E.—l2

34

(5.) Every candidate shall be nominated in writing by one or more parents entitled to vote for his election. Each such parent may nominate any number of candidates not exceeding the number to be elected. (6.) Every nomination-paper shall be in the form or to the effect following : — I, [Name and address], being a parent duly entered on the roll, do hereby nominate [Name and address] as a candidate for election to the Board of Governors of the Palmerston North High School at the election to be held on the day of Dated this day of Candidate's Consent, to be subscribed at Foot of Nomination-paper. I hereby consent to my nomination. [Signature of candidate nominated.] (7.) If the nomination-paper does not bear the written consent of the candidate nominated such consent may be given by him to the Returning Officer before the nominations are closed, and every nomination-paper shall be void in so far as concerns any candidate whose consent is not duly given as aforesaid. (8.) Nominations shall close at noon on the tenth day before the day of the election. (9.) Forthwith after the nominations are closed the Returning Officer shall prepare and post to each elector at his address as appearing on the roll a printed voting-paper containing in alphabetical order of surnames a list of all the duly nominated candidates for whom such parent is entitled to vote ; and such voting-paper shall be in the form or to the effect following : — Voting-paper for use at Election to be held on the day of , 19 , of Governor of the Palmerston North High School. Candidates. [Set out in alphabetical order of surnames the full name of every duly nominated candidate.] Directions. The number of candidates to be elected is [Specify the number]. The voter may draw a line through the name of every candidate for whom he does not intend to vote ; and the number of candidates whose names are left uncancelled must not exceed the total number of candidates for whom the voter is entitled to vote. This voting-paper must be signed by the voter and enclosed in a sealed envelope, and if. posted to the Returning Officer must be posted on or before the day of election, or not later than 5 o'clock in the afternoon of that day. The vote of [Name of voter] is hereby recorded as above, this day of 19 . [Signature of voter.] (10.) The voting-paper if delivered to the Returning Officer must be delivered in a sealed envelope before the day of election, or not later than 5 o'clock of the afternoon of that day, and if posted to him must be posted in a sealed envelope on or before that day. (11.) The poll shall close at 5 o'clock on the afternoon of the day of election ; but all votingpapers shall be included and counted which are received by the Returning Officer in due course of post before the close of the sixth day after the day of the election. (12.) A voting-paper shall be informal in any of the following cases, that is to say, — (a.) If it is not duly signed by the parent; or (b.) If the candidates whose names are left uncancelled exceed in number the total number of candidates for whom the parent is entitled to vote ; or (c.) If, being delivered to the Returning Officer, the sealed envelope containing the voting-paper is not delivered at his office before the close of the poll; or (d.) If, having been forwarded by post, the sealed envelope containing the votingpaper is not received at the office of the Returning Officer before the seventh day after the day of election, or if, from the post-mark on the envelope or otherwise, the Returning Officer is satisfied that it was not posted until after the day of, the election. (13.) On the seventh day after the day of the election the Returning Officer shall open and examine all voting-papers duly delivered to him or received by him through the post as aforesaid, and, after rejecting all informal voting-papers, shall ascertain the candidates (not exceeding the total number to be elected) who have received the greatest number of votes of such parents, and shall declare such candidates to be elected. (14.) If, by reason of an equality of votes given for two or more candidates, the election is not complete, the Returning Officer shall decide by lot, in the presence of the Chairman of the Board, which candidate or candidates shall be elected, and thereby conclude the election. (15.) Forthwith after the completion of the election the Returning Officer shall notify to the Board and to the Minister the names of the persons elected. (16.) If any dispute or question shall arise touching the regularity of any election, such dispute or question shall be determined by a Stipendiary Magistrate in manner provided by " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876," all the provisions of which shall, mutatis mutandis, apply in so far as the same are applicable. 5. The Governors appointed or elected in the year 1904 shall take office immediately on their appointment. 6. One Governor out of each group shall retire on the 31st December in each year, beginning with the year 1904. The Board shall at its first meeting determine by lot the order in which the Governors