H.—lo

In addition to the Gazettes, the countries I have mentioned also print the full specification and drawings, and sell them at a low price. This is, no doubt, a great boon to the inventive and general public, but it is felt that the demand in this colony is not yet sufficient to justify the cost of such a step. With the object of facilitating reference to the records filed at this office, a rearrangement of one set of the specifications and drawings is being effected. When this work, which, with the present staff, will take some time, is completed, any one will be able with the help of the indexes in each volume to turn up specifications and drawings in the least possible time, a great advantage alike both to the public and the staff of the office. Designs. Thirty applications were received for registration of designs. The number, though small, is higher than that received in any previous year. Twenty-eight designs were registered—7 in class 1 (articles composed wholly or partly of metal), 4 in class 2 (jewellery), 5 in class 3 (articles composed wholly or partly of wood, bone, ivory, papier mache, or other solid substances), 1 in class 4 (articles composed wholly or partly of glass, earthenware, porcelain, bricks, tiles, or cement), 10 in class 5 (articles composed wholly or partly of paper), and 1 in class 12 (goods not included in other classes). The total amount of fees received under this heading was £15 in 1902, as compared with £9 lis. in 1901. Tkade-makks. Four hundred and twelve applications were received for the registration of trade-marks, 33 more than in 1901; and 336 marks were registered, 84 more than in 1901. There is a slight falling-off in the number of assignments registered. The fees, which are not properly due till end of this year, for renewal of trade-marks were paid in 36 cases in 1902, as compared with 7 in 1901; and 116 searches are recorded in 1902, as compared with 72 in 1901. The total fees received in respect of trade-marks amount to £528 13s. 6d. for the year, an increase of £120 3s. 6d. for 1901. In the principal classes there is an increase of 11 in the number of applications in respect oi medicinal preparations, of 6 in respect of clothing, 12 in respect of articles of food, 18 in respect of fermented liquors and spirits, 5 in respect of candles, washing-preparations, &c, and 10 in respect of miscellaneous goods. Marks for animal and mineral substances used in manufactures show a falling-off of 6, tobacco a falling-off of 11, horological instruments a falling-off of 12, metal goods not included in other classes a falling-off of 4, engineering and building contrivances a falling-off of 5, explosive substances a falling-off of 3. One hundred and ninety-eight applications were made by residents in the colony, 26 more than last year; 124 by United Kingdom, as compared, with 117 for previous year; 51 were received from United States of America, as compared with 47 for previous year; 30 from New South Wales, as compared with 20 for previous year. A further change has been made during the year in the practice of this office with regard to the class of trade-marks known as "invented words." In accordance with the decision of the English Courts it was formerly held that an invented word to be eligible for registration must not in any way be descriptive of the goods to which it is to be applied. The House of Lords, however, upset this view, holding that an invented word should not be debarred from registration because it contained an allusion to the goods, and the practice of this office was widened accordingly. The Supreme Court of New Zealand recently decided that certain words which did not appear to this office to come within the decision of the House of Lords were capable of registration, and this decision now governs the practice of the office. For some years past this office has been engaged at odd moments in classifying trade-marks on somewhat the same lines now being adopted with regard to patent specifications— i.e., in arranging the marks in their different classes, and copiously indexing each class. This work when completed will enable all the marks in a certain name or for a particular class of goods to be referred to in a few minutes, and will effect a very considerable saving in the time not only of the public who have occasion to refer to the records, but also to the staff of the office. Owing, however, to the great increase in the ordinary business of the office, the progress of this classification has been slow, and if, as appears so likely, the ordinary staff is not able to devote sufficient time to the work, other means of having it completed within a reasonable time should be adopted.

III