1666
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 52

The examination for these certificates is purely voluntary, and is confined to those who own or part own pleasure-yachts in New Zealand waters. The certificate will not entitle the holder to command any vessel except a pleasure-yacht in New Zealand waters.

Candidates are not required to have served any specified time afloat, as it is believed that their sea-knowledge will be sufficiently tested by the examination they will have to pass in seamanship.

Testimonials to character, including sobriety for at least twelve months preceding the date of application to be examined, will be required of all candidates.

A candidate will be required to produce a statutory declaration to the effect (1) that he is the sole or part owner of a yacht; (2) that the yacht is seagoing; (3) that it is not to be used for trading purposes. He will also be required to fill up the form of application (Form Exn. 2), and pay the fee of £2 at a mercantile marine office, as prescribed in para. 3. In all other respects, except that the candidate will not be required to produce a first-aid certificate, the regulations relating to the examinations of masters of foreign-going ships will apply in these cases.

Yacht-master in New Zealand Waters.

87. Navigation.—A candidate for yacht-master will be required—
    (a.) To write a legible hand and spell correctly.
    (b.) To work a day’s work complete, correcting the courses for leeway, deviation, and variation.
    (c.) To find the latitude by the meridian altitude of the sun.
    (d.) To find the true courses and distance from one given position to another by Mercator’s method; also the compass course, the variation and deviation being given.
    (e.) To find the time and height of high water at a given port.
    (f.) To find the true amplitude of the sun, and the error of the compass therefrom; also the deviation, the variation being given.
    (g.) To find the longitude by chronometer from the altitude of the sun, computing the daily rate of chronometer from errors observed when required.
    (h.) To find the true azimuth of the sun by Time Azimuth Tables; the error of the compass; also the deviation, the variation being given.
    (i.) To find from tables in the “New Zealand Nautical Almanac,” or other works, the time at which a given star will be on the observer’s meridian above or below the Pole, as required in question.
    (j.) To compute the approximate meridian altitude of a star, for setting the sextant.
    (k.) To find the latitude from the meridian altitude of a star.
    (l.) To find the approximate altitudes and bearings of stars within the limits of Star Reduction and Azimuth Tables which would be suitable for observations to quickly obtain position of ship.
    (m.) To find the position of ship by two stars at twilight, or by one star combined with the bearing of a distant mountain, headland, or sounding, by the aid of Star Reduction and Azimuth Tables, or any other methods which candidates may prefer.
    (n.) Examination in chart and correction of soundings as required for home-trade master.

VOLUNTARY EXAMINATION IN POSITION-FINDING BY TWO STARS.

88. Requirements, &c.—This examination is provided for the purpose of giving masters and mates who are possessed of certificates of competency an opportunity of undergoing a voluntary examination in their knowledge of this most valuable problem. The examination is open to any person who holds a certificate of any grade in the foreign or home trade, or as master of a pleasure-yacht.

Candidates should fill up the form of application (Form Exn. 2) at a mercantile marine office, pay the fee of 5s., and deposit their certificates with the Superintendent.

Candidates may be examined at any port where ordinary examinations are held on the usual examination-days.

If the candidate fails to pass his certificate will be at once returned to him.