DEATH OF MR AMBROSE KYTE.

West Coast Times, Issue 1005, 11 December 1868, Page 3

DEATH OF MR AMBROSE KYTE.

(From the Melbourne Age.)

We have to chronicle, with feelings of regret, the death of Ambrose Kyte, which took place yesterday morning, at his residence, Lygon-street, Cnrlton. He had been ailing for some time, and confined to his bed with inflammation of the right lung. His medical attendants were Drs Gillbee, Motherwell and Bird, but their efforts were unavailing to arrest the disease, which, there is reason to believe, was somewhat aggravated by the mental anxiety he had undergone during some weeks past, owing to pecuniary difficulties. He was a very old colonist, having arrived here in 1840; and a man of lTis active temperament soon found employment, the moderate salary he obtained as a brewer's laborer sufficing for his requirements. Two or three years later he had, by his frugal habits, contrived to make a sufficient, sum of money to commence business for himself in a hay and corn store, where Kyle's Buildings are now erected, and from that period he mounted the rungs in the ladder of prosperity slowly but surely, until he acquired a considerable amount of property, and was looked upon as a very substantial man, whose wealth was told by tens »f thousands sterling. Much of this wealth was acquired by judicious investments, which the sudden increase in the value of property in the city, consequent upon the discovery of gold, facilitated to a very great extent, Jn 1861 he aspired

to enter Parliament, and he was so esteemed by his fellow-citizens, that they returned him second on the poll for Bast Melbourne his colleague being Mr Edward Cohen; In ISG4 he was a second time returned, attd only, lost the position of being at the head of the poll by four votes, in 1866 Me was defeated by Mr Langton, but this result was solely attributable to over-confidence, and his rcfusil to incur the necessary expenditure which any candidate, however popular he may be, cannot dispense with. But he was consoled for his defeat by his being elected fbr the large constituency of Richmond, by 203 votes oVef his opponent. Mr Coppin, and he continued to sit fdr that district in the Assembly until he Avithdrew froni public life. Mr Ky£e was essentially "a man of the people:. .He from the earliest period identified himself with* their in r terests, and on all public occasions he came i boldly forward as their champion, and did battle in their behalf, and his appearance on a public platform was the signal for an ebullition of feeling which indicated his popularity. His liberal principles were manifested iv his warm support of the administration of Mr Richard Healcs, and in his votes iv support of the o'cJduJftltion licenses against the squatting clauses of the present Land Act. It could not be said of him that he was an orator, but though he rarely intruded his opinions upon the House, they carried so much weight with them that they were listened to with deference and respect.. He was at all times ready to demonstrate his sincerity for the cause he advocated in a substantial niannen During the agitation created by the conduct of the Tasmanian Government, who indirectly sanctioned the transmission of convicts from thence into this colony, Mr Kyle offered a reward of £5 for every convict arrested by the police and sent back to Tasmania. The munificent sum of £1005 was subscribed by him towards the fund for the exploration of the interior of Australia, which culminated in the adventure which tnifoi'tunotely terminated so disastrously in the death of Bitrke arid Wills. The desire expressed by him that the name of the donor should be kept a secret was for along time rigidly adhered to ; and in a similar unostentatious manner he subscribed several hundred-guinea gold prize cups for essays on agriculture, without its being known that it was to his generosity the gifts we're due. It is mainly to his liberality that we are indebted for the results which have followed the exploit of Messrs Burke and Wills in crossing the continent, and his memory must always be associated with that event which has cast so much renown upon the colon}'. In other matters his great business experience Avas displayed. The Colling* wood Gas Company in a great measure OAves its existence to his energy, and in the face of numerous difficulties he succeeded in placing it in its present position as a flourish ng concern. At a later period he became the proprietor of the Theatre Royal and built St. George's Hall, and he was possessed of considerable property in other parts of the citj' and suburbs. Of the events that liaA'e recently been brought under public notice, there is scarcely need for comment. Whatever errors he committed, they were errors of the head and not of the heart ; and nothing lias been elicited calculated to convey any other impression than that he had too much confidence in himself', and too strong a bslicf in his business capacity. He Avas a man possessed of a Avarm temperament, and though somewhat taciturn in his demeanor, he manifested the niose lively friendship towards those Avho had the pleasure of his acquaintance ; and there isabundant evideuco-of his generous disposition towards those who Averc really in need of his assistance. He leaves a Avidow and family consisting of one son and three daughters.