Originally they accepted testimony regarding the new moon all day. Once the witnesses were delayed in arriving, and the Leviim blundered in the [daily] hymn. So they ordained that they accept [new moon testimony] only until the minchah; and that if witnesses come from the minchah onward, that day should be kept holy and the next day [should be kept] holy.  After the Temple was destroyed, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai instituted that they accept new moon testimony all day.  R’ Yehoshua ben Karchah said: This too did Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai institute: that even if the head of the beis din should be in another place, the witnesses should go only to the place of the assembly.

[This is] the order of the blessings: He recites [the blessing called] Patriarchs; [the blessing called] Powers; [the blessing called] Holiness of the Name, and includes [the] Kingship [verses] with them, but [the person designated to blow] does not blow [the shofar]; [he recites the blessing of the] Holiness of the Day, and blows; Remembrances, and blows; Shofaros, and blows. Then he recites [the blessing of] the Sacrificial Service, [the blessing of] Thanksgiving, and the Blessing of the Kohanim. [These are] the words of R’ Yochanan ben Nuri.  Said R’ Akiva to him: If he does not blow the shofar at [the blessing of] Kingship, why does he mention [it]? Rather, he recites [the blessings of] Patriarchs; Powers; and the Holiness of the Name; and [then] he includes Kingship with [the blessing of] the Holiness of the Day, and blows; Remembrances and blows; Shofaros and blows. Then he recites [the blessing of] the Sacrificial Service, [the blessing of] Thanksgiving, and the Blessing of the Kohanim.