Page:Notable South Australians.djvu/228

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190
NOTABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS;

(the Port Adelaide Post), which during its short but brilliant career was well spoken of by the contemporary press of the day. Quitting this sphere of labour he endeavoured to form a company to bring out a penny morning paper; but for want of encouragement the project was abandoned. Like most men who have devoted their energies to literature, Mr. Morris has had a most chequered career; but he has nevertheless maintained a prominent position in the commercial world. He has contributed largely to colonial press literature, and the best of his efforts are the tales "Under False Colors," and "Marie," and the sketches, "Rambles," "Notes on South Australia," "Adelaide Opinion," and others more or less of a racy and readable character. Mr. Morris's poetic efforts evidently run in the comic vein, and in this he seems to excel; in fact, he appears most to advantage in writing up abuses, and satirising the follies and failings of the "unco' guid." We have, however, read far worse pathetic poetry than his from poets who have been extolled in this particular. In 1883, in conjunction with Messrs. Hayter & Barry, Mr. Morris compiled and published "The Commercial and Trades Directory," which commanded a ready sale, and attracted favorable attention from the metropolitan and provincial press. For the past three years he has been connected with the Mutual Life Association of Australasia, as their special agent, in which capacity he has been very successful. Mr. Morris's experience, literary or otherwise, has been gained by keen observation of men and things during his journeyings over the greater part of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia.


J. T. Syme,

FOR many years connected with the brewing interests in Adelaide. Arrived here in 1857; died at Edinburgh, Scotland, April 1883, aged 63.