H.—lo

2

While the revenue considerably exceeds the expenditure, the fees ure, with two exceptions, the lowest in the world, as will be seen from the following table : —

Forty-one applications were received from women inventors, 13 less than in 1912. The number of patents of additions was (i (5), and the complete specifications filed in respect of cognate provisional specifications 14 (6). No doubt when the provisions of the Act in this respeot become better known they will be more fully availed of. Examination of Specifications. No provision has yet been made for making a thorough inquiry into the novelty of inventions sought to be patented, but this question is gone into by the staff so far as it is able, and amendment required, or in rare cases the application rejected, where the invention is found to !«■ parti-ally or wholly anticipated. The applications for the twelve months stated were received and dealt with as follows:— Number of applications received from Ist June, 1912, to 31st May, 1913 (inclusive) ... ... ... ... ... ... ' ... 1,708 Applications in respect of which amendment under section 5, or compliance with other formalities, required before acceptance ... ... 152 Applications in respect of which amendment on account of want of novelty required before acceptance ... ... ... ... 74 Not accepted ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 15+ Countries from which Applications were received. The number of applications from residents in New Zealand was about normal—l,l73, as compared witli 1,180 in 1911 and 1,135 in 1912. An increase is shown in the number of applications from Canada—l 9 (12); fnited Kingdom—lB3 (168)- and the United States—l2l (118); and a falling-ofi in the applications from the Commonwealth —22l (240). Table H shows the number of applications received from each of the various other countries from 1911 to the end of last year. During 191.'!. G6 per cent, of the applications received were from residents of New Zealand, and 34 per cent, from people living in other places. In the United Kingdom for the same year 68 per cent, of the applications were fn.m people living in and 'V 2 per cent, from people outside that country, and in Australia 70 per cent, from residents and 30 per cent, from non-residents of the Commonwealth. Subject-matter of Inventions. While applications for inventions in respect of our particular industries, more especially dairying, naturally predominate, there is no such marked trend of invention here as there is in Great Britain and other large manufacturing countries. The subject of locomotion—principally motor vehicles and aeronautics—which has lately been engaging the attention of inventors in other places in a very striking manner has produced but few inventions in this country so far as the records show. The prevention of railway accidents is, as would be expected, a subject of great interest to inventors in all parts of the world, and serious collisions are invariably followed by a revival of attempts to ensure the safe running of trains. Last year more than treble the usual number of applications were filed in Great Britain on the subject, and a decided increase is lately shown in the applications in this country. A considerable number of applications continue to be received under telephony and telegraphy, chiefly in connection with automatic installations—6l in 1913 and 64 in 1912. as compared with 31 in 1911. Although cinematographs are a fruitful source of invention in Kngland and are extensively used in this country, very few applications are made by Xew Zealand inventors on the subject. While a fair number of applications were made for milking and dairying appliances—27 and 68 respectively —there were not quite as many as in the previous year. The applications for fibre-dressing, which fell off somewhat in 1912, revived somewhat in 1913 —.">6 (34). Double the number were received with regard to railways—Bo (40) —the increase being chiefly in respect of signalling appliances. Those for cultivating, 25 t-'!2), and fencing. 20 (30), show a slight falling-off, and the number in other subjects remains about the same.

Country. Term. Fee. Country. Term. Fee. Germany Russia Austria Brazil Hungary Denmark Great Britain Belgium France Italy 13 Lβ 18 L5 15 L5 II 20 15 15 £ s. d. 264 0 0 227 5 0 165 11 6 156 7 6 118 6 6 113 5 6 100 0 0 84 0 0 60 0 0 60 0 0 Spain Switzerland Sweden Argentine Norway Japan Australia New Zealand United States of America Mexico 20 15 15 15 15 15 14 14 17 20 £ s. d. 80 0 0 54 16 0 41 1 6 35 6 0 34 9 0 30 0 0 13 0 0 12 0 0 7 3 9 4 6 6