mr. Rounsevell was asked. ''I think the totalizator is the fairest method of making investments. I am quite satisfied that it has reduced the volume of betting, and has minimised crime. One cannot imagine that a lad will steal 5/ for the purpose of taking it to the racecourse and putting it in the totalizator, but one does know that many a larger amount has been taken from em-ployers by men who have booked wagers without having the means to meet their liabilities if they lost.' 'And your opinion of the management of racing?' 'I can only say that it must be gratify-ing to everybody who is interested in the sport, to see the way racing is conducted in South Australia. From what I have seen and from what I have read I am satisfied that the sport as conducted here is as clean as it is in any other part of the world.' 'Now, what about greyhounds ?'' 'You know that you touch me on a very tender spot. I have been a lover of dogs—indeed, of all animals — all my life. I was one of the first to own greyhounds in South Australia. They were pre-sented to me by Mr. James Chambers. For many years before that, at Green's Plains, I had chased with kangaroo dogs— (the Hon. John Lewis, a wonder through scrub, can remember many a good run we had) — but when I got the greyhounds I established kennels at Corryton Park, and went in for coursing on an extensive scale. The history of the sport shows that I won many stakes, and bred dogs that have left their mark on the greyhounds of Australia; in fact, there are very few which are prominent now that have not running through their veins the old blood that I introduced away back in the seven ties.' Mr. Rounsevell produced his old pedi-gree book bound up with others in a faded piece of red tape, about which he remarked, and probably very accurately that it was as old as his interviewer. It was most interesting to follow him through its pages. It would take columns of ''The Mail' to reproduce all the re-miniscences the names he glanced at call-ed up. But just a few of them: 'Here is one — Lady limp. 1. by Gillie Callum out of Lobelia. She was a fine bitch. Just take some of her stock. Baffler, by Young Bravo, Regal by Ranter, and then that wonderful litter by Tumult— Radiani. Riviere, Rosy Fawn, Rondeletta, Rebel lion, and Red Riot. All these were winners, and several of them in Victoria, Rosy Fawn was probably the best of them. She won the Victorian Oaks and the Gitana Cup. Among other fine grey-hounds I had then were Ready Money, by Cashier from Lais, and L.'Amie who was bred from the Earl of Sefton stock, and produced some of the best greyhounds in the State. Another remarkably good bitch was Wes-teria, by Charon from Joan, which I bought from Jack Wagner. Westeria was the dam of a number of winners. among them Rhodanthe, who won more money than any other greyhound that my kennels produced, and Reseda. I used to have sales of my greyhounds in Victoria and I at one sale realised about £1,700. Among these I sole Rhodanthe and she afterwards won two Waterloo Cups. Still another bitch that left her mark on Australian greyhounds was Red Hind, by Chester out of Rosy Fawn and the cross between Rent Change and Red Hind that proved very prolific in win-ners.'' 'Needless to say, you are a great be-liever in coursing." 'Yes: I think it is one of the best and cleanest sports that I have known and I have said before in public that it is interesting to know that the sport dates back to the days of the Prussian Empire, many years before Charles and more interesting to know, where his been proved by the hieroglyphs virtues which have been on fables that the pn;;:;.- m.-iii' in coursing were exactly the same and of precisely the same value in those bygone ages as they are today. I

used to have a wonderfully good collec-tion of coursing literature, but some years ago I gave it all to the Royal Agri-cultural Society, and I can assure any one who wants information on the sub-ject that there are volumes there which are worth studying.' While most people know that Mr. Rounsevcll has been a leader in sport, even more familiar is the fact that for many years he played a prominent part in politics. He was first elected to Parlia ment for the Burra in 1875. Later on he represented Port Adelaide, and lastly the Frome. He was five times a Minister of the Crown. He was Treasurer to Sir Wil liam Morgan, to Sir John Colton, to the Playford-Downer Government in 1892-3, and finally in the seven days' Solomon Ministry in 1899 (in those seven days he bought the Holdfast Bay railway for the State.) Then in 1890-2 he was Commis-sionor of Public Works in the Playford Downer Government. Naturally a man who was so prominently and intimately associated with politics could tell many interesting reminiscences in connection with his Parliamentary days, but Mr. Rounsevell, when asked for some stories, remarked with a chuckle: — 'I dare not tell the best. They must be a sealed book for many years to come. Perhaps when we are all gone somebody will come come along with reminiscences, which no doubt will make interesting reading.' 'Do any Parliamentary incidents occur to you now?' 'Yes, there are some. I remember once that the Botanic Garden was under discussion. Mr. Lavington Glyde, one of the ablest financiers Australia has had, was proposing an amendment of the name. He desired that it should be called Bo-tanical Garden. Those who remember Mr. Glyde know how in his speeches he got into the minutae of things. Well, he spoke for quite a long time on this amendment, and when he had hammered his argument threadbare he sat down. Mr. Grundy from Gawler then got up. He was a cynical man, and in his most cynical tones he spoke something like this: —Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has given most elaborate reasons why we should change the name from the Botanic to the Botanical Garden. I say, Sir, this is rubbish. Botanic, botanical: finic, finical.' The house roared. Need I add that the amendment was not carried ? Another little story in which I need mention the name of only one party to it— the late Mr. West-Erskine. I remember him well—tall, thin, and very sarcas-tic. He and another member did not love each other, and they got into holts in one particular dis-cussion in the House. Mr. West-Erskine. when it came to his turn to speak, said. 'I would refer the hon. member to two Biblical tests— 'Ananias went and hanged himself' and 'Go thou and do likewise.' Another remark of Mr. West-Erskine's occurs to one. He was talking of a mem-ber who was eloquent, although perhaps rather florid, and he said to him, 'The hon. member is like acid and alkali. When they meet they go off fizz, and there is nothing left.' I could go on with stories without end, but I am sure you have not room for them.' And who do you regard as the finest speaker you have heard in the South Aus-tralian Parliament?' 'I should say the most eloquent man was John Langdon Parsons. The best debater was probably Ebby Ward. Per-haps absolutely the best speaker was Ran-dolph Isham Stowe, who had a remark-ably fine presence, while his diction was perfect. Charley Mann was another charming speaker. I shall never forget the time he was Treasurer and was at-tacked by Lavington Glyde, who twitted him with being a young man and inex-perienced. A loan had been floated, and Mr Glyde was detracting from Mr Mann's knowledge of finance. He said that he had been informed by a great British financial authority that the flotation had been muddled. Charley Mann, speaking with wonderful self-control, and in his most suave tones, said that Mr. Glyde had referred to his lack of experience. He admitted that, but he had played the game off his own bat. He had made en-quiries and had found out who this great financial party was with whom Mr. Glyde had fortified his statements, and he had discovered that he was a Jew peddler of sham jewellery. The members of the House had been primed with what Mr. Mann was going to say, and his reply was received with uproarious laughter. Mr. Mann had scored a point, and Mr. Glyde could not answer. Although he was not the most eloquent, perhaps the most ef fective Parliamentary speaker I have heard was Charley Kingston. I shall never forget that morning, when, twisting the red tape hard between his fingers (curiously enough Charley Mann years before used to do the same thing, also Sir John Downer), he, in replying at the finish of a no-confidence debate, had to defend his col-league, Tom Playford. It was one of the finest things I ever heard in the House, and it is history to those who remember what happened that it influenc-ed at least one vote, which is more than can be said of most speeches on a no confidence debate.' 'You consider then that Mr. Kingston was a powerful man?' 'Indeed I do. I regard him as the most powerful man I met in Parliament. His knowledge, of members, of their desires and their weaknesses, and of their strengths was remarkable. He knew bet-ter than any other man I ever met just exactly how to play his cards, and Aus-tralia lost a great man when he died at a comparatively early age. He had more strength in his little finger than most men had in their backs.' 'What do you regard as your best achievement in your Parliamentary career?'' 'I am naturally proud of the fact that I introduced the Happy Valley water scheme. Few recognised how perilously near to disaster Adelaide had been seve-ral times from the want of water before the Happy Valley Reservoir was construct-ed. I knew, and was therefore most anx-ious to carry the Bill. Years before then I introduced the land and income tax, got it through, and inaugura-ted it. We probably would not have succeeded in passing it if we had not provided for the saving grace of 5 per cent of the income tax on the assessed value of land, which, however, was subse-quently most unfairly repealed.' It was not for Mr. Rounsevell to say, but one who has reported many of his speeches in the House remembers him as one of the most concise speakers of his day. He always had his facts thoroughly marshalled, and while his diction was al-ways excellent, he made no attempt to un-duly garnish his speeches. It is a plea-sant memory that he was an easy man to report, because he sent out such excel-lent notes to the Hansard staff. He never by any means attempted to write his speeches, but one can see now all his headlines marshalled in beautiful order, with the minor points underlined with one line of red ink, and the big points, with two, or perhaps three, thick lines of red beneath them. The man who could not make a good report of one of Ben Rounse-vell's speeches was a bad reporter, be-cause had everything so clear and left little to the imagination of the man with the pencil. One can see him now, in the mind's eye, 20 odd years ago standing at the Treasurer's table with his fine chest thrown out, with a buttonhole in his coat, with his fine resonant voice, ex-plaining a measure that he was intro-ducing. He was a man who carried con-viction in Parliament. There may have been moro eloquent men, but few had more influence than W. B. Rounsevell. "There is a question I would like your opinion upon.'' one asked Mr. Rounsevell. 'What is your view of party govern-ment?' 'I think it is the only way in which the people can be represented. I have heard a lot of talk about elective minis-tries, and although they seem to have answered in Switzerland I am afraid they would not do in Australia.'' 'Mr. F. F. Smith, K.C., in England suggested the widening of the area of questions which should be regarded as national matters and taken out of the realm of party politics. What do you think of that idea?' 'There is no doubt there was a good deal of force in his magazine article, which I have read. There are questions which should not be subjected to the ef-fects of party strife. All the same, party government has been the keystone of the British Parliamentary institution. Obvi-ousIy what Mr. Smith is aiming at is the development of the administrative side of government. So long as parties exist so long will administration differ as the different parties occupy the Treasury benches, and in present circumstances it may be generally accepted that the party in power represents the voice of the maj-ority of the people. After all your long service, what do you think of Parliamentary debate? .-nu;,i 1 -i ! k i'er~;, tvZ -Aii'i!.-.' '.My ?.'?J-.vi,: i'.:!-ii.l!lli;n:.-l]-y !lfr ;„ ;h.i; )i ,-i;-.;i-'- !.-. ny trfMi mi- 11 :?! :'r.-: \\:;t!. liny nir .: -Tr.1- :?? ihiir e.iunlrv in -rfr.. ii j;i ll-^ nr.V. . u.'.-i'.'. . or in I\i! ILujicM. 1 th:nk Hi.'.:

I every man who has the opportunity should consider it as a duty to serve his country without any undue desire for per-sonal regard or aggrandisement. A man's duty is to his family and to his country.' Not only is 'Tremere'' an interesting house because of its early origin, but at the present moment one can profitably spend hours there studying the art trea sures which Mr. Rounsevell pos-sesses, and from which he de-rives infinite enjoyment. On the wall are many beautiful paintings, some of them of considerable value. They include the work of Linnell (landscape). Webb (seascape). Koekoek (seascape), and the Herrings, jun. and sen. In addition to the paintings Mr. Rounsevell has got together a valuable collection of curios, to say nothing of a remarkable array of cups, many of them very beautiful, and medals, which he has won in connection with agriculture and sport. These art treasures naturally enough give Mr. Roun-sevell infinite pleasure. He will enter upon his 72nd year on September 23. He will not admit it, but one can honest-ly say that his writing is almost as clear as it was 20 years ago. He is now Mayor of Glenelg, as he was 32 years ago, and naturally has a volume of correspondence to do. He writes all his own letters, never having bothered about the modem typewriter. He spends hours a day read-ing, first the daily papers, then the Mel-bourne papers, afterwards the English magazines, and if there is time some his-tory or reminiscences. He has not time for novels nowadays. 'Tremere is a charming place, and its owner is a charming host. His bonhomie is proverbial, and he is never more happy than when he is entertaining his friends and chatting over the incidents of his wonderfully varied career. Although he is not now in politics Mr. Rounsevell still takes an active part in the business life of Adelaide. In his day he has been a director and often chairman of many business institutions. At the present time he is chairman of directors of Colton, Palmer, & Preston, and has been on the board of the Casde Salt Com-pany since its foundation. He has also been chairman for 30 years of the North-ern Territory Land Co., and he is still i,.'.:i u: tha f_ iic '???;!! ':vr m e,e ijie -]3. . when the Northern Territory comes into its own.

.-??,/ ? ? THE flOK. W. B. BODNBE\TaX.

.-??,/ ? ? THE flOK. W. B. BODNBE\TaX.