ORPHANS FROM NAPIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 14

ORPHANS FROM NAPIER.

ABRIVAL IN AUCKLAND.

WARM WELCOME GIVEN.

CAMP ON MOTUIHI ISLAND. TWO PARTIES AT WEEK-END. The first quota of children evacuated from the earthquake territory, a contingent of 73, reached Auckland on Saturday morning by the early express from tho South. Another party of 30 arrived yesterday morning. Representing the entire Hawko's Bay. Children's Home, an undenominational orphanage and welfare institution, which was situated in Napier, tho arrivals on Saturday comprised 32 boys and 41 girls, whose ages ranged from 3£ to 18 years, tho averagg being about 10. They were in the care of the matron, Miss C. B. Mountfort, and her staff. On arrival in Auckland the party was welcomed by a number of citizens, among whom was the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, and received into tho charge of the Community Sunshine Association. After breakfast, arranged by tho Northern Roller Milling Company, tho refugees were taken to Motuihi Island, where they are to be given a home, perhaps for some weeks, in the Sunshine Association's camp established in the permanent buildings which form the Health Department's quarantine station.

By singular good fortune not one of the little inmates of the orphanage suffered injury when Napier crashed about them. Their escape is attributable principally to the fact that they were attending the Slate schools at the timo and when the earthquake came were at morning play. Among the children were four of one family whose mother perished in the collapse of the hospital buildings. Smiles Replace Former Sadness. Two coaches packed with little people, round-eyed and solemn, were watched by Auckland sympathisers as they drew into the railway station on Saturday morning. As the train steamed in tho uniforms which the little girls were wearing gave indication as to which carriages the waiting citizens were to meet. Mr. Baildon was one of the first to step forward and with a wave and a smile welcomed the children to their refuge. Other prominent people lent aid in the disembarkation, and in a moment the grave young faces were smiling happily.

Among the other passengers were groups of refugees, some of whom were weeping softly, yet trying to hide their suffering. One mother had two sons'with her, both of whom wore head bandages, one as a result of the. earthquake, and the other following upon collision with a motor-cycle on the evening before the disaster.

Sugar-bags, pillow cases and knotted blankets bore all the property which now remained to them.

When the express arrived—an hour behind time —members of the Citizens' Hospitality Committee and others assisting them guaranteed the wellbeing of the newcomers. Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Transport Board, was there and conducted the paxty for Motuihi to a special tramcar which conveyed the youthful refugees to Quay Street. There they were accommodated hour in the Northern Roller Milling Company's offices and provided with breakfast through the courtesy of the manager, Mr. W. S. Pratt. Cheery Despatch to the Island. As the hire launch, which transported the children to their new island home withdrew from the Admiralty launch landing, the children raised a happy cheer of gratitude for "the good t Auckland people." The salutation was heartily .replied to by the watchers on shore. The appeal of children in distress found illustration when waterfront workers, harbour officials and onlookers waved encouragingly, while the little ones responded in similar fashion. English seamen on board ocean-going ships also paused a moment to flourish their caps as the launch made her passage down the harbour. It was a tribute which the young minds were not slow to understand.

At Motuihi Dr. James Walls, and Sister M. G. Atkinson, of, the Health Department, will be responsible for the general health of the children. Members of the Sunshine Association are to take turns, several days on and a period off duty, in maintaining the camp.

SOLITARY WAIF.

LITTLE BOY'S ADVENTURE.

LOCATED BY RELATIVES.

Aii interesting juvenile refugee from Napier, Roy Cornish, nine years old, arrived in Auckland by express train on Saturday, l.e had found his way alone from Napier to Palmerston North, and there had been placed in the train. As there was nobody to meet the boy iri Auckland, the mode' of providing for him was rather a problem to the railway officials. It was.solved by the custodian of the ladies' waiting-room faking charge of hihi, and temporarily providing for him at her home.

The lad's mother is ori a holiday trip; at Rawene, and thanks to the publicity given to his case an elder brother, who is in employment in Auckland, located him in :lie evening. It has been arranged that the boy shall start by today's Northbound express for Rawene, where a. welcome awaits him at the hoifie of his grandparents.

LOST CHILD CLAIMED.

DISCOVERED AT WANGANUI NAMES SEEN IN NEWSPAPER. Lost in the earthquake, a five-year-old child was claimed last Friday by its father at the Wanganui Hospital. Both were from Napier. <■ The story goes that the child was in the Napier Hospital. At the time of the disaster it was attending a school class there. The schoolteacher left by means o? the window. The child followed and was found later with an injured leg. IFe was taken to Wanganui on the first hospital train. On Friday morning the father, who was in Palmerston North, saw the child's two first names in a newspaper, stating that a person of that name was in the Wanganui Hospital. He went to Wanganui post haste and found that the child, whose name was given as Nelson Luke, was Nelson Luke Nattrass, his son.