xlviii 



powers of organisiation, and at criti- 

 cal times in its history lie wias largely 

 instrumeii'tal in preserving its exist- 

 ence. 



Reference has already been made to 

 some of Mr. Morton's scientific expedi- 

 tions. It remains to speak of one or 

 two more. Some years ago lie was 

 commissioned by the Western Aus- 

 tralian Government to make ,a collec- 

 tion of the minerals of that State. 

 This he did in a manner at once suc- 

 cessful a<nd satisfactory to those con- 

 cerned ; and, thanks to the generosity 

 of the Western Australian Government, 

 the Tasmanian Museum was enriched 

 by large additions to its geological de- 

 partments. Another commission which 

 he undertook and successfully per- 

 formed was the importation of fish 

 from Canada. During the Canadian 

 winter he worked night and day, and 

 it is not improbable that the over -ex- 

 ertion then undergone contributed to 

 his breakdown in health. His activity 

 vvas by no means confined to the Mu- 

 seum. He was Director of the Bo- 

 tanical Gardens, Secretary of the Do- 

 main Commitjtee, and a member of the 

 Fisheries Commission. In these sev- 

 eral capacities he laboured with his 

 wonted energy and ability. He was 

 one of the oldest and most useful mein- 

 bers of the Southern Tasmanian Agri- 

 oultiiral Society, and assisted very ma- 

 teriially in bringing that organisation 

 up to its present prosperous condition. 

 Other societies benefited by his indus- 

 try and enthusiasm ; in fact, wherever 

 there -v^'as good work to be done for the 

 public or for any scientific or benevo- 

 lent object, there Mr. Morton was to 

 be found, and in his own way always 

 undertaking a large portion of the 

 work. 



Of Mr. Morton one >vho knew him 

 LTitimately says: — "He w«s a warm and 

 loyal friend. If a man was ill he 

 would be willing to watch by his bed 

 all night, even though he scarcely knew 

 him. No man was more tender than 

 he was, and of all the men lever knew, 

 none was more afFectionate and loyal." 



The deceased gentleman leaves a 

 widow and family of three daughters 

 and one son. 



The interment of his mortal remains 

 took place at the Cornelian Bay Ceme- 

 tery on Wednesday, 29*ih ult. There 

 was a large gathering of sorrowing 

 friends. 



The funeral of the late Mr. Alexander 

 Morton, whose remains were buried in 

 the cemetery at Cornelian Bay on the 



20th May, 1907, was one of the most re- 

 presentative that has ever been wit- 

 nessed in Hobart. The flags at the 

 public and leading private offices, in- 

 cluding those of the S.T.A. and P. 

 Society, were at half-mast, out of re- 

 spect to one who had done so much tor 

 the community aniong whom his lot 

 was cast. For the deceased had not 

 only been Director of the Museum for a 

 great number of years, but had taken 

 an interest in, and had been personally 

 associated with, so many other institu- 

 tions of a scientific and general charac- 

 ter, each of which sent at least one re- 

 presentative to pay the last sad testi- 

 mony of respect, that the gathering at 

 the grave was typical of Hobart from 

 almost every * point of view. The 

 beautifully ornamented cofiin of polished 

 wood, with silver deoorations, was al- 

 nwst hidden beneath a mass of floral 

 wreaths, mute symbols of a sympathy 

 that was universally felt. There were 

 wreaths '"from his wife and family," 

 from the nurses at Whitminster Lodge, 

 who had soothed his last sad hours; 

 from the Trustees of the Museum, also 

 from Messrs. J. and L. Arnold, and 

 Stanley, of the same institution ; from 

 Mr. A. G. Webster, chairman of the 

 Royal Society, and another from the 

 Council of the same; from Lebrena, 

 Holebrook, the residence of the Webster 

 family ; from Mr. E. Hawson, chair- 

 man of the committee of the S.T.A. 

 and P. Society ; from Mr. R. M: John- 

 ston, I.S.O., who had long been the de- 

 ceased's particular friend ;_ from Mr. 

 J. Wardman, of the Botanic Gardens, 

 of which the deceased had been the di- 

 rector • from Colonel Legge ; from the 

 president and members of the Hamilton 

 Society : from the committee of the 

 Arts and Crafts Society, in whose work 

 the deceased took the greatest interest ; 

 from the W.M., ofl&cers, and brethren 

 of the Tasmania Union Lodge ; from 

 the members of the Tasmanian Field 

 Naturalists' Clilb, to which the de- 

 ceased had rendered valuable assist- 

 ance in many ways : from the Tourist 

 Association • from Mr. G. A. Webster, 

 M.B. ; from Mr. W. P. lay'lor and 

 fami'i from "Marie, with love and 



deep sympathv-" and last, but as- 

 suredly not least, ''from his little 

 friend, Eric Waugh." 



The funeral cortege left the Museum 

 shortly after 2.30 p.m. There were a 

 large number of carriages, the first con- 

 taining the chief mourners — Master 

 Morton, the deceased's only son, and Mr. 



