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During the year the large number of printed specifications received at the library since 1914 were bound, and this, as already pointed out, involved a considerable increase in the expenditure under that heading for such period. Library. Whether a strict examination is made by the Office, or the novelty of inventions left to be investigated chiefly by the applicants themselves, a proper arrangement and classification of all available search material, with comprehensive index thereto, is necessary. While this is provided as far as possible with the present facilities, there is room for considerable inprovement in order to render all information obtainable with the least expenditure of time and trouble. A central library, where the printed copies of specifications of patents, books of technical departments, engineering and other institutions, and the like, could be kept together in the best form for reference, with a comprehensive index, would no doubt be of very great assistance to Government officers, engineers, inventors, and others. Patents. During the past year '2,085 applications were received in respect of patents, as compared with 2,075 hi the preceding year. There were 1,143 (1,153) provisional specifications lodged with applications, and in 942 (922) cases a complete specification was left with the application. 299 (318) complete specifications were left during the year in respect of applications for which provisional specifications had already been filed. The total number of applications up to the 31st December, 1924, was 53,571, and the number of patents in force on that date 7,105. The amount received during the year in respect of patents was £8,410 13s. 2d.—£396 13s. 9d. more than in 1922, in which year £8,013 19s. sd. was paid. The number of entries of assignments, &c., in respect of patents was less than in the previous year, being 128 as against 156. There were 2 (0) patents sealed after the prescribed time, and restoration was effected in 7 (7) cases, the fees from this source amounting to £155, as compared with £103 7s. 6d. for the year 1923. Extensions of the following letters patent are in force till the dates mentioned : No. 22408, G. F. Hutchinson and J. Gibbs, hydraulic vacuum-pump —till the Bth February, 1931 ; No. 25504, Leech Turner Limited, cable-connector — till the 28th January, 1932 ; No. 26166, The Gramophone Limited, accoustical instrument —till the 25th July, 1929. Countries from which Applications were received. The number of applications received from residents of this country was 1,233 (59 per cent, of the total), being somewhat fewer than in 1923, the number for which year was 1,262 (61 per cent, of the total). 285 (287) applications came to hand from Great Britain, 10 (19) from Canada, 138 (141) from Victoria, and 116 (115) from New South Wales. The number from the British Empire, including New Zealand, was 1,831 (as compared with 1,800 in 1923), being 87 per cent, of the total number of applications received. The number of applications from the United States shows a considerable increase, being 235, as against 129 in 1923. Of other countries France sent 10 (15), Belgium 8 (6), Czechoslovakia 2 (2), Denmark 17 (6), Italy 8 (7), Sweden 2 (13), Netherlands 18 (5), Switzerland 5 (2), Russia 0 (1), Germany 19 (3). Designs. There is, as usual, little to report on in respect of designs. Only 185 applications were lodged during the year. This is about the same number as in the preceding year ; and but slight difference is shown in the applications for the previous four years, the numbers being respectively, 109, 141, 214, 183. The total number of applications up to the 31st December, 1924, was 1,979. The total number of registrations in force on the 31st December, 1924, was 798, including 74 which had been renewed for the second term and 20 in which the period of copyright had been extended for the third term. The number of applications received from persons resident in New Zealand was 132 ; 32 were from Great Britain ; 19 from Australia ; and 2 from the United States of America. This form of protection is suitable for countries with extensive manufactures, and but little scope is afforded in New Zealand, with its limited manufactures, for the registration of industrial designs. While the present provisions are desirable on account of uniformity of law, a system of petty patents would probably be better suited to the requirements of this country. Trade marks. The number of applications received during the year was 1,338, which has only been exceeded in one year —i.e., in 1920, in which 1,391 were received. The amount paid in fees under this head was £3,879 lis. 6d. —£385 2s. 3d. more than in the preceding year, and £1,01.0 14s. over the total for 1922. The greatest number of applications was in respect of the following classes of goods : " Chemical substances prepared for use in medicine and pharmacy " (Class 3), 94 (82); " Articles of clothing" (Class 38), 105 (115) ; " Substances used as food or ingredients in food" (Class 42), 198 (211) ; and " Candles, soap, and other laundry articles, oils, &c." (Class 47), 123 (88). The total number of applications received up to 31st December, 1924, was 22,213, and the number of marks on the register 14,668. The provision for the registration (with restricted privileges) of trade-marks which, though not meeting the ordinary requirements, have been in use for at least two years and are capable of distinguishing the goods of the applicant has been availed of to a fair extent.