DEATH OF MR ARTHUR MORRISON, M.H.R.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 26

DEATH OF MR ARTHUR MORRISON, M.H.R.

Shortly after 9 o'clock on Thursday evening, at the Hanmer Springs, Mr Arthur Morrison, the member representing Caversham, died from the effects of tho throat ailment which had made it necessary for him to leave Wellington some time before the . end of the just concluded session. At the end of January last -he had apparently recovered from his attack, ancl .attended the bowling tournament in Chrislchurch, but upon his return to Dunedin he became seriously ill, and from this last attack he never thoroughly recovered. Mr Morrison was born in 1846 at Darvell, Loudoun Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland. Until nine years of age he attended the parish school, after which he received some education at various night schools, but he always looked upon himself as mainly a self-taught man. After leaving school he was for a time engaged in farm work in the old country, among other things being employed in a Glasgow slaughterhouse. In 1874 he came to Otago, and in 1875 was employed as salesman to the Walton Park Coal Company, which position he occupied when returned as the member for Caversham in 1893. Mr Morrison was a Past District President of !li»> Druids Society, by whom he was sent to Melbourne in 1887 as a delegate to the Grand Lodge of Druids. He was a member of the New Zealand Masonic body, and took a large interest in temperance work, having been connected with the 1.0. G.T. and other sister organisations. Mr Morrison was likewise for three years a member of the Caversham Borough Council, and al&o served on the Caversham School Committee. Thus it

taken an active part in nJI matters of publio interest. With a good deal of previous experience in municipal' matters it was, then, that Mr Morrison first offered himself as a candidae for Parliament in 1893. In November of that year he contested the Caversham electorate in the Labour interest, and was the successful candidate, securing 1335 votes as against 1199 polled by Mr Barron and 48 hy Mr Munro. Since then Mr Morrison has had no difficulty in retaining his parliamentary seat, and has been one of the most faithful supporters of the Seddon Government. In December of 1896 he secured y.307 votes against Mr Sidey's 1126, Mr Wardrop's 604-. and Mr Barron's 305. At the last general election, in December, 1899. he defeated Mr Warren by a large majority, the voting being 2800 against 1752. Personally, Mr Morrison was in character a true Scotchman — that is to say, he had plenty of confidence in himself, hut not too much in others, and he never took anything for granted. He was eminently a careful reasoner, and, as admitted by his politi-< cal opponents, sincere, honest, and reliable. Evidence of this lies in the fact, that he for so long enjoyed the confidence of his constituency generally. In addition he was a genial man, kind of heart, full of enthusiasm for and belief in his colony. He was an enthusiastic member of the Caledonian Bowling Club.

In opening the Kew Methodist Church bazaar J m the Cavereham Hall on Friday ". afternoon Mr Arnold, M.H.R., made feeling reference to the late Mr Morrison, whom he characterised as a true Labour representative. The Rev. Mr Guy then moved, and it was unanimously carried — " That this meeting desire to express their heartfelt sympathy with Mis Morrison and family in tLcir sad bereavement." The resolution wn-< subsequently telegraphed to Mrs Morrison by Mr Arnold. Hi 9 Excellency the Governor, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon (Premier), and other members of the Ministry, as well as members of both Houses of Parliament ancl others in all parts of the colony, have sent messages to Mrs Arthur Morripon expressing their sympathy with her in the sad bereavement she has sustained in the death of her husband. The Premier's telegram was as follows: — "I deeply regret to hear of the death of my dear old friend Mr Moxrisovn. He was sterling and true, ancl we coulcf iTT*"*afford to spare him. His death is a loss to the district anrl the colony, and we can only pay our tribute to his memory and sympathise rue! condnlcvith his wife and family, who have suffered an irreparable loss. — • R. ,T. Reddov."

The remains of the late Mr Morrison renched Dunedin on Saturday night, and the fim n rnl took place on Sunday afternoon, the cortege k-avAipc the lato residence of the d-ecea-s'l in Josephine street, Darley. at 3 o'clock. There: was a very largo following, in chiding members of friendly societies, tho Drnich and the Masons being particularly well represented, while there were al«o present many of tho leading residents of the CavPrsham district, members of la.bour bodiss, members ,of the Caledonian Bowling Club (of which the deceased was a member), and members of iho Southern Football and! other clubs vith which the deceased had 1 been connected. .The Druid lodges repre-"' s.snttd were the Royal Oak (of >vhich", tha . deceased was- a memhe?), Enterprise," Pride, of Morningtqri, Lily of the Valley. 'West Harbour, and Otago. P.T.P. Bro. Hunter and G.-P^ Bvo. New tea were present on behalf of Hie District Grand Ledge, U.A.0.D., Canterbury, an 4 the District Grand Lodge officers of Orag-o ;\ad Southland also attended. In the Ma=onio fraternity, Lodgs Hiram, to vih'eh the deceased belonged, and the sister lodges were fully represented. The Hem. T. Y. Duncan attended on behalf of the Government, and there must have been 3000 present.