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THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
obtained by learning one part of the profession by actual demonstration and 
experiment. Now that that part of the calling forms a distinct trade, the 
necessity for apprenticeship has ceased to exist. It is, perhaps, Utopian ever 
to hope that a time will come when the student shall have to devote at least 
two years to learning his profession , when it will be compulsory for him to 
enter himself at a pharmaceutical college, and devote his whole time to 
qualifying himself for the business of his life. Moreover, it is possible that 
this view may be objected to by the purely “ business men,” who will 
ask — Where is the student to obtain the tact required in “waiting upon a 
customer ?” If there is any weight in such a question — establish a lectureship 
in every college of pharmacy of pharmaceutical ethics. There would be a very 
large number of gentlemen willing and happy to teach the student how “ Our 
Fijian Figment” or “Invaluable Indian Inhaler” should be sold. In fact, they 
would be masters of pharmaceutical “ deportment.” 
But the whole of the three resolutions are so very much to the point that 
anything like an exhaustive discussion of them in a letter is out of the question, 
added to which the knowledge that each and every matter will be thoroughly 
threshed out at the Conference renders all that may be written premature, and 
perhaps abortive. 
In Auckland some changes are taking place in the retail trade that go far 
to show that pharmacy is considered to afford a good opening for the investment of 
capital. Mr. Edson’s pharmacy, “ The Medical Hall,” is now completed, and 
has a fine appearance. The fittings are massive and appropriate, the floor paved 
with minton tiles of a good design, and the window not, as too often the case, an 
ominum gatherum of “valuable preparations.” Mr. Cater, for a long time the 
proprietor of a drug store in Hobson-street, has sold out to Air. Robinson, lately 
of Manchester, and left for Europe to qualify for the medical profession. Air. 
Hobinson is having his new pharmacy enlarged by carrying the shop back. Air. 
Powell, of Mount Eden, a suburb, is removing to new premises in the 
same street. The shop is one of a block of concrete houses, and is double-fronted. 
The New Zealand Smelting Company, which was formed to buy the La Alont 
Gold Smelting Furnace, has been wound up. This is most unfortunate for the 
colony, for the depression existing here is becoming acute, and if any process 
could be devised to extract the gold and silver which certainly exists in the 
North Island, much suffering and want would be averted. 
A meeting of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board was held at the Registrar’s 
(Mr. Garland’s) office, Auckland, on Friday, 21st May, when the reports from the 
various examiners appointed for the fifth standard examination throughout the 
colony were aggregated. It was found that Mr. R. AI. Henston and Mr. R. D. 
Henlon (Dunedin), and Mr. F. W. Hall (New Plymouth) had passed the 
prescribed examination. The papers of the two first were of special excellence, 
aiid received the commendations of the Board as being creditable to the profession 
of pharmacy. 
From particulars to hand respecting the sudden death (found dead in bed) 
of Mr. Sloane, chemist, at Whangarei, it would appear that he has fallen a 
victim to an overdose of chloral. The local constable’s report runs as follows : — 
“ It would appear that the deceased had a case coming on for hearing with 
reference to the alleged maltreatment of a racehorse called Larry, belonging 
to Mr. T. Johnson, and which, it is alleged, died from the effects of a dose of 
medicine administered by the deceased, and for which he was sued by Johnson for 
£‘100 damages. He was much excited over the matter, and being unable to obtain 
sleep previously unless by taking chloral, it is probable that in his excited state 
n much larger quantity would be necessary to produce the desired effect, and that 
