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Referring to the various classes of inventions, 10 applications were made in respect of advertising, as compared with 1 in 1901. Amusements increased from 27 to 45 (30 applications under this head being in respect of parlour games, as compared with 7 for the preceding year). Boilers (steam) were the subject of 24 applications, as compared with 13 in 1901. Spark-arresters and smoke-consumers, 18 in 1902, as compared with Bin 1901. Under the heading of " Boots," 39 applications were received in 1902, and 24 in 1901, an increase of 15. It is interesting to note with regard to this subject that no less than 16 applications were made by one American company for boot-manufacturing machinery in 1902, and sin 1901. In connection with bottles and bottling, 34 applications were lodged in 1902, 16 more than in the previous year. -Of these 34 applications, 14 were for non-refillable bottles, as compared with 4 in 1901. On referring to buildings I find a slight falling-off as regards windows and doors, 12 in 1902, as compared with 18 in 1901, and an increase in sash-fasteners, 14, as compared with 5. Closets —chiefly flushing-appliances—show an increase, 17 as compared with 6. Cooking-appliances (18) and kitchen utensils (16) show slight increases. Cultivating accounts for 35 applications, about the same number as in 1901. Seedsowers, 19, as compared with 12 in 1901. Cutting and sawing appliances, 22, an increase of 8. Under dredging I find that there has been a good deal of activity, 41 applications having been made, as compared with 30 for last year. General electric and magnetic apparatus show a fallingoff to 11 from 15 in 1901. Steam-engines, gas-engines, electric engines, and engine accessories form the subject of 16, 19, 14, and 10 applications, increases of 8, 13, 6, and 5 respectively on the figures for 1901. In firearms and explosives there is a decrease to 16 from 21 in 1901. Exterminating vermin, fencing, fibre-dressing, which some years ago were a prolific source of New Zealand inventions, account for 25, 30, and 8 applications respectively, as against 15, 16, and 5 in 1901. Fire alarms, escapes, and extinguishers show a reduction in the number of 14 —23 in 1902, 37 in 1901. Under the heading "Pood "14 applications were recorded last year, an increase of 10 on the preceding year. Furniture, &c, shows a substantial increase to 50 from 17 in 1901. Gas-manufacture, a reduction to 14 from 24. Harness and heating show slight increases, 24 and 15 in 1902, as compared with 23 and 9 in 1901. Under "Illuminating," which includes burners and lamps, candlesticks, &c, 36 applications were made in 1902, as compared with 20 in 1901. Indicating, registering, &c, shows a reduction to 28 in 1902 from 38 in 1901. Lifting, hauling. 17 in 1902 and 16 in 1901; locks and latches, 10 in 1902 and 3 in 1901; ships' boats, &c, 25 in 1902 and 19 in 1901; marking, 10 in 1902 and 7in 1901; medicines, 18 in 1902 and 15 in 1901, all show slight increases on the numbers for last year. Milking, churning, and the like amount to 32 in 1902, as compared with 29 in 1901 ; and there is a fallingoff in the number of applications for inventions relating to the treatment of minerals, 72 in 1902 from 94 in 1901. Under the heading of "Preserving" 10 applications are recorded in 1902, 8 in excess of those in 1901, and slight increases occur in the cases of roads and ways, 10 in 1902 and 5 in 1901 ; telephony and telegraphy, 12 in 1902 and 7in 1901; and sheep-shearing, 17 in 1902 and 7in 1901. The inventions under the latter heading are chiefly in respect of improvements in hand-shears. Fewer applications were received in 1902 than in 1901 under the following headings: " Printing and Photography," 13 in 1902 and 19 in 1901; " Pumps and Sprayers," 7in 1902 and 10in 1901 ; " Railways, &c," 28in 1902 and 37 in 1901; "Stationery, &c," 14 in 1902 and 18 in 1901; " Ventilating," 9 in 1902 and 10 in 1901. The number of applications recorded under the remaining headings show the following increases: " Tobacco, Pipes," 15 in 1902 from 3in 1901; " Tools," 21 in 1902 from 11 in 1901; " Valves and Cocks," 13 in 1902 from 9 in 1901; "Vehicles (not including cycles)," 32 in 1902 from 23 in 1901; " Washing-appliances," 20 in 1902 from 7 in 1901 ; and " Wearing-apparel," 54 in 1902 from 27 in 1901. Applications in respect of bicycles, which have been falling steadily in numbers during the last few years, are still on the decline, dropping to 31 in 1902 from 39 in 1901. It will be noticed that the increase in applications is almost wholly due to the number received from residents in the colony, who lodged 930 as compared with 658 in the preceding year, an increase of 272. The United Kingdom sent 117 (7 more than in the preceding year), the United States 129 (5 more than in 1901). The total number received from the Commonwealth was 215, as compared with 174 for last year, Victoria contributing 118, one more than Great Britain, and an advance on last year's figures of 47. , One petition for extension of the term of patent was granted during the year, a further period of seven years being allowed. Eleven applications for letters patent were made under the International Convention. One name was added to the register of patent agents. Notice of opposition was lodged in 9 cases, and 4 hearings took place. The system of granting letters patent adopted in this colony depends for its success very largely on the facilities offered to applicants for letters patents and the general public to become acquainted with inventions already patented, as well as with those in respect of which letters patent are being applied for. These facilities are, lam glad to say, being gradually extended, the latest step in this direction being the printing in the patents supplement to the Gazette of extracts from the drawings accompanying specifications. The "claims" or statement of the particular features sought to be protected, which have been printed in the supplement for some time past, will, with the drawings now inserted, enable a fair idea to be gathered of most of the specifications filed in the office. If further particulars are required, they can be obtained at the small cost of 3d. per folio of seventy-two words for copying specifications, and Is. a sheet for sun-prints of the drawings. The Neio Zealand Patents Gazette is now published on somewhat similar lines as the illustrated journal of the English Patent Office and the illustrated Gazettes of the Canadian and United States Patent Offices.

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