RETURN IN TRIUMPH

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 10

RETURN IN TRIUMPH

JEAN BATTEN AREIVES

AUtKLAND'S WELCOME

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

• . ' ; y AUCKLAND, This Day. , Miss Joan Batten made a triumphal return to her homeland today. The liner Aorangi,.by which she camej arrived soon after,daylight, .but it was met out in: the Ha'uraki Gulf by a Xvelcoming. aeroplane, which was presently joined, by another. Owing to tha earliness of the ship's arrival and the- mistiness' of the morning,' there was not a large crowd on the; wharf when tho, ship berthed, but there were plenty of .signs; of a desire to. honour Miss Batten in recognition of h6r great flight from England to Australia. - All the ships in port were "dressed" for the occasion, the ferries; hooted-a welcome,: and on the- wharf a! band played and a group of women, former pupils of the Heinuera Ladies' College, cheered \lustily. ; , '. l. The first people to -greet Miss Batten •were her father, Mr. OF. H. Batten, and her brother. They were closely followed by Mr. D.- Ardell, ' representing the Government, and by .a group of Miss Batten's former schoolmates, who: decorated- herewith; a.garland of violets' and greeted her enth'usiastically. Then for over half an hour she 'placed herself at the : disposal' of .Press and' .cinema photographers. -'■•'■■ : :'■.'■.'-.■■■ . Obviously delighted by her. reception,' 'but calm, unaffected; and gracious, she won everyone 'sadmiration; In between continual calls/f orher attention she remarked that she had- experienced as great a .thrill on seeing, the coast-of New Zealand as on sighting the coast of Australia, although the circumstances; were vastly, different. She spoke enthusiastically: of her welcomes in Australia;, and of."Lord Wakefield's help.;. ,'-'■■- '.-■ . .' ; .•.''■;'■■■-'■ :■'':•' ■-'..>.■'-:■.'■;

Later Miss Batten was driven to her hotel in a motor-car which* flew the New Zealand Ensign,, and in which sho sat almost hidden *by bouquets. The aeroplane in which Miss Batten flew to Australia also arrived by-the Aorangi, and the aviatrix brought with her a kitten mascot which was given to her by "ex-soldiers in hospital 'at Sydney ana which ihas already ■ done eighteen hours' flying. .' Amongst those who- welcomed Miss Batten o"n the ship were ' representatives of the National Council "of Women. • , , PROGRAMME UNCERTAIN. * Miss Batten told interviewers- that she had only been engaged for three months to Captain E. E. Walter, a London stockbroker, and that owing to the uncertainty of her programme she was unable to give even an approximate date of the wedding She remarked that none of the male members of her family had regarded her Hying very kindly, being anxious for her safety. Her mother, who would arrive in New Zealand next month, had been her inspiration. Her mother was her first passenger when she qualified at Mangere. She recounted incidents of her three flights, remarking that after she returned to London from Rome she had lost some of her enthusiasm but none! of , her determination.

I want to say how glad I am to be back in my home town- and to have achieved my ambition," said Miss Batten. "From the beginning my hope was to bring my aeroplane from England to New Zealand, and now I am here." . As the range of the machine is only 800 miles, I was unable to complete the last lap by^air, but I have brought my aeroplane with-me.- Now that I have reached my 'journey's end I am more than'pleased." Miss .Batten. will leave by train tomorrow for Wellington, where she, will be the guest of the Governor-General and Lady, Bledisloe ■f o^ several days. Later, she will return to Auckland, for several weeks. She expects to remain in New Zealand for some months. She denied a report that.she might take part in the Melbourne Air Race, saying that her machine .was not sec-ond-hand but fifth-hand', and quite unsuitable. « Sho' hdped to be in-Mel-bourne to see the finish of the race.

ENTHUSIASM AT EXCEPTION. . The greatest crowd that has been seen at the Auckland Town Hal] for many years assembled to do honour to Miss Batten. Hundreds of people were turned away, and, the street around the main doors was so crowded" that traffic was almost blocked. The speakers included, Mr. C. T.'P. Ulm, who paid a high" tribute to Miss Batteu 's skill as a pilot. \ Miss Batten replied with characteristic coolness and lucidity.'