3078
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 74

(d.) Service within home-trade limits in sailing-yachts of not less than 20 tons net register, or in steam-yachts of not less than 40 tons gross register, will be accepted at the ordinary rate as qualifying service for home-trade certificates; but candidates must prove that they have in addition served for at least twelve months in an ordinary trading-vessel in the foreign, home, or coasting trade.

(e.) Service within home-trade limits in sailing-yachts of less than 20 tons net register, or in steam-yachts of less than 40 tons gross register, will not be accepted as qualifying-service for any class of certificate.

137. Service performed in tugs employed outside partially smooth-water limits may be accepted as sea service for the purpose of qualifying a candidate for a second mate’s, mate’s, or master’s certificate for home-trade ships.

138. Service in steam hopper-barges may, subject to the provisions of par. 139, be allowed to count towards qualifying a candidate for a second mate’s or mate’s certificate of competency for home-trade ships, provided the candidate can prove at least two years’ service in an ordinary trading-vessel in either the home, coasting, or foreign trade. Service in these steam-hoppers will not be accepted as officer’s service towards qualifying a candidate for a master’s certificate.

139. Service in lightships or in an engine-room will not be accepted as sea service.

140. Service performed on rivers, no matter of what size, and service performed within restricted limits, will not be accepted, with the exception mentioned in note of par. 70.

Where any doubt whatever exists on this point, the candidate will be required to produce a certificate from the master or owner of the vessel in which the service was performed before the service can be accepted.

141. Half the time served on board a training-ship will be allowed to count as service at sea up to a limit of one year (i.e., no length of service will be allowed to count as more than one year at sea), provided that the candidate can produce a certificate from the committee that he has conducted himself creditably, and passed a good examination in seamanship, so far as it is practised in the training-ship, as well as in other matters down to the time of his leaving the ship; but this service will not be regarded as equivalent to service in square-rigged vessels.

142. The whole of the time claimed under indentures of apprenticeship will be accepted as actual sea service to qualify under par. for second mate’s certificate, provided—(a) that the indentures have not been cancelled through some fault of the candidate, but are indorsed by the owner or master to whom he was bound to the effect that he has performed his service faithfully during the time he remained as apprentice; and (b) that the candidate had served at sea four-fifths of the time claimed—that is to say, has not spent more than one-fifth of the time in home ports.

In cases where an apprentice is qualified for examination before the expiration of his indentures—e.g., where he has had training-ship or other sea service prior to being bound which, together with his actual time as apprentice, makes up the required four years, or where his indentures are for a period of more than four years—a letter from the owner or master will be accepted in place of the indorsement referred to above.

In the event of the candidate being short of the required four-fifths of the time claimed as apprentice, he will be required to show sufficient additional sea service, either as seaman or junior officer, to make up the four-fifths of the time claimed.

143. The whole of the time served as midshipman or cadet under indentures will also be accepted, subject to the same conditions as those laid down for apprentices; and the same will be the case even when not bound by indentures, provided that the service as midshipman or cadet has been continuous, and that on the date of the termination of the period of service claimed in this capacity the candidate was on articles of agreement, and that he is able to comply with the requirements laid down in the matter of serving or making up the four-fifths period at sea during the time claimed.

144. Officers of the Royal Navy are at liberty to apply for certificates of service and to be examined for certificates of competency in the mercantile marine, but the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have directed that the applications of officers on the active list should be made through their commanding officers, and that the applications of officers on half-pay should be made to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

The conditions on which certificates of service are issued are stated at p. 115, 116, and 117.

145. Officers of the Royal Navy or of the Royal Indian Marine who wish to be examined for certificates of competency in the mercantile marine will be required to prove the following service; and if an officer wishes to obtain the ordinary certificate for foreign-going ships he must prove that at least twelve months of this required period was served under sail alone.

(1.) For second mate: The officer must prove four years’ service at sea, or that he has attained the rank of acting sub-lieutenant.

(2.) For only mate: Five years’ service at sea.

(3.) For first mate or master: The officer must prove that he has attained the rank of sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy, or of lieutenant in the Royal Indian Marine.

146. Lieutenants, sub-lieutenants, and acting sub-lieutenants of the Royal Naval Reserve who perform sea service on board His Majesty’s ships will, if accompanied by a good report, be allowed to count such service as if it had been performed in foreign-going merchant ships, and the service will rank according to the certificate of competency held by the candidate at the time.

Midshipmen of the Royal Naval Reserve possessing a first mate’s certificate, and temporarily granted the rank of acting sub-lieutenant whilst undergoing twelve months’ training afloat in the Royal Navy will, if accompanied by a good report, be allowed to count such service as if it had been performed in the capacity of second mate of a foreign-going merchant ship with a first mate’s certificate.

147. The time spent in drill in the Royal Naval Reserve on board sea-going vessels of the Royal Navy, if accompanied by a good report, will be accepted in full; but if the drill has been performed in harbour ships of the Royal or colonial navies, only half such time will be accepted as sea-service, and no such service must amount to more than one-fourth of the time required for the particular grade of certificate applied for.

CONDUCT OF THE EXAMINATIONS.

148. The examinations will commence early in the forenoon, and will be continued from day to day until all the candidates whose names appear upon the list are examined.

149. Candidates are required to appear at the examination-room punctually at the time appointed.

150. Before commencing the examination, the tables or desks must be cleared of all scraps of paper or books that are not used in the examination, and care should be taken that the candidates do not bring into the examination-room any book or paper.

151. No person will be allowed in the room during the examination other than those whose duties require them to be present.