samples to explain the invention. The petition must be limited to a single object with the details which form part of it, and must indicate the term for which the patent is solicited. The term of the patent is reckoned from the date of filing the application. Patents are granted without examination and at the inventor's own risk. Inventions relating to instruments of warfare are submitted to the War Department, and such as are approved by the department are bought by the State. Inventions of this kind which are not favourably reported upon are rejected.

The term of the patent can only be prolonged by special legislation.

Certificates of alteration, addition, or improvement, are granted. The patentee is, however, alone entitled to receive a certificate of addition during the first year of his patent. If such applications are made by others they will be kept secret until the first year of the patent has expired, and will then be granted.

Patents may be assigned in whole or in part by a deed of assignment, which must be registered with the Minister of Commerce; and the specifications, drawings, and models are accessible to the public, and may be copied.

Patents are invalid when the invention is not new, or when they are for mere principles, when the invention is contrary to public morals, when the title of the patent is fraudulently misleading, or when the specification is insufficient. Patents will become void in default of payment of the annuities, when the invention is not worked within two years from the date of the patent, or if the working is thereafter discontinued for two consecutive years, unless the patentee can show cause to justify his inaction, or by the introduction of articles manufactured abroad according to the invention, unless by special authorisation of the Government.

Any interested person may bring an action before the Tribunal of First Instance to rescind the patent, and infringers of patents are liable to a fine of from five to one hundred Turkish pounds.

VENEZUELA.

Patents are procurable under the law of 1878 for a term of not less than six nor more than fifteen years for new discoveries, inventions, or improvements, and for the importation. from abroad of manufacturing processes or industrial improvements. The applicant has to address a petition to the Minister of the Interior, accompanied by a declaration stating that he is the true inventor, and by a description of the invention, and a patent will be issued by the President of the Republic. Patents of invention become void if not worked within two years, and imported patents within one year of their date. The term of the exclusive privilege for the selling of the patented articles dates from the commencement of the working of the patent. The factory, plant, &c., of the patentee are subject to an annual government tax not exceeding one per cent. of their cost. Primary materials required for the manufacture are exempt from import duties, but the patented article must be manufactured in the country and not imported from abroad. Patents may be assigned. Infringers are punishable by fine and imprisonment.

PATENT LAWS OF THE BRITISH COLONIES.

Since the Imperial Government has declined to issue any grants of patents for colonies, most of our colonies have themselves established patent laws, principally framed upon the British law. Many of the colonies now grant a large number of patents, but it is obvious that except in special cases patents are not often required in the smaller colonies. The number of patents granted in Canada, India, and the Australian colonies is constantly increasing.

THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The Act of the Colonial Legislature relating to patents is dated September 14, 1852.

Every person who, upon claiming to be the author or designer, by his agent or assignee, of any invention, shall be desirous of obtaining a letter of registration, shall deposit with the Colonial Treasurer the sum of 201. sterling, and shall, after such deposit, present a petition to his Excellency the Governor, setting forth that he is the author or designer of such invention, or the agent or assignee of the author or deviser, as the case may be, and specifying the particulars of such invention, and that he has deposited with the Colonial Treasurer the sum of 201.; whereupon the application is referred to a board consisting of two scientific men; and if their report is favourable, the Governor may grant the letters of registration, and such letters of registration, within three days after the granting thereof, are to be registered in the proper office in the Supreme Court. Every grantee of such letter of registration can assign the same to any person or

persons by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, to be registered in the Supreme Court in the same manner and within the same period after the execution thereof as the original letters of registration.

The letters of registration may be repealed by scire facias.

NEW ZEALAND.

The New Zealand Patents Act, 1883, has effected a considerable alteration in the law of patents in New Zealand: inventors can now obtain either letters patent or letters of registration as they think fit. The fee for letters of registration remains at 107., as it did under the New Zealand Patents Act of 1870. The fee for letters patent is reduced to 21. 10s., and the further duties to 5l. at the end of five years. Letters patent which are unopposed will be granted as a matter of course; if opposed, the expense of meeting the opposition may be considerable. Letters patent can only be granted to the inventors themselves, and not to their assignees. Letters of registration will be granted as of course, on proof of the applicant being the actual owner of the foreign patent.

The patented inventions must be worked within two years from the date of the patent; as the new Act has only just come into operation, the actual requirements of the office are not yet well understood.

QUEENSLAND.

No substantive patent law has been enacted in the colony of Queensland since its separation from New South Wales, but the Colonial Act (New South Wales), 16 Victoria, No. xxiv., September 11, 1852, was continued in force in the colony by an Order in Council of November 6, 1859, and a patent can be obtained similar in terms to those granted in New South Wales, and at the same cost. A short Act was passed in 1867 by which inventions can be provisionally protected in this colony, but these protections would appear to be useful only to residents in the colony.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The patent law of this colony is now embodied in two Acts, called respectively The Patent Act, 1877' (which was passed December 21, 1877), and The Patent Act Amendment Act, 1881' (which was passed September 28, 1881).

Every applicant for letters patent must present a petition and declaration, together with specification and drawings in duplicate. These must be signed by the applicant, who may be either the inventor or his assignee; the declaration being made before any competent authority, and the specifications and drawings attested by two witnesses. The place and date of signature must also be stated in every case. The documents may be signed under power of attorney from the applicant.

The fees are somewhat low, but the Commissioner of Patents always exercises his power of referring applications. to examiners at a cost of at least 27. 12s. 6d. And further, inasmuch as every application is advertised, and the specifications are open to the public at large before the grant of the patent, an undue amount of encouragement is offered to litigious persons to oppose applications.

Fees of 21. 10s. each have to be paid at or before the expiration of the third and seventh years respectively.

TASMANIA.

The law of patents in this colony was established by an Act passed November 5, 1858.

The proceedings to obtain patents are very similar to those at home, and the provisions with respect to actions, disclaimers, &c., are also much the same.

The Government fees are about 77. 10s. on application, and a stamp duty of 157. is to be paid at the expiration of the third year, and 107. at the expiration of the seventh year of the grant.

VICTORIA.

An Act of the Colonial Legislature, entitled 'An Act to Consolidate the Law concerning Letters Patent for Inventions,'