AN EVENTFUL LIFE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1140, 23 March 1872, Page 4

AN EVENTFUL LIFE.

Everybody in Melbourne knows "the blind speculator" — Mr Augustus Keith— who for so many years has been a familiar figure in Collins street, as he walked to and fro, leaning on the arm of a companion and guide. Few, however, know the full measure of his "strange, eventful history, 1 ' which he thus narrates : — "I ought to give you some account of what I have been doing since ray arrival in this colony. While I was in New Zealand in 1842, by the explosion of a gun I lost my sight and the use of my right 'hand. Partially recovering, I returned to England in 1843 ; and the following year, while under medical treatment, I totally lost my sight, and have never recovered it. Yet in 1853 I came out, to Melbourne, since which time my speculations have been as follows: — First! I brought out with me a movable hotel, furniture, &c., intending to erect the same on the diggings, but I afterwards erected it as a goods store in Collins street west. 2nd. I built the Parade Hotel, Wellingtonparade, opposite the Survey Paddock, Richmond, when the whole of East Melbourne was bush land. 3rd. I purchased the Melbourne Packet, a sailing vessel of 200 tons burden, for L 2500, to trade with the adjoining colonies. 4th. I built the Sandhurst Hotel, Bendigo, which was at that time the second hotel building — Dr Tierney's, afterwards Mr Harney's, was the only other hotel then in course of erection, paying carriage for goods LIOO per ton. sth. 1 advanced money to build the Criterion Theatre, Sandhurst, which afterwards fell into my hands, and was called the Haymarket. 6th. I took up from the Government, and purchased from private owners, 500 acres of land at Huntley, near Sandhurst ; formed the township of Huntley, and as a great portion of the land was auriferous, sold several claims to +he miners, and afterwards subdivided the remainder into small suburban allotments. 7th. I assisted Mr Emmett in the formation of the Bendigo, Waterworks Company, by finding the cash— upwards of L7so— forMrEmmett's expenses while getting up the company. I was afterwards one of the largest shareholders, purchasing shares at LlB premium. Bth. I formed the first mining company under the first Limited Liability Act, in small shares, viz., the Catherine Reef Quartz Mining Company, which, caused the first rush of mining companies at Bendigo ; and was subsequently interested in many other companies. 9th. I rented, and afterwards purchased, premises and brewing plant, and carried on the business of brewing at Sandhurst. 10th. I rented Mr Harney's irrigation farm, 40 acres, with steam plant, on the. Campaspe, the rent of which was L 250 per annum. I rented afterwards another farm, 300 acres, on the same river, where I erected all the machinery, plant, &c., for extensive irrigation, and at the same time rented a vineyard and orchard on the Bendigo Creek. 11. I rented the malthouse on the Yarra, Richmond, and carried on the business of malting. 12th. I projected • the Victoria and Pastoral Association, and obtained runs having sixty miles frontage to the Paroo river, embracing one million four hundred thousand acres of land leased from the Sydney Government, with 33,000 head of cattle. I also obtained the use of two other runs in Queensland, having purchased 10,000 sheep and 8000 head of cattle. 13th. I joined a company to, search for coal at Western Port, where we sank several shafts, and bored to the depth of 300 ft. 14th. I joined others in collecting blackwood timber, for the purpose of furniture 1 making and staves for casks. 15th. I projected the present Polynesian Company, and suggested the same to Messrs F. Cook, C. Vandamo, and W. H. C. Brewer, and gave them a written sketch of a treaty to be obtained from King Thakombau, by which they' obtained two hundred thousand acres of land and certain privileges, all of which the company obtained by their first treaty with the king. 16th.— I went to Queensland, chartered a small vessel, and made two trips- to obtain pearls and pearl shells. 1 have spent thousands in raining— both quarts and alluvial workings for gold.Threo times have I prospected with others for copper ; and had several interests in the gold and tin mines at Beechwortn, &c. Lastly, I am, unfortunately, an inmate of the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum. • '