1892
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 91

139. A sheet of blotting-paper should be issued to each candidate with the first examination-paper, and it must be returned to the Examiner when the last paper is completed each day. The Examiner will be careful to see that the blotting-paper has not been used by the candidate in solving his problems, or for conveying information to other candidates (see par. 173).

140. The examination-papers should be issued to the candidates in half-sheets only, and one at a time. This will prevent a candidate from spreading out the sheets on the table so as to enable his nearest neighbour to look over and copy or examine the problems. It will also enable the Examiner to look over and report upon the work on one half-sheet while the candidate is at work upon another, and so on. When the errors are not too numerous, or when they do not arise from ignorance of the subject, the incorrect problems may be returned to the candidate for correction, but in no case should the errors be pointed out by the Examiner, neither should any marks be made on the correct work of the problem which would at once indicate how far or to what extent the work is correct. Should the problem be returned to the Examiner the second time incorrect, this would be a failure; and, as the time allowed is considered ample for working out the papers carefully, this rule is expected to be strictly observed.

141. At those ports where, from the large number of the candidates, it may sometimes be found impossible to look over the work on the day of examination during the office hours, an hour in the morning of the following day may be allotted for the purpose of correcting the problems, but in no case should a candidate have his problem returned to him for correction after he has made the second attempt.

142. The paper (Exn. 4a) is only for those candidates who present themselves for examination for the first time for a foreign-going certificate. It is intended not only to insure on the part of the candidate a knowledge of the meaning of a variety of terms of great use to the navigator respecting which much ignorance exists at present, but, at the same time, to test his handwriting and spelling.

143. In using this paper, the Examiner will place a mark against the numbers of the particular questions which he selects for answers, and not less than ten questions should be selected. The candidate will then write against the questions so marked his definition of the terms in a clear and legible hand, so as to prevent the possibility of any letter being mistaken. Attention must be paid to the spelling and writing of all grades of candidates. The supplementary vivâ voce test should also be applied as usual.

144. In the questions on deviation of the compass (Exn. 7) the Examiner should mark at least twelve of the questions, and those indicated must be correctly answered. The selected questions should be varied frequently, and no two candidates should have precisely the same questions. The candidate should be furnished with sheets of the blank ruled paper which is supplied for that purpose, with instructions that he is to write only on one side of the paper, and to answer in a clear and legible hand each of the questions against which a mark is placed, and to commence each answer by writing down the number of the question to which it relates in the margin left for that purpose. In answering Question 39 on the tentative method of compass adjustment, the candidate will be tested by Beall’s compass deviascope, and it will not therefore be necessary for him to give the written answer and sketches. A candidate for an extra master’s certificate will not be required to answer the questions on the deviations of the compass on Exn. 7, but will be examined by the syllabus and compass deviascope.

145. In the vivâ voce examination a reasonable time should be allowed for the candidate to give his answers. No assistance should be given, or leading questions put.

146. Particular attention should be paid to the adjustments of the sextant, and the written answers should be given on the ruled paper in the same manner as the answers to the questions on Exn. 7, and the supplementary vivâ voce test should be applied as usual. Every candidate should have a practical knowledge of what is known as the first three adjustments, and be able to read correctly off the arc, a supposed index error to be given by the Examiner as additive, as well as reading on the arc in the usual way.

147. All outstanding or minor corrections should appear in the margin of each problem paper; also on the chart papers Exn. 9c and Exn. 9d; and unless all these corrections appear on the papers of the candidate they will not be considered complete.

148. In every case the examination, whether for only mate, first mate, master, or master extra, is to commence with the problems for second mate.

149. Examiners should bear in mind that the problems to be solved are required as tests, and for the purposes of an examination, and not for sea-going or practical purposes alone.

150. The candidates will be allowed to work out the various problems according to the method and the tables they have been accustomed to use.

Time allowed for Problems and Writings.

151. Candidates for second mates’ ordinary certificates of competency must complete the whole of their examination in navigation in eight hours, including the time allowed for writing the definitions (Exn. 4a), the paper on the adjustment of the sextant, and the correction of all errors and oversights; but the nautical problems on Forms Exn. 4 and Exn. 5 must be completed within six hours, and without the candidates leaving the premises during that period.

152. Candidates for only and first mates’ ordinary certificates must complete the whole of their examination in navigation in twelve and a half hours,* including the time allowed for the papers on the sextant, the chart, cyclones or revolving storms, and for the correction of all errors and oversights; but the nautical problems on Forms Exn. 4, Exn. 5, and Exn. 6 must be completed within six hours, and without the candidates leaving the premises during that period.

153. Candidates for ordinary certificates as masters must complete the whole of their examination in navigation in fifteen hours, including the time allowed for the papers on the sextant, the chart, compass deviation, cyclones or revolving storms, and for the correction of all errors and oversights; but the problems on Forms Exn. 4, Exn. 5, and Exn. 6 must be completed within six hours, and without the candidates leaving the premises during that period.

154. Candidates, after finishing the problems required in the various grades on the first day of examination, should proceed, until the end of that day, with such subjects as the definitions, sextant, chart, &c.

155. The Sumner problem (Exn. 6a) must on no account be given out to any candidate on the first day of the examination, but should form the commencement of the candidates’ work on the second day, and on completion of this problem the candidates for masters’ certificates should proceed with the problems on paper Exn. 7.

156. Candidates for home-trade mates’ certificates must complete the whole of their arithmetical, chart, and other papers within eight hours, and candidates for certificates as masters of home-trade passenger-ships within ten hours.

157. Candidates for foreign-going steamships certificates of competency will be allowed the same amount of time to perform their navigation, &c., as hereinbefore laid down for the respective grades for the ordinary foreign-going certificates.

158. Candidates for certificates as masters of pleasure-yachts will be allowed the same amount of time for completing their examination as the candidates for ordinary masters’ certificates.

159. Extra masters’ certificates.—The time allowed candidates for examination for certificates of competency as extra master, and for extra master for steamships only, to complete the whole of the problems and writings (including the compass syllabus and the correction of all errors and oversights), must not exceed twenty-six hours.

160. Deviation of the Compass.—A period not exceeding eleven hours will be allowed to candidates for the completion of the whole of the examination in the syllabus, including the correction of all errors and oversights in both the problems and writings.

161. Punctually at the expiration of the prescribed time all the papers should be called up, whether completed or not, and, if not completed, the candidate will be declared to have failed, unless the Examiner sees fit to lengthen the period in any special case. If, however, the period is lengthened in any case, the special circumstances of that case, and the reasons for lengthening the period, together with the time allowed, must be reported to the Marine Department by the Examiners, in the column for “Remarks” on the Form Exn. 14. It should be noted that the periods prescribed in the foregoing paragraphs are not intended to include the time occupied by the vivâ voce part of the examination.

162. It is anticipated that but few of the candidates for certificates of competency will require the whole of the time herein allowed for completing their examination in navigation; and ample time has been prescribed, so that candidates may perform their work in a careful, clear, and legible manner, and to the entire satisfaction of the Examiners.

Degree of Precision required in the Solution of the Problems.

163. In order to prevent any misapprehension as to the degree of precision required by the Marine Department regulations in working out the various problems in the examinations for masters’ and mates’ certificates, the attention of Examiners and candidates is particularly directed to the following instructions:—

(a.) Candidates are expected to work out their answers

A candidate (other than second mate) who may not previously have passed an examination may be allowed the time occupied in writing his definitions on Exn. 4a, in addition to the above.