Obituaries Australia

The news of the death of Mr. Robert Morrison, M.A. , which took place it Edenpark, Whittlesea, yesterday morning occasioned painful surprise to those who heard it among the large circle of Old Scotch College boys, to whom during the last half-century he had endeared himself, both as a schoolmaster and as a friend. A fortnight ago Mr. Morrison visited Melbourne, and was in his usual health and spirits but on returning to his residence at Whittlesea he caught a chill which developed into pneumonia and the end came rapidly.

Mr. Morrison was born in Scotland, and graduated in arts, with honours, at the University of Edinburgh, gaining the Hope Exhibition. He arrived at Melbourne on August 3, 1857, to join his brother, the late Dr. Alexander Morrison, in the work of Scotch College. He was shortly afterwards appointed vice-principal of the college, which position he retained with conspicuous honour to himself and to the school until his voluntary retirement at the end of 1904, when the college council, in recognition of his valuable services, granted him a retiring allowance.

It was stated at the time that when, on August 17, 1903 the applications for a successor to Dr. Morrison were opened by the council it was found Mr. Morrison was not an applicant for the principalship, Mr. W. S. Littlejohn was appointed to the position, and shortly afterwards announced that Mr. Morrison (who had acted as principal for the remainder of the year after his brother's death) would remain on the college staff as vice-principal.

On giving up his active connection with the college at the end of 1904 Mr. Morrison was entertained at dinner by the old boys of the college and presented with a cheque for £250 and an illuminated address, expressing their warm feeling of respect and regard. He was also entertained by the members of the Old Scotch Collegians' Club of which he was that year president, to mark the jubilee of his arrival in Victoria.

For many years Mr. Morrison held office on the board of management of Scots Church and during the whole of his residence in Melbourne he was one of the most regular attendants at the University Senate and one of the most active members at its deliberations. Mrs. Morrison has survived her husband and there are two sons—Mr. Donald R. Morrison (of Messrs Searle and Morrison, solicitors) and Mr. William A. Morrison (a partner of Mr. A. P. Merrill, dentist of Collins-street). His funeral will take place to-morrow from Scots Church, and the service will be conducted by the Rev. Dr Marshall.