October, 1880. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
43 
The registrar was instructed to notify to the returning- 
officer that an extraordinary vacancy had occurred, and to re- 
quest him to take the necessary steps to fill the vacancy. 
Correspondence. — Communications were received from the 
registrar, School of Mines, Ballarat, intimating that the 
Governor in Council had appointed the President of the 
Pharmacy Board a member of the Council of the School. 
From A. J. Allan, 'Wellington, New Zealand, forwarding a 
copy of the Pharmacy Act of New Zealand. From the Secre- 
tary Pharmaceutical Society, Great Britain, enclosing copy 
of the Register for 1880. A number of other letters of no 
special interest were also dealt with. 
Financial business brought the meeting to a close. 
Books, &c., Received.— American Journal of Pharmacy , 
Boston Journal of Chemistry , Pharmaceutical Journal , Aus- 
tralian Medical Journal , Nero York Druggists' Circular , The 
First Annual Report of the Pharmaceutical Society of New 
Zealand. 
BALLARAT. 
THE SCHOOL OF MINES, BALLARAT. 
The ordinary quarterly meeting of the council was held on 
the 20th instant. Present — ‘Councillors H. R. Caselli, J.P. 
(in the chair), J. M. Bickett, A. Hoelscher, T. Mann, B.A., 
J. F. Usher, M.D., and W. H. Barnard, F.G.S. A telegram 
from his lordship the Bishop of Ballarat, and a letter from Mr. 
James Campbell, apologising for unavoidable absence, were 
read and received. Minutes of meeting held 21st July last 
were read and confirmed. On the report and recommenda- 
tion of the examiners, the council granted certificates of pro- 
ficiency in the art of telegraphy to the following students, all 
having passed satisfactory examinations, the first six with 
credit : — David Richard Davies, James Robert Bradshaw, 
Emily Ann Radley, Thomas Williams, Peter Alroe, Catherine 
Mary Wilmer Howe, Elizabeth Lee, Ruth Miller, Alice J me 
Ryan, Isabella Reardon, and William Arthur Goode. Pro- 
fessor F. M‘Coy, J.P., F.G.S. , and R. L. J. Ellery, Esq., 
F.R.S., were appointed examiners — the former in natural 
philosophy and geology, and the latter in electricity. H. B. 
de la Poer Wall, M.A., C.E., was appointed the fifth delegate 
from this institution to the Social Science Congress. The 
recommendation of the administrative council re fees — viz., 
£12 12s. for a three-year’s course by students going up for 
examination as pharmaceutical chemists, and £20 for attend- 
ance at all classes by perpetual students — was approved of and 
adopted. As the architect was not prepared with the plans 
for the tower erection, required for the apparatus for testing 
vacuum and steam pressure gauges, this matter was postponed. 
It was deemed desirable that reports of lecturers as to the 
students attending, and other matters connected with their 
respective classes, be submitted at meetings of the administra- 
tive council in the future. The registrar submitted the following 
report, which was received and adopted : — “ That the site of The 
School had been gazetted, and that since the Council last met 
there had been a change of Ministry, but it was not thought that 
the new estimates would vary from those previously prepared 
in the matter of grants in aid of mining schools. That it 
might be advisable to obtain dies for the striking of medals as 
prizes to be given to students. That the additions of store- 
room and office to the laboratories, at a cost of £95, and a 
new class-room, 33 ft. by 23 ft., at a cost of £177, as approved 
by the administrative council, were being proceeded with 
expeditiously. That a large number of exhibits at the Mel- 
bourne International Exhibition might be obtained by the 
school if proper and immediate steps were taken. That 
arrangements had been made for the treatment and testing of 
samples of quartz sent to The School for that purpose, the 
following charges being fixed : — From one lode only, 1 ton, £5 ; 
2 tons, £9 ; 5 tons, £15 ; 10 tons, £20 ; 20 tons, £35— inclusive 
of all costs for crushing, grinding, amalgamating, assays, re- 
ports, and advice as to modes of treatment.” The resignation 
of Mr. Newman as a member of the administrative council was 
accepted with regret, and Mr. J. M. Bickett appointed in his 
stead. The council then adjourned. 
THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PHARMA- 
CEUTICAL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
The President’s Address. 
Gentlemen — It gives me great pleasure, and I am sure it 
does also those who have been working with me here, to 
welcome the representatives from the other large centres to 
take part in the work of building up “ The Pharmaceutical 
Society of New Zealand.” Before going into the business 
which we have met to consider, I will say a few words as to 
the origin and progress of the Society so far, though I fear 
what I have to say will not be very new to any of you. 
As most of you are aware, it originated in a meeting of the 
chemists in this city, called by me two years since, to consider 
what steps could be taken to put the profession generally 
throughout the colony in a better position with the public, and, 
also, for self-protection. 
This met with cordial support here, and was very generally 
approved by those in other parts of the colony, as is evidenced 
by the number of members, associates, and apprentices who 
have enrolled their names, the former numbering 128, asso- 
ciates 60, and apprentices 27, previous to 1st July. In fact, a 
large proportion of those connected with the business have 
joined the Society. In Otago this is especially the case, there 
being scarcely an exception, and I feel confident we shall yet 
see it universally supported, as it deserves to be. And, although 
the movement commenced here, it must not be thought that 
we wished to make it centre in Wellington, or have the entire 
management of it. It might be fairly said to be a happy 
thought of ours. 
It seemed to us that the time had come when something 
should be done to raise the standard of education for those who 
wished to qualify themselves for the business ; and by doing 
this, more thoroughly to secure the public safety, and at the 
same time insure a certain amount of protection for ourselves, 
and that it was better that a movement in this direction 
should emanate from ourselves. That we should show the 
public we wished that, for the future, those who were desirous 
of entering into business, and engaging in the responsible work 
of dispensing medicines, should by a proper course of educa- 
tion become more thoroughly fitted for it — following, in fact, 
the example set by the pharmaceutical chemists of Great 
Britain and some of her dependencies. 
I think we all felt this was most desirable, and that such a 
course would meet with the approval of the public generally ; 
and I believe in this we were not mistaken, judging from re- 
marks that have reached us. 
And it certainly should be so, as at present there is nothing 
to prevent a person, however uneducated he may be, from 
keeping open shop for dispensing and dealing in medicines, 
the nature and use of which he may be entirely ignorant of. 
However, the Pharmacy Act is now an accomplished fact, and 
all this will be changed. And although we have been charged 
by some persons with trying to create a monopoly, by asking 
the Government to introduce a Pharmacy Bill, we fully believe 
the public are thoroughly on our side, and that it is uni- 
versally considered a step in the right direction. 
How it could be looked upon as an attempt at a monopoly 
by any sensible person I fail to see. It is clearly no more so 
than the making a course of education necessary to qualify a 
surgeon or a solicitor for their professions. The opposition 
shown to the measure appeared to be chiefly from those who 
were ignorant of its object and did not trouble themselves to 
understand it. And had it not been for the support given by 
those who made themselves thoroughly acquainted with it, and 
with English and colonial legislation on the subject, there is 
little doubt it would have been thrown out. 
We may, I think, congratulate ourselves that a Society so 
recently established has been enabled in so short a time to 
accomplish so much ; and though the Pharmacy Act now 
passed may not be all that could be desired, I think it is 
generally admitted that it is a great point gained, giving us a 
standing which we had not before, and it rests with ourselves 
now to make the most of it. 
It is to be hoped that now we have met to consider matters 
of general interest we shall make a fresh start from this point, 
and by vigorous and united action set in motion plans which 
in future will raise the profession in the eyes of the public, and 
that the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand will follow 
in the steps of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 
and be a credit to the colony and to those who have taken 
part in its promotion. 
The minute-book of the Society and the Treasurer’s balance- 
