Dec. 15.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3815

The meaning of the term “certificate” as used in the regulations is given in para. 1. The officer’s service performed by a candidate who has been duly promoted during the course of a voyage (see para. 118), or who, in consequence of serving in vessels plying between ports abroad, has been unable to obtain the necessary certificates, may, however, be recognized provided that it is in other respects satisfactory. (99.)

118. 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. (100.)

119. Mixed Service.—Where a candidate has performed his sea service in more than one capacity, or partly in the foreign trade and partly in the home trade, proportionate allowances will be made for each kind of service, provided that in other respects it complies with the regulations. (101.)

120. Evidence as to 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 Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, London, or 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 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, who will, if necessary, transmit it to the Marine Department for decision. (103.)

121. 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, or in the case of restricted-limits ships, as deck hand—e.g., men who have served as carpenter, or sailmaker, or as cook in small vessels where cooking is only a part of a man’s duty—will be required to satisfy the Examiner or the Marine Department that they have, during the whole time claimed, performed deck duties in addition to their own particular work. These facts may possibly be proved by the production of satisfactory certificates from the masters with whom the candidate has served; but such service will only be accepted as equivalent to two-thirds of the time served as ordinary deck hand. Failing satisfactory evidence, the applicant will be required to perform additional service in the capacity of seaman. Service as cook (under other conditions than the above), or as steward, or purser, or in the engine-room, will not be accepted. (104.)

When discharges for “boy’s” service are produced, the Examiner must satisfy himself that such service was service performed in a qualifying capacity.

122. Service as Wireless Operator.—If a candidate has been engaged on Articles of Agreement as seaman, or in any seaman rating, and has served both as a seaman and as a wireless operator, two-thirds of such service may be counted as qualifying-service; but the candidate must prove that during the whole period claimed he performed deck duties in addition to the duties of a wireless operator.

If a candidate has been engaged on Articles of Agreement as a wireless operator, and has performed deck duties in addition, two-thirds of such service may be counted as qualifying-service provided that the candidate can produce a certificate from the master to the effect that he has performed deck duties throughout the voyage for a reasonable proportion of time each day and that he has not spent more than two hours a day on regular wireless watch.

If a candidate has been engaged on Articles of Agreement as a wireless operator, and has only served as such, one-quarter of the service may be counted as qualifying-service, but no amount of such service will be allowed to count as more than twelve months’ qualifying-service. (105.)

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