1670
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 52

or who, in consequence of serving in vessels plying between ports abroad have been unable to obtain the necessary certificates, may however, be recognized, provided that such service is in all other respects satisfactory.

114. Foreign Officers.—Foreign officers who wish to apply for a British certificate of competency must in all cases have performed their qualifying officer’s service with the requisite British certificate. The service may have been performed in foreign vessels if the candidate can produce satisfactory testimonials to conduct and character, and is able to prove that the service has been in the required capacities, and that during the period of service he has held a British certificate of competency of the grade required by the regulations (see para. 118).

115. In Charge of a Watch.—When service in charge of a watch in either the foreign or home trade is specified in the regulations, candidates for certificates of competency as first mate must be able to prove that during eight months at least of their service they have kept full regular watch during the whole voyage—i.e., from port to port—which, if in the foreign trade, must amount to not less than eight hours of each twenty-four hours’ service. Where a candidate can prove eight months of such full service, service performed in cases where watches were doubled at any time during the voyage will be accepted as equivalent to half the same period of full watch-keeping service. No amount of occasional service will, by itself, be accepted as qualifying-service. Candidates for certificates of competency as master will be required to have served during the whole of the time specified by the regulations in full charge of a watch, and no service performed under the system of double watches, except as the senior officer, will be accepted as qualifying-service for a certificate of this grade. Great care must be exercised by the Examiners and others in regard to such service; and unless the candidate produces a clear and satisfactory certificate, specially setting forth the above facts, from the master or owner of the vessel in which the service was performed, it must not be accepted.

116. Additional Mates.—Service as additional or auxiliary first or second mate in large foreign-going vessels, when in both cases third and fourth mates also are carried, will count as first mate’s or second mate’s service, as the case may be, provided that the candidate was entered on the articles in one of these capacities, and that he produces the necessary certificate (see para. 115) showing that he was in charge of a watch or watches during the whole time claimed (see also para. 6).

117. Promotion during Voyage.—Whenever a man has from any cause been regularly promoted on the occurrence of a vacancy in the course of the voyage, from the rank in which he first shipped, and such promotion, with the ground on which it has been made, is properly entered in the articles and in the official log-book, he will receive credit for his service in the higher grade for the period subsequent to his promotion.

118. Evidence of Service in Foreign Vessels.—The testimonials of service of foreigners and of British officers and seamen serving in foreign vessels, which cannot be verified by the Marine Department, must be confirmed either by the Consul of the country to which the ship in which the candidate served belonged, or by some other recognized official authority of that country, or by the testimony of some credible person on the spot having personal knowledge of the facts required to be established. The production, however, of such proofs will not of necessity be deemed sufficient. Each case will be decided on its own merits, and if the sufficiency of the proofs given appears to be at all doubtful it must be referred to the Principal Examiner.

119. Auxiliary-screw Ships.—Service in auxiliary-screw whaling-ships, and in vessels with auxiliary power which use their propelling machinery only in calms or during light winds, is considered as service performed in sailing-vessels.

120. Excursion Steamers.—In the case of excursion steamers only such service as can be proved to have been performed at sea will be accepted.

121. (a.) Service as Carpenter, Sailmaker, Cook, Steward, &c.—Candidates whose service has been performed in capacities other than apprentice, midshipman, cadet, ordinary seaman, or able seaman—e.g., men who have served as carpenter, or sailmaker, or as cook in