Nov. 20.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. . 2771

(vi.) In order to obtain a second-class certificate in navigation an officer must be able—to take a bearing; to use a chart, and know all the signs and abbreviations thereon; to find the compass course or courses and distance or distances between two points on the chart; to find a ship’s position by cross-bearings and work out the set and drift experienced; to find the latitude by the meridian altitude of the sun; to understand what is meant by variation and deviation of the compass; to find the deviation by two points in line; to find the ship’s position by two bearings of the same object, the course and distance run between the bearings being given; to find the position approximately by the latitude and a line of soundings; to understand the use of a sextant and to be able to observe with it, and read on and off the arc, and to find the index error by the horizon; to give definitions of all the ordinary terms used in navigation.

(vii.) In order to obtain a first-class certificate in navigation an officer, in addition to the knowledge and ability required for a second-class certificate in navigation, must show—ability to find the true amplitude of the sun, and to get the deviation of the compass therefrom; to find the true azimuth and the deviation therefrom; to find a position line by chronometer and altitude of the sun; to find on the chart the course to steer by compass in order to counteract the effect of a given current, and to find the distance made good towards a given point in a given time; also to fix a ship’s position by horizontal sextant angles, using a station pointer or protractor and tracing-paper.

(viii.) On the receipt by the Naval Secretary of the report referred to in subsection (ii) of this article a certificate of competency shall be issued by the Naval Board to an officer who has passed the examination. If such officer is in all respects eligible under article 20 of these regulations, he may then apply to the Naval Board for the status of “Qualified Officer.”

(2.) The recommendation required by this article from an officer of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy must be to the effect that the officer recommended is qualified to take charge of a watch at sea in one of H.M. ships, and as an officer of quarters of the primary armament of the ship; that he has a good knowledge of service customs and discipline; and that he is in all respects able, and recommended, to perform the ordinary duties of a Lieutenant or Lieutenant-Commander, Royal Navy, of similar seniority in the class of vessel in which he is serving.

(3.) As a general rule an officer should not be recommended until he has satisfactorily performed a total of at least six months’ naval training at sea, and has completed gunnery, torpedo, and signal courses.

(4.) In the case of an officer who has served in command of one of H.M. ships the watch-keeping and gunnery qualifications specified above shall be waived, subject to his having served at least twelve months in command and having been well reported on as a Commanding Officer. For this purpose H.M. ships shall be considered as including all those on the list of ships of the Royal and Dominion Navies and merchant vessels commissioned as H.M. ships and flying the white ensign. (See article 97 of these regulations as to grant of seniority to qualified officers.)

17. Non-executive Officers—Naval Authority.—(1.) Non-executive officers of the rank of Lieutenant and Lieutenant-Commander (except Accountant Officers (C.) of the R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.) who are not eligible for the status of “Qualified Officer”), who are confirmed in their rank and considered qualified professionally and by reason of their naval experience, may, at the discretion of the Naval Board, be granted the same relative seniority in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy as they hold in the Reserve, provided that they are recommended for the status of “Qualified Officer” by the Commanding Officer of one of H.M. ships in which a period of not less than twenty-eight days’ actual service or training has been performed, and by the senior officer of their branch in that ship.

(2.) As a general rule an officer should not be recommended for the status of Qualified Officer unless he has satisfactorily performed a total of at least six months’ naval training.

(3.) This recommendation must be to the effect that the officer recommended has a good knowledge of service customs and discipline, and that he is in all respects able, and recommended, to perform the ordinary duties of an officer, Royal Navy, of corresponding branch and seniority in the class of vessel in which he is serving.