6. The Postmaster-General has delegated the powers contained in section 34 of “The Steam Navigation Act, 1866,” to the Collector of Customs for every port in so far as concerns that port so that in case of any reported damage to any vessel the Collector of Customs may call upon any of the Inspectors or Surveyors appointed under the Act, or “any other fit person,” to report whether

7. Should a vessel be damaged to such an extent that she cannot be repaired in the port where she is or to which she is taken after the accident, the Collector of Customs is authorised to allow her to clear in ballast, and without passengers, for any specified port, for repairs, provided she be reported sufficiently seaworthy, in the absence of an official Inspector, by Lloyds’ Surveyor, or by the Surveyor acting for the Underwriters, or in default of them, by two respectable shipmasters, after a proper examination.

8. Should the damaged vessel be capable of being repaired at the port where she is, and should the repairs be speedily executed, the Collector of Customs, in the absence of an official Inspector, is authorized to allow her to run as before on a receipt of a declaration under the hand of the master, the chief engineer, and the engineer, if any, by whom the repairs have been made, that the damage has been thoroughly repaired, and that the steamer is in all respects, in a seaworthy condition in accordance with the Act; and (if she be a sea-going vessel) that her compasses have been examined and that their deviations are known.

9. Should the repairs be more extensive it is probable that the port will be visited by an official Inspector (if none be resident) before their completion; but should it seem probable that this will not be the case in any special instance, the circumstances are to be reported by the master to the Marine Engineer, by whom some special arrangement will be made.

10. Any person wishing a license to examine and adjust compasses must forward an application for the same together with the description of the method adopted by him, and copies of any testimonials he may possess, to the Marine Engineer, who will as delegate for the Postmaster-General, issue a license to the applicant, provided he be satisfied after personal examination should he see fit, that the candidate fully understands and is competent to undertake the operation. But should there be no proper mooring dolphin and other conveniences for swinging vessels in any port, the Marine Engineer may refuse to issue any license for that port till such be provided.

11. At ports where there is no person licensed to swing vessels for compass correction, and no proper conveniences, the vessel may be allowed to proceed to sea after repairs, provided the master of the vessel have swung her himself under the superintendence of the Harbor Master, who shall certify to the fact; but in that case she will require to be re-swung at first port she arrives at where there are proper conveniences.

12. Masters and engineers of steam vessels shall, as a rule, be examined by a regularly gazetted officer of the Marine Department only, who shall hold an appointment as examiner from the Marine Engineer. But the Marine Engineer may, in certain cases, authorise in writing the calling in of any local nautical officer for the purpose of examining masters of steamers which ply only or mainly on local waters.

13. No steamer can ply in New Zealand unless the master and engineer hold New Zealand certificates of competency; but should they already hold Board of Trade certificates, or satisfactory certificates from other Colonies, New Zealand certificates may be issued to them without further examination; but such officers will require to produce satisfactory proofs of sobriety and good conduct, and to pay the usual fee.

14. According to the Act Masters’ and Engineers’ certificates are only valid for the vessel for which they are issued, but the fact of their holding old certificates may be taken as presumptive evidence that they are competent to serve in other vessels until an opportunity has occurred for re-examining them (should that be considered necessary); but any master or engineer of good character who has been removed from one vessel to another of a similar class and engaged in a similar trade, will receive a fresh certificate from the Marine Department without charge. Where, however, any master or engineer has been promoted to the charge of a vessel or engines of a different class, or engaged in a different trade, and the difference is of such nature that it is deemed advisable to re-examine the said master or engineer, he will in that case be called upon to pay for his new certificate.

15. “River,” and “Sea-going Passenger Certificates,” will be issued by the Marine Department, as formerly by the Marine Board, on receipt of the legal declarations.

16. In case of accidents involving the suspension of a certificate or an intermediate survey the period of currency of the certificate will not be changed, and such intermediate survey will not be charged against the steamer, no steamer being liable to be charged for more than two surveys per annum, if she be a low pressure boat, as defined by the Act, or for more than four surveys per annum if she be a high pressure boat, except when she has been wrecked, abandoned, and sold before repair, in which case she will be treated after repair as a new boat.

THE following Regulations as to the examinations of Masters and Engineers of Steam Vessels plying in New Zealand waters, are printed for general information, and for the guidance of the several examining officers appointed under the provisions of “The Steam Navigation Act, 1866.”

JAMES M. BALFOUR,
Colonial Marine Engineer.
Wellington, 15th April, 1867.

A.—General Rules.

1. Masters and chief engineers of all steam vessels must have been examined and must have received a certificate of competency from the Marine Engineer, as delegate for the Postmaster General (clause six of “The Steam Navigation Act, 1866”) otherwise no such steam vessel will be allowed to ply.

2. A fee of one pound one shilling is payable for such certificate of competency by the person to whom it is issued on receipt of the same.

3. Masters or engineers who already possess British Board of Trade certificates or satisfactory certificates from other colonies, may be granted New Zealand certificates without further examination; but such officers will require to produce satisfactory proofs of sobriety and good conduct and to pay the usual fee.

4. No Certificate of competency shall be valid except for so long as the master or engineer to whom it has been issued continues in the same steam vessel.

5. Should however any master or engineer of good character be removed from one steam vessel to another of a similar class and engaged in a similar trade, he will receive a fresh certificate from the Marine Department without being re-examined and free of charge.

6. When however any master or engineer has been promoted to the charge of a vessel or engines of a different class, or engaged in a different trade, and the difference is of such a nature that it is deemed advisable to re-examine the said master or engineer, he will in that case be called upon to pay the statutory fee.

7. Testimonials of character, sobriety, experience, ability, and good conduct on board ship will be required of all applicants, and without them no candidate will be examined.

B.—Qualifications for Masters’ Certificates.

8. The master of a river steamer must be twenty years of age, and have been not less than two years on board a similar or sea-going steamer. He must write a legible hand, and understand the first four rules