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Topic: George Bentham Morris (1839-1903)
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Captain George Bentham Morris (1839-1903) served as the Tauranga Representative on the Auckland Provincial Council.
George Bentham Morris was born in Oatlands Tasmania, on 28 February 1839 to Reverend George Sculthorpe (1812-1889) and Susan Emma Morris (nee Wandby) (1815-1877). He moved to Gloucester in England and entered the Royal Marines as 2nd Lieutenant on 24 June 1857. He became Lieutenant on 22 September 1859 and Adjutant in September 1869.
In 1869 he married Elizabeth Sherratt at St George's, Hanover Square, London. Elizabeth was born in c1843. In 9 February 1870 George retired from the Navy
On 4 October 1870 George and Elizabeth arrived in New Zealand from London on board the Countess of Kintore. They firstly went to Richard Sherratt in Gisborne, Poverty Bay. The family latter settlled in the Waikato before moving to the Bay of Plenty.
In March and April 1876 charges of bribing electors during the last election were brought against George. The charges broke down due to insufficient evidence and in July of 1876 the Grand Jury dismissed them.
The political career of George Bentham Morris was as follows:
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1872: Member of the Auckland Provincial Council.
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1876: Elected to the House of Representatives for the East Coast.
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1879: Defeated in the General Election.
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1882: Elected to the House of Representatives for the East Coast.
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1884: Elected to the House of Representatives for the East Coast.
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19 August 1884: Commissioner of Trade and Customs.
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20 August 1884: Minister of the Marine Department.
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28 August 1884: Stout-Vogel Government Ministry resigns after holding office for 12 days.
'Captain Morris gave a considerable amount of time to public life, being for years a member of the Bay of Plenty Provincial Council. At the abolition of the provinces Captain Morris was returned to Parliament for the Bay of Plenty representing that district for many years, and for a few weeks occupied the position of Minister of Justice under one of Sir Julius Vogel's short-lived Administrations. About 18 years ago Captain Morris was called to the Legislative Council (Bay of Plenty Times, 17 April 1903, p. 3).
In March 1881 the Bay of Plenty Times reported that David Asher's cutter Tokerau had arrived from Mercury Bay with 20,000ft of building timber and 500 posts for Captain George Betham Morris.
Elizabeth died on 12 October 1893 after having five children with George.
The Bay of Plenty Times reported a sale of furniture and effects belonging to George on 19 October 1893.
In c1895 the Morris family moved to Onehunga in Auckland.
George remarried to Mary Jane Harkness in Auckland on 18 November 1896 (reg. 1896/3568).
George suffered from partical paralysis as the result of an injury to his knee from a cricket ball. He died at his home in Onehunga, aged 63, on 16 April 1903. It is believed that his knee injury was a factory in his fall, leading him to strike his head which rendered him unconscious. He also suffered from overwhelming blood loss. George was buried at Waikaraka Cemetery on 18 April 1903 (Area 2 Block N Lot No 7).
His obituary noted: 'Captain Morris, during his long public career, earned the character of being an upright, honourable gentleman. In his private life he made many firm friends, who will deeply regret his death under such sad circumstances' (Bay of Plenty Times, 17 April 1903, p. 3).
Jinty Rorke writes: 'Thirteenth Avenue was Morris Street after Captain George Bentham Morris, who lived at Poike. English born, Morris' political career began when he was elected to represent Tauranga on the Auckland Provincial Council between 1873 and 1876. He was the member of the House of Representatives for the East Coast from 1876 to 1879 and for Tauranga from 1881 to 1885, during which time he was Minister of Trade and Customs, and Marine Affairs in the Stout-Vogel ministry of 1884. When his wife died in 1885 he moved to Auckland, where he served on the Legislative Council from 1885 to 1903. Although none of Morris' descendants by his wife Helen still live in this district, a well known local Māori family is proud to acknowledge its connection with him' (Western Bay of Plenty Street Names 1994/1995).
The six(?) children of George Bentham Morris: (all boys?)
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George Charles Waudby Morris (1869-1940). He was born on 16 December 1869. He married Evyleen Richmal Gledstanes (1872-1952) on 12 March 1896. George died, age 70, on 8 March 1940 (reg. 1940/21369). He was buried at Waikaraka Cemetery with his wife and father (Area 2 Block N Lot No 7).
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John Bentham Morris (1871-1950). Born in New Zealand on 21 July 1871 (reg. 1871/15782). He married married Annie Gallagher from Westport. John died, age 79, in 1950 (reg. 1950/27630).
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Philip Bernard Morris (1873-1936). Born in 1873 (reg. 1873/29848). He died, aged 64, in 1936 (reg. 1936/19343).
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Philip Bernard Morris (1893-?). Born in 1893 (reg. 1893/15261)
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Gerald Bentham Morris
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Charles B Morris
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Daughter who died in infancy.
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George Bentham Morris (1902-?). Born in 1902 (reg. 1902/776).
Sources:
Countess of Kintore Passenger List 1870.
Death of Elizabeth Morris 1893.
New Zealand Electronic Text Collection.
Western Bay of Plenty Street Names.
Geoffrey John Bentham Morris
