762
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 34

38. The vivâ voce part of the examination for the extra certificates will be conducted on the same principle as at present.

39. The examination will commence with a quarter-of-an-hour’s dictation to test handwriting and spelling. This, however, is only to be given to those candidates who present themselves for examination for the first time for a foreign-going certificate. The spelling must be reasonably and fairly good, and the writing clear and legible. The spelling and writing of all candidates must be satisfactory, and in cases where there is any doubt about the ability of a candidate to spell correctly he should be specially tested by dictation as at present.

40. The paper of definitions is only for those candidates who present themselves for examination for the first time for a foreign-going certificate.

41. In using this paper the Examiner will place a mark against the questions which he wishes to be answered, not less than ten questions being so 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, and also draw a rough sketch or diagram opposite to each of the questions to which he has given written answers, in further illustration of its meaning. The supplementary vivâ voce test should also be applied as usual.

42. In the questions on the deviation of the compass the Examiner will mark at least twelve of the questions, including the problems. The selected questions will be varied frequently, and no two candidates will have precisely the same questions. The candidate will be furnished with sheets of the blank ruled paper which is supplied for the 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. 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 deviation of the compass on Form Exn. 7, but will be examined by the syllabus and “compass deviascope.”

43. The examination on the barometer, thermometer, and hydrometer, prevailing winds and currents of the globe, trade routes, and tides, will for the present be conducted orally, and the questions asked by the Examiner, which will be constantly varied, will be confined to and based on the information given in the prescribed text-books, and candidates will be required to have a fair and intelligent knowledge of the contents of those books.

44. Particular attention should be paid to the adjustments of the sextant, the examination in which subject will be conducted orally and practically. Every candidate will be examined practically as to his knowledge of the adjustments, and the use of the various screws; he must be able to read correctly off the arc, a supposed index error being given by the Examiner as additive, as well as reading on the arc in the usual way; he must also be able to find the index error both by the horizon and by the sun.

45. All outstanding or minor corrections should appear in the margin of each problem paper, and on the chart papers, and the papers of the candidate will not be considered complete without these corrections.

46. 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 question put.

47. 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.

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

49. All the problems given in the examinations, both for the ordinary and extra candidates, will be constantly varied; and the mode of stating the times in the astronomical problems, and the mode of wording and setting these and all other problems, will be varied in every possible way, so as to insure that the candidate has a proper knowledge of the subject.

Time allowed for the Papers.

50. Candidates for second mates’ ordinary certificates of competency must complete the whole of their examination in navigation in nine hours, including the time allowed for writing the definition on Form Exn. 4a, the paper on the chart, and the correction of all errors and oversights; but the quarter-of-an-hour’s dictation and all the nautical problems (excepting chart) must be completed within six hours, and without the candidates leaving the premises during that period.

51. Candidates for only and first mates’ ordinary certificates must complete the whole of their examination in navigation in twelve hours,* including the time allowed for the papers on the chart; cyclones or revolving storms; and for the correction of all errors and oversights: but the nautical problems up to and including (k) of the syllabus prescribed for only and first mate must be completed within six hours, and without the candidates leaving the premises during that period.

52. 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 chart; compass deviation; cyclones or revolving storms; and for the correction of all errors and oversights: but the problems up to and including (k) of the syllabus prescribed for only and first mate must be completed within six hours, and without the candidates leaving the premises during that period.

53. 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, chart, questions relating to cyclones, compass deviation, &c.

54. The Sumner problem must on no account be given out to any of the candidates 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 (a), (b), (c) of the syllabus for that grade.

55. Candidates for foreign-going steamship certificates of competency will be allowed the same amount of time to complete their navigation work as is allowed in the case of ordinary certificates.

56. 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.

57. Extra Masters’ Certificates.—The time allowed to candidates for certificates as extra master and extra master of a steamship to complete the whole of the problems and writings, including the compass syllabus, must not exceed twenty-six hours.

58. 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.

59. Punctually at the expiration of the prescribed time all papers will be collected, whether completed or not. If the papers are not completed the candidate will be declared to have failed, unless the Marine Department or the Examiner should see fit to lengthen the period in any special case. Where such an extension of time is granted, the case must be fully reported to the Marine Department 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.

60. 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, but ample time has been allowed, so that candidates may perform their work in a careful, clear, and legible manner.

61. Degree of precision required in the solution of the problems:—

(a.) Candidates are expected to work out their answers to all problems where the answer required is a latitude, longitude, or distance within 1½′ of position from a correct result; in finding the ship’s position by Sumner’s method a margin of 2½′ will be allowed.

(b.) In such problems as the “amplitude” and “altitude-azimuth,” where the bearing, deviations, &c., only are required, a margin of 3′ or 4′ from a correct result will be sufficiently accurate.

(c.) In no problem is the candidate for an ordinary certificate required by the regulations to correct for second differences in taking out the quantities from the Nautical Almanac.

(d.) In solving the time-azimuth problems an answer not exceeding half a degree from the exact result will be sufficiently near. But in all cases the actual latitude, declination, and time used, together with the exact bearing from the north or south as given in the tables, must be clearly shown by the candidate on his papers.

(e.) In computing the time at which a given star will be on the observer’s meridian, and the name of the stars near the meridian (paragraphs (b) and (e) of

• A candidate who is not applying for a second mate’s certificate, and who has not previously passed an examination, may be allowed the time allotted to dictation and writing the definitions on Form Exn. 4a, in addition to the above.