My Family Tree

In 1857 he applied for a government job:
MERIGA, Antonio Giovani, Daylesford, 1857, born Cyprus, speaks 6 languages, for position as interpreter, 3 pages, List 36.

By 1859 he was in Hepburn, acting as the Hepburn agent for the Age newspaper. While in Hepburn, their house was struck by lightning:

Electrical Phenomenon.— On Sunday last, during the thunderstorm, a most singular phenomenon occurred at Spring Creek, fortunately without any serious injury being done. It is thus described by Mr Meriga, who had a good opportunity of observing it. As that gentleman and his wife were sitting on either side of the fireplace, the front door of the room being open, a body of electric fluid presenting a snake like appearance, came through the doorway, passing between him and Mrs Meriga, up the chimney. It then descended towards the ground, striking a stout clothes prop which it shivered into a hundred pieces, and bounding about fifteen feet struck a woman, who happily sustained more fright than injury, after which it dispersed itself in the earth, which it ploughed up some inches deep for four or five feet, and disappeared.

Meriga held the license for the Athens Hotel in Daylesford from at least 1863.

In April 1863 he was in financial trouble:

NOTICE is hereby given that by an INDENTURE of CONVEYANCE and ASSIGNMENT, bearing date the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and made between ANTONIO GIOVANNI MERIGA, of Daylesford, in the Colony of Victor, a, hotel-keeper and Storekeeper, of the first part; WALTER SMITH, of Daylesford aforesaid Brewer and DAVID BELL, of Daylesford aforesaid Timber Merchant, of the second part ; and the several persons whoso names and seals are thereunto subscribed and affixed creditors of the said Antonio Giovanni Meriga, of the third part: The said Antonio Giovanni Meriga conveyed and assigned unto the said Walter Smith and David Bell all and singular his freehold lands and heredifament, chattels, real stock in trade, book debts, and all and other his real and personal property, cattle, and effects whatsoever, (necessary wearing apparel only excepted) upon trust for the benefit of his creditors, as therein mentioned, and that the said assignment was duly executed by the said Antonio Giovanni Meriga, and by the said Walter Smith, and David Bell, in the presence of, and attested by William Edward Stanbridge. Esquire, one of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said colony, and the said assignment, is now lying at the office of Stewart Tournay, solicitor, Camp street, Daylesford, for inspection and execution by the said creditors. Dated this fourth day of April, 1863. ANTONIO G. MERIGA. WALTER SMITH. DAVID BELL. Witness,— W. E. STANBRIDGE, J.P, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the colony of Victoria.

In June 1863 he was the victim of a robbery when the hotel's cash box was stolen:

On Wednesday night, Mr. Meriga, of the Athens Hotel, missed his cash-box from its usual place, there being some £16 or more in it, at the time, besides some valuable documents. He suspected a female who had visited the hotel during the evening, and hastened to acquaint Detective Walker. That officer visited the abode of the supposed delinquent, and on searching the house carefully, at last discovered the stolen property. The handles were broken off the cash-box, showing that they had been endeavouring to break it open, in which, however, they were unsuccessful, not having had sufficient time to accomplish that act.

In January 1871 Meriga testified at an inquest into the death of Joseph Jobb who was staying at his hotel. Meriga's wife was warned by the magistrate, and the jury had a suspicion that may may have been something Jobb drank at the hotel that caused his death:

At the hospital yesterday an inquest was held on the body of Joseph Jobb, who died at the institution on the previous day. From the Daylesford Mercury, it appears that the man called at the hospital on the 28th ult., and was treated as an out-patient but on the 29th he was brought back by Antonio Meriga in a cart. The patient was then raving, and apparently the worse for liquor, but he gradually sunk into a comatose state and died. Antonio Meriga said deceased had been working at Moore's soda water manufactury and had come to board at his (Meriga's) house on the 19th. Mrs. Meriga, on the other hand deposed that deceased had lived with her only three or four days, and had returned to the house about 6 p.m. on the 29th. The coroner cautioned the latter witness to be more careful in her answers, or she would be committed for prevarication. Dr. M'Gregor, the resident surgeon, who made the post-mortem examination, said the liver of deceased had the characteristic nutmeg appearance of a drunkard. The stomach was empty, and the brain congested, and witness believed death arose from the latter cause. In answer to a juror, both the Merigas, denied that they had sold grog to deceased, though they admitted having sent out for liquor. The jury having expressed a wish that the stomach of deceased should be tested by Mr. Johnson, the Government analytical chemist, the coroner adjourned the inquest till Monday.

After leaving Daylesford, Meriga and his family toured as a theatrical troupe:

THE LYNDHURST TROUPE-The above variety troupe will appear at the Town Hall (Echuca) on Saturday night. On Tuesday and last night, the company gave successful vocal and musical entertainments at the hall, which were very well received by the audiences. Mr. Burbank, late of the famous Rainer's serenaders, will appear on Saturday night, when a good programme will be gone through. The playing of Mr. Lyndhurst on the violin, and that of Miss Meriga on the guitar, calls for the highest praise, and is deserving of hearty support.

Still more recently - only last week, in fact - another vocalist appeared; a handsome Jewess, accompanied by her father, who informed me he was from the now busy island of Cyprus, though it is many years ago since he left it. The young lady Miss Meriga by name - sings very prettily indeed, though her voice is not powerful; she confines herself therefore to "drawingroom entertainments," in which she was greatly admired by a select circle of the Charleville Upper Ten, who were inside; and the Lower Twenty, who were outside. Miss Meriga accompanied herself on the guitar, which the Lower Twenty designate a "banjo;" she was also accompanied by a violin by a very fair player, which the same twenty call by the exploded name of fiddle.