SEPT. 30.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3001

179. Letter Test :—

180. Letter Test to be passed first.—The first test which the candidate is required to undergo is the letter test. Until he has passed this test he must not be allowed to proceed further with the examination.

181. Apparatus used.—The letter test to be used for all candidates is that conducted on Snellen’s principle by means of sheets of letters.

182. Object of the Test.—The object of the letter test is to determine whether the candidate can reach a sufficient standard of visual acuteness, or, in other words, to find out whether his eyesight is good or bad.

183. Standard of Vision required.—Every candidate for a first certificate of competency will be required to possess normal vision. With the exceptions indicated below (see subpara. 9), every candidate for a second or higher certificate will be required to possess normal vision. “Normal vision” is defined, for the purpose of these regulations, as ability to read correctly nine of the twelve letters in the sixth line and eight of the fifteen letters in the seventh line of a test-sheet placed in a good light at a distance of 16 ft. from the eye. The candidate will have the option of using either eye separately or both eyes together.

184. Spectacles not allowed.—During the examination in the letter test candidates must not be allowed to use spectacles or glasses of any kind, or any other artificial aid to vision.

185. Method of Testing.—The test-sheets should be hung on the wall, in a good light but not in direct sunlight, at a height of 5 ft. or 6 ft. from the ground. The candidate should be placed at a distance of exactly 16 ft. from the sheets, and exactly opposite them. This distance should be carefully measured, and should never in any circumstances be varied. One of the sheets should then be exposed, and the candidate should be asked to read the letters on each sheet, beginning at the top and going downwards. Any mistakes which he makes should be carefully noted. If then it is found that he has read correctly at least nine letters in the sixth line and eight letters in the seventh line of a sheet the candidate may be considered to have normal vision, and should be marked “Passed” in the appropriate column of the form of application (Exn. 2 or Exn. 2B, as the case may be).

186. Passing or Failure.—If at the conclusion of the test the candidate is found to reach the required standard he may be considered to have passed, and the Examiner should proceed with the lantern test. If the candidate fails to reach the standard required for the certificate entered for he should be tested with at least four sheets, and the Examiner should fill in a Form Exn. 17B, and should forward it, with any remarks he may wish to make, to the Principal Examiner for his instructions as to whether the candidate is to be regarded as passing or as failing in the letter test.

187. Failure to pass the letter test is due to some defect in form vision, and the Board are advised that such defects are sometimes curable. Whenever, therefore, a candidate fails to pass this test the Examiner should advise him to consult an ophthalmic surgeon, with a view to ascertaining what is the nature of the defect in his form vision, and whether it is curable.

188. Lower Standard required in certain Cases.—Candidates who are in possession of certificates obtained before the 1st January, 1914, may be regarded as passing the letter test if they can read correctly with both eyes at least five of the eight letters in the fifth line of a test-sheet.

189. Tests to be varied.—The Examiner must take care, by varying the order of the test-sheets and by every other means in his power, to guard against the possibility of any deception on the part of any candidate.

190. Result of Examination to be reported.—The result of every examination in the letter test must be reported, in the case of a candidate for a certificate of competency, to the Marine Department on Form Exn. 2, and to the Principal Examiner on Form Exn. 14; and, in the case of a candidate for the sight tests only, to the Principal Examiner on Form Exn. 2B.

191. Lantern Test :—

192. Apparatus.—A special lantern and a mirror have been provided for this test. The lantern must be placed directly in front of the mirror so that the front part of the lantern is exactly 10 ft. from the mirror. Care must be taken that the lantern is properly placed—

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