3

H.—lo,

International Con rent ion. The number of applications under the Convention, which has been gradually rising till it reached 156 in 1912, dropped to 139 last your. Though the advantages of the Conventions are mi doubt great, the curtailment ol' the term under it in Great Britain. Australia, and New Zealand (but not in other countries) no doub< leads to inventors not utilizing it to as full an extent as they might otherwise do. Restoration of Letter* Patent, One application for restoration of letters patent was made during the vein, and one patent was restored. Designs. Sixty-five applications for the registration of designs were received during the year, and although this number is three times that of the previous year it is hardly sufficient to make it worth while keeping a registry for. As pointed out in my last report, some form of protection in the nature of the German petty patent to cover nol merely designs but other original matter not at present provided for by our Patents or Copyrights Acts would seem to be more suitable for the requirements in this country than the present design registration. Til.\ DE-MARKS. The progress in the trade of this country is reflected in the number of applications for registration of trade-marks. In 1890, 160 were received; in 1900,348; and in 1910, 818. Last year showed a slight Falling-ofi, 789 applications being made and 572 marks actually registered during the year. Although not in themselves very high, these numbers stand out when compared with the registrations effected annually in Great Britain (5,073 in 1913) and other countries. The increase in the initial fee, and one or two eases in which the payments were in excess of the previous year, broughi the amount from this source to 6143 9s. Id. more than in 1912— £1,284 13s. 6d., as compared with £1,141 Is. r>d. Countries from which AppHcati&ns received. The number of applications from traders in New Zealand correspond exactly to the number they lodged in 1912— 303, 75 short of the total for the previous year (">7S). There is a I'alling-off also in the applications from the United Kingdom— 2s3 (297). The number from Germany in 1911 was 57; in L 912, 19; and in 1913, 20; a vei \ considerable falling-oS in the latter years. Increases are shown in the applications from New South Wales. 54 (41); Victoria, 28 (20); and the United States, 70 (66). Goods for which Trade-mark* registered. There is a noticeable increase in the number of applications in Class 42 (food substances), 1()7 being received in 1913 as compared with 100 in the previous year. A falling-off occurs in the number in (.'lass 3 (medicinal preparations), <>l (75); in Class 22 (vehicles), 19 (22); in Class 38 (clothing), 65 (71); in Class 43 (liquors and spirits), 22 (26); in Class 47 (candles, soaps, &c), 50 (55), and in Class 50 (miscellaneous), .'S7 (53). There is little if any change in the number received in the other classes. Special Applications to the Court. In accordance with the Act of 1911 the Court may, on application, declare a mark which has been successfully used to be distinctive' which would not otherwise be held to be so under the ordinary provisions of tin Act. During 1913, 5 applications were made to the Court, and, as a result, proceeded with"in 3 eases, i General. Opposition. Not ice of opposition was lodged in 30 cases. Xd decisions were appealed against during the year. " Patent Office Journal." With the object ul bringing New Zealand inventors into touch with manufacturers and others interested in inventions in other countries, and affording some small return for the generous manner in which Great Britain, Australia, and other places supply their specifications and other publications, the Journal has been widely distributed thl ghoui those countries, as will be seen from the list attached. Improvements have been effected in this publication without materially increasing its cost, and the additional copies required for other countries can be run off at very slight extra expense. Patent Agents. No addition was made to the register during the year.