MARINE EXAMINATIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 35

MARINE EXAMINATIONS.

Important regulations have just been made by the Minister of Marine with reference to tiie examination of masters and mates.

After January Ist, 1898, a number of changes take place in tho nature and scope of tho examinations. Generally speaking, the new regulations raise the standard to a much higher point for all the grades. For example, in the examination for the masters' (ordinary) certificate, candidates are required to find latitude by Pole star- and also by the moon, while first mates have to judge the time a star will bo on observer's meridian for the purpose of finding the latitude, to determine what bright stars are in the best position for talcing azimuths at certain hours, and other observations. They require to find the latitude and longitude by stars, to calculate freight and its commission, and to calculate the capacity of a given bunker or hold. For the second mates' examination three or four problems havo been added, and candidates have to draw diagrams to illustrate tho astronomical definitions, which have been considerably extended. The whole of the sextant examination is now i?i'i'« voce. Candidates in every case have to prove their knowledge of the construction and principle of the barometer, thermometer and hydrometer. All grades havo to pass an examination in dictation and spelling.

Candidates for an extra master's certificate, or for an extra master's certificate for steamships, will not lie allowed to present themselves for examination more than three times within a period of twelve months. If tho candidate does not obtain 85 per cent, of the total number of marks allotted for papers, he will be declared to have failed. The viva voce part of the examination for the extra certificates will be conducted on the same principle as at present. It is also laid down that candidates for the voluntary examination in steam will bo required to show a practical knowledge of electricity as applied on board ship. The examination in navigation for certificates of competency as masters of pleasure yachts will be tho same as that prescribed for an ordinary master's certificate, except that in the civil duties of a shipmaster, the master of the yacht will be expected to possess only a knowledge of what he is required to do by the Shipping and Seamen's Acts, while tho examination in seamanship will remain as laid down in the examination regulations of 1894.

Copies of regulations will bo obtainable at Customhouses as soon as they have been gazetted.