diff --git a/samples/forty/forty.cpp b/samples/forty/forty.cpp
index 65a9c463d1..960816e916 100644
--- a/samples/forty/forty.cpp
+++ b/samples/forty/forty.cpp
@@ -96,31 +96,34 @@ bool FortyApp::OnInit()
 	return true;
 }
 
-wxColour* FortyApp::BackgroundColour()
+const wxColour& FortyApp::BackgroundColour()
 {
 	if (!m_backgroundColour)
 	{
 		m_backgroundColour = new wxColour(0, 128, 0);
 	}
-	return m_backgroundColour;
+
+	return *m_backgroundColour;
 }
 
-wxBrush* FortyApp::BackgroundBrush()
+const wxBrush& FortyApp::BackgroundBrush()
 {
 	if (!m_backgroundBrush)
 	{
 		m_backgroundBrush = new wxBrush(*BackgroundColour(), wxSOLID);
 	}
-	return m_backgroundBrush;
+
+	return *m_backgroundBrush;
 }
 
-wxColour* FortyApp::TextColour()
+const wxColour& FortyApp::TextColour()
 {
 	if (!m_textColour)
 	{
 		m_textColour = new wxColour("BLACK");
 	}
-	return m_textColour;
+
+	return *m_textColour;
 }
 
 // My frame constructor
diff --git a/samples/forty/forty.h b/samples/forty/forty.h
index bdbb7832fd..1fbf6449f1 100644
--- a/samples/forty/forty.h
+++ b/samples/forty/forty.h
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ class FortyApp: public wxApp
 public:
 	bool OnInit();
 
-	static wxColour* BackgroundColour();
-	static wxColour* TextColour();
-	static wxBrush*  BackgroundBrush();
+	static const wxColour& BackgroundColour();
+	static const wxColour& TextColour();
+	static const wxBrush&  BackgroundBrush();
 
 private:
 	static wxColour* m_backgroundColour;
diff --git a/samples/forty/game.cpp b/samples/forty/game.cpp
index 90bfc194c0..a6dca69cac 100644
--- a/samples/forty/game.cpp
+++ b/samples/forty/game.cpp
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ bool Game::LButtonDown(wxDC& dc, int x, int y)
 			// Initialise the card bitmap to the background colour
 		{
 			wxMemoryDC memoryDC;
-			memoryDC.SelectObject(m_bmap);
+			memoryDC.SelectObject(*m_bmap);
 			m_liftedCard = m_srcPile->RemoveTopCard(memoryDC, m_xPos, m_yPos);
 		}
 
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ bool Game::LButtonDown(wxDC& dc, int x, int y)
 			// the screen
 		{
 			wxMemoryDC memoryDC;
-			memoryDC.SelectObject(m_bmapCard);
+			memoryDC.SelectObject(*m_bmapCard);
 			m_liftedCard->Draw(memoryDC, 0, 0);
 		}
     }
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ void Game::LButtonUp(wxDC& dc, int x, int y)
 
 		// Restore the area under the card
 		wxMemoryDC memoryDC;
-		memoryDC.SelectObject(m_bmap);
+		memoryDC.SelectObject(*m_bmap);
 		dc.Blit(m_xPos, m_yPos, CardWidth, CardHeight,
 			   &memoryDC, 0, 0, wxCOPY);
 
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ void Game::MouseMove(wxDC& dc, int mx, int my)
     if (m_liftedCard)
     {
 		wxMemoryDC memoryDC;
-		memoryDC.SelectObject(m_bmap);
+		memoryDC.SelectObject(*m_bmap);
 
 		int dx = mx + m_xOffset - m_xPos;
 		int dy = my + m_yOffset - m_yPos;
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ void Game::MouseMove(wxDC& dc, int mx, int my)
 		m_yPos += dy;
 
 			// draw the card in its new position
-		memoryDC.SelectObject(m_bmapCard);
+		memoryDC.SelectObject(*m_bmapCard);
 		dc.Blit(m_xPos, m_yPos, CardWidth, CardHeight,
 			   &memoryDC, 0, 0, wxCOPY);
     }
diff --git a/samples/image/image.cpp b/samples/image/image.cpp
index 002e1da9f4..4e51460807 100644
--- a/samples/image/image.cpp
+++ b/samples/image/image.cpp
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ void MyCanvas::OnPaint( wxPaintEvent &WXUNUSED(event) )
 
 // MyFrame
 
-const  ID_QUIT  = 108;
-const  ID_ABOUT = 109;
+const int ID_QUIT  = 108;
+const int ID_ABOUT = 109;
 
 IMPLEMENT_DYNAMIC_CLASS( MyFrame, wxFrame )