Aug. 2.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3091

required by these rules, shall indicate that course by
the following signals on her whistle or siren, viz. :
— One short blast to mean, “I am directing my course
to starboard.”
Two short blasts to mean, “I am directing my course
to port.”
Three short blasts to mean, “My engines are going
full speed astern.”

No Vessel under any Circumstances to neglect Proper Precautions.

Art. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any
vessel, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof, from
the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals,
or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the
neglect of any precaution which may be required by the
ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

Reservation of Rules for Harbours and Inland Navigation.

Art. 30. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with
the operation of a special rule, duly made by local
authority, relative to the navigation of any harbour,
river, or inland waters.

SCHEDULE II.
Distress Signals.

Art. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires
assistance from other vessels or from the shore, the
following shall be the signals to be used or displayed
by her, either together or separately, viz. :
— In the daytime—

1. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals
   of about a minute;
2. The International Code signal of distress indicated by N.C. ;
3. The distant signal, consisting of a square flag,
   having either above it or below it a ball or
   anything resembling a ball;†
4. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal
   apparatus.

At night—

1. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals
   of about a minute;
2. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar-barrel, oil-barrel, &c.);
3. Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any colour
   or description, fired one at a time, at short
   intervals;
4. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal
   apparatus.

Lights to be carried by Steam Pilot-vessels.
(Order in Council of the 7th July, 1897.)

A steam pilot-vessel, exclusively employed for the
service of pilots licensed or certified by any pilotage
authority or the committee of any pilotage district in
the United Kingdom, when engaged on her station on
pilotage duty, and in British waters, and not at anchor,
shall, in addition to the lights required for all pilot-boats, carry at a distance of 8 ft. below her white mast-head-light a red light visible all round the horizon, and
of such a character as to be visible on a dark night with
a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least two miles,
and also the coloured side-lights required to be carried
by vessels when under way.

When engaged on her station on pilotage duty, and
in British waters, and at anchor, she shall carry, in
addition to the light required for all pilot-boats, the
red light above mentioned, but not the coloured side-lights.

When not engaged on her station on pilotage duty she
shall carry the same lights as other steam-vessels.

EXAMINATION IN THE REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA.

All applicants for examination, whether for certificates
as masters or mates, are to be examined as to their
knowledge of the regulations each time they present
themselves for examination.

Questions suggested by the following heads of examination are to be asked in addition to, and are not
to supersede, any other questions proper and necessary
to be asked by the Examiner.

The following questions need not be adhered to literally
by the Examiner, and are not all to be asked; but the
substance of the leading questions should be asked; and
all that are asked should be satisfactorily answered before an applicant is reported to have passed his examination. The Examiner should make such a selection of
the questions as each case appears to him to require.

1. Where and by what vessels are the rules to be
   followed?

The rules are to be followed by all vessels upon the
high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by sea-going vessels.

2. When is a steam-vessel considered a sailing-vessel
   and when a steam-vessel?

Under the rules every steam-vessel which is under
sail and not under steam is to be considered a sailing-vessel, and every vessel under steam, whether under sail
or not, is to be considered a steam-vessel.

3. What does the word “steam-vessel” in the rules
   include?

The word “steam-vessel” as used in the rules includes any vessel propelled by machinery.

4. When is a vessel considered to be under way by
   these rules?

When she is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore,
or aground.

5. What does the word “visible” in the rules, when
   applied to lights, mean?

Visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere.

6. During what time must the rules concerning lights
   be complied with?

In all weathers from sunset to sunrise, and during
such time no other lights which may be mistaken for the
prescribed lights shall be exhibited.

7. What light or lights are required by the regulations
   to be exhibited by sailing-vessels at anchor?

If they are under 150 ft. in length, one white light; if
of 150 ft. or upwards, two white lights—one forward
and one aft.

8. What light or lights are required by the regulations
   to be exhibited by steam-vessels at anchor?

The same as by sailing-vessels.

9. Where is the anchor-light to be exhibited in a
   vessel under 150 ft. in length?

Forward, where it can best be seen. It must be placed
where there is the least chance of obstruction from spars,
ropes, &c. ; and must not be more than 20 ft. above the
hull.

10. Where must the two anchor-lights be shown in
    vessels of 150 ft. and upwards?

• If a master of a vessel uses or displays, or causes or permits any
  person under his authority to use or display, any of those signals
  of distress, except in a case of a vessel being in distress, he shall
  be liable to pay compensation for any labour undertaken, risk incurred, or loss sustained in consequence of that signal having been
  supposed to be a signal of distress; and that compensation may,
  without prejudice to any other remedy, be recovered in the same
  manner in which salvage is recoverable. (Merchant Shipping Act,
  section 434 (2).)

† A further distress signal is provided in the new International
Code of Signals. It is a distant signal consisting of a cone point
upwards, having either above it or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball. This signal has not been sanctioned by Order in
Council under the provisions of section 434 of “The Merchant
Shipping Act, 1894.”