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PATENTS. 1,831 applications were received, an increase of 126 on the total for 1909, being the highest number yet recorded in any year. Of these, 1,138 were accompanied by provisional specifications, and 693 by complete specifications; while 301 complete specifications were lodged with applications for which provisional specifications had already been filed, thus making a total of 2,132 specifications during the year, or 141 more than in the previous twelve months. The fees in respect of patents amounted to £5,159 10s. 6d., an increase of £256 17s. lOd. on the sum received in 1909, the greater number of applications, patents sealed, and renewal fees for the second terms of patents granted four years ago accounting for the additional amount. There was a falling-off in the number of third-term fees paid for patents granted seven years ago as compared with those received in the previous year, though a larger number of patents was granted in 1903 than in 1902. Table C shows the number of the various applications and fees in respect of them. The total number of applications pending is 1,680, and there are 3,790 patents in force, 2,432 in the first, 751 in the second, and 607 in the third term. No patents are in force for an extended term. , . While the investigation into the novelty of inventions is necessarily restricted, it results in the refusal of a certain number of applications and the limiting of the claims in others. The following table shows the proportion of applications accepted, and to which exception was taken, to the total number received.

No official examination, however, can afford any guarantee of the validity of a patent, and in the cases in which this question was raised before the Courts last year one out of every four patents was upset in the United States, and nearly one in two in the United Kingdom. The best safeguard is a thorough search by the applicant or his agent before making application, or as soon as the provisional specification is filed; but this seems to be, unfortunately, not generally undertaken, no doubt owing in a great measure to the difficulty to which I have alluded of referring to prior publications on the subject. It should be borne in mind that attempting to define an invention without a thorough knowledge of the subject to which it relates is like trying to prepare a title-deed to land without a proper acquaintance with its boundaries; and applicants should realize the great importance of carefully referring to prior specifications and other publications, or instructing their agents to do so, before preparing their specifications in the matter. If proper inquiry were made into the novelty and probable success of inventions much useless expenditure would be avoided in patenting them in New Zealand as well as in other countries where, if the possibilities are in some cases greater, the keener competition and absence of personal supervision render the chances of the adoption of inventions even less than they are here. It may be of interest to mention that fifty patents were granted to residents of this country in the United States in 1908, and that they made 120 applications for patents last year in the United Kingdom. Countries from which Applications deceived. Residents of New Zealand lodged 1,240 applications, 115 more than last year, and 67 per cent, of the total number received ; 150 were sent from the United Kingdom, about the same number as in 1909; 19 from Canada; and 120 from the United States, 6 less than in the preceding year. Germany contributed 15, and 23 were received from other Europea/i countries. The applications from Australia, which fell from 321 in 1907 to 238 in 1908 and 229 in 1909, showed a slight increase last year, numbering 258. Trend of Invention. A noteworthy increase is shown in the applications in respect of dairying—llo in 1910 (n)ilking-inachinery 5'5, and other appliances 55), as compared with G7 in 1909; and a greater number was also received for fibre-dressing 70 (59), engines and accessories (particularly rotary and turbine) 116 (72), boxes, cans, and casks 40 (29), electricity 35 (17) (electric cooking and heating appliances predominating), cultivating and tilling 32 (22), wearing-apparel and the like 57 (44) (the inventions in this class relating chiefly to hat-pins). In amusements, boots and shoes, building, railways and tramways, fencing and wire-strainers, the number of inventions is about the same as in the former year; while a falling-off is recorded in connection with aeronautics 20 (27), cutting, sawing, and tools 38 (48), gas-manufacture 29 (37), kitchen utensils 41 (56), and printing and photography 14 (32). The figures in parentheses are the numbers for the previous year.

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Accepted without Alteration Accepted on Alteration Not accepted, Without being questioned. Afler being questioned After being questioned On Ground of On Ground Want of of Novelty. Informality. On Ground of Want of Novelty. On Ground of Informality. Ou Ground of Want of Novelty. On Ground of Informality. 601 135 0-6 5-2 111 9-6 1-9 [Note. —As without amendmi .909, and ending many applioal 3nt, it was the 31st May, 1911 iions for tho li jught desirab atter half of tho yeai tie to compile this t r 1910 are still pending and may be accepted with or ;able as for the twelve months beginning 1st June,