Dec. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1883

(8.) Candidates who fail to pass the form-vision test or colour-ignorance test can be re-examined at intervals of three months, but candidates who fail to pass the colour-vision test cannot be re-examined. It is open, however, to any candidate who has failed to pass that test to appeal to the Marine Department, which may, if it think fit, remit the case to a special examiner or body of examiners for final decision.

(9.) The expenses of candidates who are examined by the special examiners, and are reported by them to have passed the three tests, will, under certain circumstances, be paid by the Marine Department, at a rate which will be notified to the candidate; but no payment whatever will be made towards the expenses of candidates who upon their own application are examined by the special examiners and are reported by them to have failed. The special examinations will be held in Wellington only.

(10.) When a candidate fails to pass the colour-test the Examiner will point out to him the conditions under which he can appeal. Appeals are to be made through the Examiners, and forwarded to the Marine Department with the Examiner's remarks.

(11.) The holder of a certificate which bears on it a statement of failure in the first test (form-vision) or in the third test (colour-ignorance) can have the statement removed by passing after the prescribed interval the test to which it refers; but the instruction in the last paragraph of Rule 2 must be followed.

(12.) The fee paid for examination for a certificate of competency includes the fee of 2s. 6d. for examination in form-vision, colour-vision, and colour-ignorance, and if the candidate fails to pass those tests will, with the exception of 2s. 6d., be returned to him.

(13.) Only Examiners who have themselves passed the colour-test are to undertake these examinations.

Note A.—Form-vision Test.

(1.) The test for form-vision is the first test which the candidate is required to undergo; and until he has passed this test he cannot be allowed to proceed further with the examination. (See Rule 2.)

(2.) The tests to be used are Snellen's letter-test for candidates who can read, and the “dot” test for those who cannot read.

The sets of tests which have been supplied to the Examiners consist respectively of eight sheets of Snellen's letters and two sheets of dots.

(3.) The chief object of the tests for form-vision is to show whether the candidate possesses eyesight of sufficient strength and range; or, in other words, they are means of discovering whether the candidate has good or bad sight.

They also afford a means of detecting whether a candidate is suffering from that form of colour-blindness which is caused by the excessive use of tobacco and by illness or similar affections. All candidates who are suffering from colour-blindness arising from causes of that nature will be found to be incapable of passing the tests for form-vision.

(4.) Candidates may use both eyes or either eye when being tested, but they must not be allowed to use spectacles or glasses of any kind.

The set of tests is to be hung on the wall, in a good light, at a height of about 5ft. or 6ft. from the ground.

(5.) If the candidate can read, he should be placed at a distance of 16ft. from the letter-test sheets, and exactly opposite them. The distance should be carefully measured, and the candidate should not be allowed to approach within 16ft. of the test-sheets.

One of the eight sheets of letters should then be exposed, and the candidate should be asked to read the letters, beginning at the top and going downwards. If he can read correctly three of the five letters in the fifth line from the top (third from the bottom), or four of the letters in either of the two lines below he may be considered to have passed the test. If he cannot do so he should be treated as having failed. Candidates should be tested with at least two of the sheets of letters, and the same two sheets should not be used for all candidates.

(6.) The number printed over each row of letters shows the distance in feet at which a person possessing ordinary sight should be able to read the letters in the row.

(7.) If the candidate cannot read, he must be tested with the sheets of dots. For this test he is to be placed at a distance of precisely 8ft. from the test-sheets, and exactly opposite them. One of the sheets of dots is then to be exposed, and the candidate should be asked to name the number of dots in one or two of the lines or groups. Lines and groups of dots can be formed by holding a piece of white paper over part of the sheet, but care must be taken that when this is being done the candidate's view is not obstructed, or the light on the test-sheet in any way obscured.

The Examiner must make sure that the candidate understands what he is required to do.

If the candidate answers the questions put to him by the Examiner with complete or very nearly complete accuracy, he should be treated as having passed. If he does not answer with very nearly complete accuracy, he should be treated as having failed.

(8.) The Examiner must take care, by varying the tests in form-vision, and by every other means, to guard against the possibility of any deception on the part of the candidates.

(9.) The result of every test in form-vision is to be reported to the Marine Department.

All cases of failure to pass the test are also to be reported to the Marine Department.

Note B.—Colour-vision Test.

(1.) The colour-vision of candidates is to be tested by means of Holmgren's wools.

The wools are always to be kept in the tins provided for the purpose, except when in use at an examination, in order that they may not become faded or dirty. Each set contains about 135 skeins of wool.

(2.) Before the examination commences the skeins should be separated from one another, but each separate skein should be kept tied up as when first received.

The three test skeins are labelled respectively I. (light green), II.a (pink or light purple), and II.b (red), and they are always to be used in the order mentioned.

Care must be taken that the labels do not get detached.

The colour-vision test should be held only by daylight. If a good natural light is not obtainable and artificial light has to be used, the test must be postponed. When the weather is dark or foggy, and a candidate cannot be examined in colours before his examination in navigation commences, he may be allowed to proceed with the examination in navigation provided he is examined in colours on the first available opportunity.*

Full instructions as to the conduct of the examination will be found herein.

(3.) The Examiner, as the examination proceeds, should carefully place on one side the skeins the selection of which by the candidate seems to indicate a defect in colour-vision, taking care to discriminate between those selected as matching the first test-skein, those selected as matching the second test-skein, and those selected as matching the third test-skein.

The skeins which have been correctly selected should be returned to the general heap on the completion of each of the three tests.

(4.) In every case in which the Examiner rejects a candidate, or is in doubt as to whether he should reject him or not, he is, when the examination is finished, to cut a small piece (say, an inch) off every one of the actual skeins incorrectly selected by the candidate, and to stitch the pieces cut off on to a form, keeping the pieces cut off the skeins selected as matches to the first test-skein in one line, the pieces cut off the skeins selected as matches to the second test-skein in another line, and the pieces cut off the skeins selected as matches to the third test-skein in a third line on the form. The form with the pieces of wool attached to it is then to be forwarded to the Marine Department, with the Examiner's report thereon.

The greatest care must be taken that the pieces forwarded are cut off the actual skeins selected by the candidate, in order that there may be a reliable record of the actual selections made by the candidate if any question should subsequently arise.

Pieces need not be cut off the test-skeins, but only off the skeins incorrectly selected by the candidates.

(5.) In cases in which the candidate passes the test pieces need not be cut off the skeins he has selected.

(6.) When the candidate makes incorrect matches the examiner should, after each of the three tests, hold up the skeins selected, and ask the candidate if he is satisfied that they all match the test-skein. If he is not satisfied he may be allowed to withdraw any of the skeins he pleases.

(7.) During the test for colour-blindness the Examiner should avoid naming the colours of any of the wools, and should explain to the candidate that he does not require them to be named to him.

In the test for colour-ignorance the candidate has to name three colours. (See Note C.)

(8.) As soon as any skein becomes discoloured, or unduly reduced in size (say by one-third) owing to pieces having been cut off it, the matter should be reported to the Marine Department.

• When the examination in navigation precedes the colour tests the candidates should be informed that the examination in navigation will count for nothing if they should fail to pass the colour test.