FEW CHILDREN IN NAPIER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 February 1931, Page 4

FEW CHILDREN IN NAPIER

DECIMATED SCHOOLS .ANOTHER ASSEMBLY NEXT HONDA Y NAPIER, 17th February. An illustration of the evacuation which has taken place since Napier was laid in ruins is the almost entire absence of children from the city. Although the* total roll of children attending the Napier primary schools on Monday, 2nd

February, the day preceding the earth quake, was over 22C0, a mere handful of pupils, actually 24 in number, answer ed the call to attend the Te Awa School yesterday. Four pupils from the Hastings street school, which has a normal roll of about 480, were present, and there was approximately the same number from each of the other principal schools. At tlm Central School the normal attendance is 600, at Te Awa 250, at Port Ahuriri 210, and at Nelson Park 650. Besides these public primary schools, there are some hundreds of pupils attending private schools, including the Marist Brothers 120, St. Patrick’s 50, St. Josephs 30. and St. Mary’s 60. It is proposed to call another as-

sembly of all school children in Napier for the Te Awa School next Monday.; Meanwhile, arrangements for. the reopening of the schools are being made by the Director of Education. Mr T. B. Strong, and the department’s architect, Mr R. Savage, who have arrived in tFe district.