Oct. 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2495

obedience. It must not be inflicted for failure or inability to learn
or for trivial breaches of school discipline.

5. The teacher of a school may, with the approval of the
   Minister, forbid the attendance of a child on the following grounds,
   viz.: (1) Want of cleanliness; (2) conduct such as is liable to
   injuriously affect the tone of the school and set a bad example to
   the other scholars; or (3) danger of communicating a contagious
   disease. In the last case and in serious cases under (1) and (2) he
   shall act promptly upon his own judgment, but shall report the
   matter forthwith to the Department.

IX. SCHOOL AGE.

1. “School age” means any age between the years of five and
   fifteen, reckoned in each case from the last preceding birthday.

2. Subject to the discretion of the Inspector, a child that is
   below school age or a child that is above school age may be allowed
   to attend a school for instruction, but in no case shall the name
   of any child that is below the age of five years be entered
   on the school register, nor shall his attendances be taken into
   account.

X. HOLIDAYS.

The following holidays shall be observed in all Native schools:—
(1.) All Saturdays and Sundays; Good Friday and Easter Mon-
day; Empire Day; Prince of Wales’s Birthday; King’s Birthday;
Agricultural Show Day, when the show is held within such dis-
tance of the school as to render only one day’s holiday necessary;
anniversary of the province in which the school is situated; half-
day on the day of the general election, unless the distance of the
polling-booth from the school is so great as to make a full day
necessary; Arbor Day.

On the afternoon of the school day preceding the loyal holidays
—viz., Empire Day, Prince of Wales’s Birthday, King’s Birthday,
anniversary of province—teachers are expected to address the
children on some appropriate topic connected with the occasion for
which the holiday is given.

On Arbor Day, when this day is made a special occasion for
planting trees, shrubs, &c., the usual lessons need not be given.
At the conclusion of such work the children are to be given a
holiday for the remainder of the day. Should the work referred to
not be done, the usual lessons will be required and no holiday will
be taken.

(2.) First-term holidays: One week, beginning third Monday in
May.

Second-term holidays: One week, beginning first Monday in
September.

Midsummer holidays: Six weeks, beginning not earlier than
the third Monday and not later than the fourth Monday in
December.

(3.) Should circumstances render it necessary, teachers may be
requested to postpone any holiday.

(4.) In connection with the midsummer holidays, to prevent loss
of time, permission will be given to teachers to close school on such
dates as will be most convenient for their departure by steamer.
Due notice must, however, be given to the Department, and in no
case must the holidays exceed six weeks.

XI. SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

1. For every Native school there shall be a Committee consisting
   of five persons; provided that in a school at which there are
   European children attending, if the elected members are all Maoris,
   the Minister may appoint one European member in addition for
   every ten or part of ten European children attending.

2. The Committee shall be elected annually at a public meeting
   of parents and guardians of the children attending the school. Such
   public meeting shall be held in the schoolhouse on Friday in the
   first school week of each year, or on such other date as the Minister
   may direct. The time and place for holding such meeting shall be
   notified by the teacher in accordance with instructions issued by the
   Department.

3. At each annual meeting a Chairman shall be chosen.

4. Any of the parents or guardians, whether present at the meet-
   ing or not, may be nominated for election, provided that in the case
   of a candidate not present at the meeting his consent to the nomina-
   tion must be given in writing to the Chairman.