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Trend or Subject-matter of Invention. The decrease in the number of applications is fairly evenly distributed among the various subjects. An exception is the case of railways and tramways, in which they fell to 32 in 1915 from 77 in 1914 and 80 the preceding year. The class for wearing-apparel also shows a considerable drop— i.e., to 22 from 44 and 55 in 1914 and 1913 respectively —and there was a considerable falling-off in respect of telephony and telegraphy, for which 26 applications were received last year as compared with 82 in 1914 and 61 the year before. The applications in this subject have been chiefly in relation to automatic telephones, and the decrease is probably due to that system having attained a fair degree of efficiency. Fewer were also received in connection with the more important industries, such as dairying and milking 77 (92), fibre-dressing 25 (58), and cultivating 25 (48). The principal remaining cases in which decreases occur are advertising, &c, 5 (21); boots, &c, 26 (37); bottles, &c, 9' (22); cutting and sawing, 32 (47); engines (steam), 9 (19); fibredressing, 25 (58); furniture, 34 (52); kitchen utensils, 35 (42); minerals, 14 (32); and vehicles and tires, &c, 36 (44). Slight increases took place in connection with building, 81 (72), chiefly in respect of concrete construction; explosives, firearms, &c, 25 (9); and marine, relating principally to life-saving appliances, propellers, submarines and submarine-destroyers, torpedo-destroyers, indicating disabled vessels and delaying the sinking of vessels, 43 (22). International Convention. Of the 373 applications received from other places last year 75, or 20 per cent., were under the International Convention. In 1914, out of 535 applications, 137, or 26 per cent., were made in accordance with the provisions. The countries from which these applications emanated were —Australia, 37 (41); Germany, 1 (2); Great Britain, 24 (64); and United States, 13 (25). Restoration of Letters Patent and sealing Letters Patent after Application advertised as lapsed. Three applications were lodged for the sealing of letters patent after the prescribed time, and 3 for the restoration of letters patent which had become void, as compared with 6 and 8 cases respectively in 1914. The number of patents so sealed during the year was 7, and of patents restored 5. Designs. There was an increase in the number of applications for registration of designs received, the total last year being 89, as compared with 55 in 1914. Of this number, 75 were placed on the register, as compared with 46 in the previous year. Trade-ii arks. The number of applications received was 565, as compared with 687 in 1914, a decrease of 122. The amount received under this head is £1,101 3s. 9d., a decrease of £175 12s. sd. on that for the previous year. Countries from which Applications were received. llesidents of New Zealand lodged 203 applications, 67 less than in 1914, and persons in other countries 371, 46 short of the number for 1914. There is a falling-ofi in the applications from Great Britain, 158 (199), and Australia, 84 (94), but an increase in those from United States, 102 (75). Goods for which Trade-marks registered. The largest number received in any one class is for food substances, for which 118 were received, as compared with 116 in 1914 and 167 in 1913. An increase occurs in Class 6 (machinery), 20 (15); in Class 13 (metal goods), 21 (14); Class 50 (miscellaneous goods), 50 (41): while a decrease is shown in Class 1 (chemical substances used in manufactures), 7 (13); in Class 22 (carriages), 7 (16); in Class 44 (mineral and aerated waters), 16 (28); in Class 45 (tobacco), 17 (32); and in Class 48 (perfumery), 27 (40). Special Applications to the Court. During 1915 2 applications were made to the Court to declare certain marks to be distinctive, and both were granted and proceeded with. General. Notice of opposition was lodged in 9 cases, as compared with 15 in 1914 and 30 in 1913. Notice of appeal was given in 1 case, but not heard during the year. Patents Agents. The number of agents at present on the register is 25, as against 30 in 1914. One was registered after examination, and 5 struck off owing to the non-payment of the annual fee.