H.—lo

Patent Agents. During the year seven names were added to the Begister of Patent Agents, bringing the number up to sixty-four. Five cases were those of solicitors, who are entitled to registration without examination. A copy of the papers set in the other two cases in which examinations were held is included in this report. While these are intended to give intending candidates and others a general idea of the scope of the examination, it should be mentioned that considerable discretion is allowed examiners in setting their papers, and that in addition a viva voce examination is held. The profession is now well established, and fills an important place in preparing applications, and doing other work which does not come within the province of the Patent Office. This distinction between the duties of patent agents and those of the Patent Office seem to be lost sight of by some members, who, in describing their premises as " Patent office " or " Office for patents " may inadvertently convey a wrong impression. I recognise that this practice is one of long-standing, both in this colony and other countries, but it seems to me to be inadvisable. I notice that the members of the Institute of Patent Agents in England have voluntarily resolved to discontinue it, and that it has been debarred by a recent regulation of the Commonwealth Patent Office. Conclusion. I desire again to record my appreciation of the good work performed by the office staff; and I cannot close this report without express mention of the Deputy Begistrar, Mr. J. C Lewis, to whose loyal and efficient co-operation I am much indebted. The Appendix hereto contains : — PAGE Papers set at Examinations for Begistration of Patent Agents ... ... v List of Contents of Patent Office Library ... ... ... ... vi List of Books and Documents open to Inspection in Patent Office ... vi And the following tables and lists, viz.: — A. Balance-sheet of Income and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st December, 1904 ... ... ... ... ... ... vii B. Table showing Bevenue and Expenditure for each of the Last Eight Years ... ... ... ... ... ... ... vii C. Particulars of Fees received from the Ist January to the 31st December. 1904 ... ... ... ... ... .... viii D. Staff of Officers, and Salaries ... ... ... ... ... viii E. Total Number of Applications for Patents, and Begistration of Designs and Trade Marks, recorded for the Years 1890 to 1904 inclusive ... ix F. Number of Provisional and Complete Specifications received, &c, under Act of 1889 ... ... .. ... ... ... ix G. Table showing, over a Series of Years, the Number of Patents that were considered of Sufficient Value be to kept Alive by Payment of the Benewal Fees ... ... ... ... ... x H. Number of Applications for Patents from Persons residing in New Zealand and other Colonies and Countries in each of the Years 1902, 1903, and 1904 ... ... ... ... ... x I. Table showing number of Applications for the Different Classes of Inventions for each of the Years 1902, 1903, and 1904 ... ... xi la. Number of Applications for Begistration of Trade Marks from Persons residing in New Zealand and other Colonies and Countries in each of the Years 1902, 1903, and 1904 ... ... ... ... xi Ib. Number of Applications to register Trade Marks, in the Fifty Different Classes, in each of the Years 1902, 1903, and 1904 ... ... xii J. Alphabetical List of Applicants for Patents, — For quarter ending 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 1 30th June, „ ... ... ... 20 „ 30th September, „ ... ... ... 44 „ 31st December, „ ... ... ... 70 K. Alphabetical List of Titles of Inventions for which Letters Patent have been applied,— For quarter ending 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 8 30th June, „ ... ... ... 30 „ 30th September, „ ... ... ... 54 „ 31st December, „ ... ... ... 79 L. Alphabetical List of Applicants for Begistration of Trade Marks, — For quarter ending 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 17 „ 30th June, „ ... ... ... 41 30th September, „ ... ... ... 67 „ 31st December, „ ... ... ... 90 M. Alphabetical List of Applicants for Begistration of Designs,— For quarter ending 31st March, 1904 ... ... ... 19 30th June, „ ... ... ... 43 „ 30th September, „ ... ... ... 69 „ 31st December, „ ... ... ... 93 Patent Office, F. Waldegrave, Wellington, 30th June, 1905. Begistrar.

IV