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Patents. (The figures in pawn theses are for the year 1918.) The number of applications received during 1919 was 1,880 (1,389), of which 995 (792) were Bled with provisional specifications and 885 (597) were complete. Two hundred and seventy-seven complete specifications were lodged during the year in respect of applications with whioh proivisonal specifications had been filed. The total number of applications received to (he .'Slsl December, 1919, was 42,917, and the number of patents in force as on that date was, 4,623. The amount received in patent fees during 1919 was £7,335, being an increase of £758 above the amount received from the same source during 1918, During the past few years both the renewable fees under the Act of 1908 ami those under the present Act have been payable. The cessation of the former during the year will probably be made up for by increase of latter fees. The renewal fees of £5 and £10 under the old Act before the end of the fourth and seventh years averaged for 1910 to 1913 £2,252 per year, while those under the present Act amounted to £2,763 for last year. The number of entries made on the Register in reference to assignments, licenses, &c, of patents was 71 (52). The amount of fees received in respect of the restoration of lapsed patents was £53, as against £102 received in 1918. Twenty-one women inventors lodged applications during the year under review. Two patents of additions were sealed during the year. Countries from which Applications received. Of the 1,880 applications 1,104 were received from residents of New Zealand in 1919, while in the previous year out of 1,386 applications 885 were by persons residing in this country. From Australia 243 (Victoria 106, New South Wales 91) came to hand, as compared with 223 (Victoria 126, New South Wales 65) for the preceding year. Of others applying for New Zealand letters patent, 276 (156) lived in Great Britain, 200 (94) in the United States, and II (9) Canada, the figures in brackets being for the year 1918. Trend of In mil ion. The cessation of hostilities appears to have influenced, to a certain extent, the direction of inventive activity. There has been a decline in inventions relating to explosives and firearms, medical and surgical appliances, and marine vessels, including submarines, torpedoes, &c. There has also been a. slight fall in the number of inventions relating to kauri-gum—36 (40); metalworking—l6 (19); and fibre-dressing —16 (19) Increases are shown, however, in most branches of constructive industry, in which connection the following may be noted : Milking and dairyingmachinery and appliances, 89 (which is an increase of 348 per cent, on the previous year); fencing, 25 (1083 per cent, increase); and building construction and materials, 120 (714 per cent, increase). Inventions relating to vehicles and accessories, which were noted in my last report as showing a remarkable increase, are again more numerous (98 as compared with 91), though the proportional accretion is not as great as in the prior year. Designs. Registration of Designs. There were 73 applications received, and registration was effected in 64 cases, as compared with 53 applications and 50 registrations in the previous year. Thefees amounted to £32, being more than in 1918. TIiADE-MAKKS. Last year 1,272 applications for registration of trade-marks were received, 577 more than the number received the previous year. The amount received in fees in respect of trade-marks was £1,925 175., as against £1,533 15s. for 1918—an increase of £392 2s. This branch of the business of the Office has shown an increase in the amount received in fees as well as the increased number of applications recorded. The number of trade-marks on the Register at the end of the year was 10,903. (Countries from which Applications received. The resumption of trade and pushing out for fresh markets is reflected in the greatly increased number of applications for registration of trade-marks, particularly from Great Britain, during the year. From residents of New Zealand 256 applications were received, as compared with 222 for the previous year. The number from Great Britain was 445, as compared with 178 for 191.S ; United States of America, 344 (142); New South Wales, 73 (63); Victoria, 63 (46). Goods for which Trade-marks registered. As usual, more applications for registration of trade-marks were in the food class (42) than in the others (181). More applications were received in 40 classes, and fewer in 8 classes, than in the previous year. Patent Aoents. The number of Patent Agents on the Register was twenty-two. One, I regret to record, died during the year, and one was registered after examination. Staff. I take the opportunity of recording my appreciation of the services of the staff during the year,