THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
25 
Messrs. Elliott Eros, are certainly to be congratulated upon their escape 
from a very serious loss in the recent fire that took place at their warehouse, 
Pitt- street, in the latter end of last year ; and in their new premises no 
pains have been spared to make the buildings as free from danger in this 
respect as possible. Fire buckets are liberally distributed throughout the 
building ; a special water service is laid on to every floor, and hose always 
attached ready for use. All dangerous chemicals have special fireproof rooms 
or cases, and the greatest caution is displayed by the employes in 
carrying out the work of the establishment to prevent the recurrence 
of a fire in the new warehouses in O’Connell and Bligh- streets. In 
fact, although the daily press gave great praise to the firemen for their 
exertions, had it not been for the presence of mind and prompt conduct of the 
employes there can be no doubt that the conflagration would have assumed afar 
more serious aspect. Immediately upon the alarm being given that the cellar 
was on fire two of the employes placed the iron covers over the street grates of 
the cellars and closed all the doors. A third telephoned to the superintendent of 
fire brigades, and a fourth, upon the arrival of the firemen, led them with the 
hose down to the seat of the fire, which consisted of a stack of ether 
drums, collodion, vaseline, essential oils, chloroform, and similar substances, and 
after about an hour’s hard work the last trace of fire was quenched. An immense 
crowd collected to witness what they thought would be an awful spectacle, as it 
was not anticipated that so easy a victory would have been obtained over the 
flames. Ihe amount of actual damage done by fire and water was comparatively 
small. J 
The oldest pharmacy in this city recently recorded its 50th anniversary. The 
establishment is owned by Mr. Frank Senior, and we are informed that the 
records of business done half a century ago, as well as prescriptions written at 
that time, are among the papers of the business. Many of these will be regarded 
as interesting relics of many physicians who played a prominent part in the 
social and political history of our colony. The patronage of his Excellency Lord 
Carrington has been bestowed upon this establishment, and Mr. Frank Senior, 
though now well stricken in years, still is characterised by his close attention to 
business, and is one of the few druggists who take a deep interest in the public 
affairs of this colony, he being an active member of the City of Sydney Improve- 
ment Board, the Board of Directors of the Sydney Hospital, the Randwick 
Asylum, and the Benevolent Asylum. 
The oldest pharmacist in this colony is said to be Mr. W. T. Pinhey, J.P., 
the secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of this colony. After forty-five 
years experience of the trade in this colony, we may surmise that our venerable 
friend has seen many changes. 
The Evening News of the 8th inst. states that Mr. Pinhey has been called 
upon by the Minister for Justice to furnish an explanation of his conduct at 
a recent inquest, at which he acted in the capacity of acting coroner. The 
inquest was upon the body of the late A. W. H. Senior, a member of the 
late JNew Guinea exploration party. The deceased gentleman was drowned in 
Sydney Harbour on Hew Year’s Day. 
We regret having to record the decease of Mr. Hyam Israel, late dispenser 
to the Sydney Hospital. The deceased gentleman was an active member of 
the Chemists Assistants’ Association; and the news of his death, from typhoid 
fever, will be received by many with great regret, as he was well known and 
highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. 
Mr. H. Armstrong, of Hay, Wilcania, and Silverton is adding to his 
■establishments a pharmacy at 140 George-street north, and from the well-known 
