ORPHAN REFUGEES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1931, Page 6

ORPHAN REFUGEES

NAPIER HOMjE INMATES. HAVEN AT AUCKLAND. NAPIER, December 18. One of the most generous and thoughtful action designed to help people in the earthquake area of Hawkes Bay has been recalled by the return to Napier of 70 little children who were inmates of an orphans’ home at Napier at the time of the earthquake, and who were at once taken charge of by the Auckland Community i Sunshine League and cared lor at Motuihi Island. Eor ten months they have been most kindly and carefully looked after, and now they are home for Christmas. The children arrived smiling and happy, and showed the benefits of the constant care than has been given them. They have been fed, clothed, and educated under the care of the Sunshine League, and their health has been one of the prime considerations of their foster-parents 'in Auckland. A doctor was in constant attendance, and it was an ideal place for them to be in and reco ve r from the nervous shock that they suffered. The Auckland Education Board made full provision for' the education of the little refugees, and appointed two teachers to take care of them. The results have been most pleasing, and the inspetcor. who examined them commented most favourably on their progress. Three of the girls distinguished themselves by winning prizes in the New Zealand Anglican Missions competitions. The staff of the Hawkes Bay Home stayed on the island witli the children, and the matron, Miss E. Monntford, | was in charge. Some of the children | left here for Motuiln immediately after j the earthquake, and some went later. At one time they number 90, but a few returned to a Napier a little time ago to prepare for the home-coming of the others. The home has now been ! completely restored, and once again ' the ophans are comfortably settled down in it. Though nothing was in any. way stinted, the camp was .so economically run and the public support was so i great, that the Sunshine League lias