CO885-(1-2) — Page 512

53

EASTERN COLONIES.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILLIC.O.

• 885

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

MAURITIUS.

Governor, No. 178, October 17, 1856.

MAURITIUS.

Acting Procureur and Advocate-General.-The Governor is empowered by Ordinance No. 11 of 1835, to issue Letters-Patent for a term not exceeding fourteen years, to persons "who may be the first to introduce and put in practice in this Colony any invention or improvement discovered elsewhere."

Applicants for Letters-Patent are required by the same Ordinance to annex to their application an exact and detailed description of the object or secret for which they are sought, with all necessary draw- ings and plans. These descriptions are to be published at the expiration of the Patent.

No particular proof is required by the Ordinance

to be furnished by the applicant that the object for which Letters-Patent are solicited is a new inven- tion. At the same time the Governor is empowered

to annul and withdraw Letters-Patent which may have been granted, on its being ascertained that the object for which they have been granted has been, previously to the issue thereof, described in any work that has been printed or published.

This pro- vision would, however, not apply to Letters-Patent granted for the introduction of inventions already known in Europe.

The duty to be paid by the patentee is deter- mined by the Governor, according to the duration of the Letters-Patent, and the importance of the invention or improvement; in no case, however, can this exceed the sum of 100L. A further fee of 88. is paid at the Registry of the Supreme Court, for the reading in Court, and transcription in the

P