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EASTERN COLONIES.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
885
2PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
MAURITIUS.
MAURITIUS.
Governor Higginson.-I have consulted the Pro-
Governor, No. 115, Jan. 28, 1853, cureur-General and Executive Council, and I now transmit the opinion given by the former, and the minutes of the latter, together with a copy of the Ordinance which at present regulates the granting of Patents in this Colony.
The Governor is authorized to issue Letters Patent for a term not exceeding fourteen years, and to revoke the same for certain reasons specified in the Ordinance.
The Council agree with the Procureur-General in thinking that this Ordinance should be amended in certain of its provisions, particularly as regards the publicity of applications for Letters-Patent; and also that Patents granted in England might be extended by a special clause to the Colony.
The principles of evidence which prevail in Eng- land as to the specifications, &c., of inventions, would be admitted in the Colonial Courts on any questions relating to Patents which might come before them.
Under these circumstances I may perhaps venture to suggest, that if it is considered feasible to extend to the Colony Letters-Patent granted in England ' for any improvements or inventions, it would be as well to add this limitation :-" Provided that no Letters-Patent have already been granted in the Colony by the Governor for such invention, &c.," as it might happen that an invention patented in
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