For some years he was engaged on the Murray Flats, but from around 1877 he held a farm on the Black Rock Plains, near Orroroo, South Australia.

[3] In April 1887 he lost Frome but in July won a South Australian Legislative Council by-election for the Northern District.

[4] As 'a strenuous opponent' of socialism, he was a founding member in 1892 of the National Defence League (NDL), a 'counter' to the new United Labor Party at the 1893 election.

He was a 'strong farmer's advocate' and introduced progressive probate and succession duties and 'homestead block' measures, based on New Zealand legislation.

[5] In 1902 he stood for Barossa and lost, and also failed in a bid to enter the Australian Senate for the Australasian National League (formerly NDL).