NEWS AT HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 7

NEWS AT HOME.

■ '■ KING DELIGHTED. Relief and Pride in England at Miss Johnson's Success. CONGRATULATIONS POUR IN. (United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright) LONDON, May 25. The news of Miss Amy Johnson's safe arrival at Darwin was telephoned to Buckingham Palace and King George was instantly informed. His Majesty cabled to Lord Stonehaven, Governor-General of Australia, saying: — , "The Queen and I are thankful and delighted to know of Miss Johnson's safe arrival at Darwin and heartily congratulate her on her wonderful and courageous achievement." When Miss Johnson's father was informed that his daughter had landed at Darwin he exclaimed:— "Thank God for that. If I bad a hat I would throw it in the air. We coulu not sleep last night so we arose at * a.m. . "Directly the telephone bell rang I felt instinctively that Amy was safe. I confess I had been walking round and round the telephone since dawn. 1 would not spend another night like last ni-dit for a fortune or endure a repetition of the last fortnight. Amy Will bo as delighted as we arc that she arrived in Australia on Empire Day. 5 Mrs. Johnson [ tremblingly awaited news and when the telephone bell rang she exclaimed: "Thank God she is safe. That has been mv sole thought for the last fortnight. Now I feci supreme "Amy is wonderful, but I hope there are no more of her nights to Australia." Britain's Admiration. The Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, cabled Miss Johnson as follows: — "Heartiest congratulations on your wonderful achievement. We have followed your flight with the keenest interest and admiration, and we are very proud of you." Replying to a query from the "Weekly Dispatch" as to whether Miss Johnson will be decorated, Lord Thomson, Secretary of State for Air, said the matter would not be lost sight of, but' ho could not say more. Lord Tbqjmson cabled congratulations to the girl dyer on behalf of the Air Council, adding: "As the first woman pilot to dy to Australia you have achieved an outstanding feat of skill and endurance. AVe have watched with admiration the coolness and courage which carried you through unforeseen difficulties and disappointments." Lord Thomson also telegraphed congratulations to Miss Johnson's parents. Sir Sefton Branckner, Director or Civil Aviation, who successfully urged Sir Charles Wakqficld to assist the. flight, cabled Miss Johnson his congratulations on her splendid achievement in the cause of British aviation. "Amy Johnson" was the toast of the evening at the Air Union's dinner last night. i The British Air League, for •which Miss Johnson at one time was typistc and sub-editor, sent the following messago to her: "We congratulate you on your magnificent flight and hope you may inspire British aviation to rouse itself from its apathy." Lady Bailey says she thinks the flight remarkable, and says: "The more Britain follows her example the better." Mr. W. G. Pen-in, of thq Royal Aero Club, says: "Words cannot express how we admire Miss Johnson's "feat." Tho authorities at. Sheffield University, where Miss Johnson graduated, have cabled their heartiest congratulations on her great achievement. Native City Rejoices. The news of Miss Amy Johnson's arrival at Darwin was received in Britain at 7.35 a.m. on Saturday and created great enthusiasm. Several of the morning papers published special editions. It was a red-letter clay for Miss Johnson's native city, Hull, which was beflagged in her honour. St. Andrew's Dock, where Iter father has business interests, was also bedecked with bunting. The Lord Mayor of Hull, Mr. R. Richardson, cabled' congratulations to Miss Johnson, and added: "your native city is intensely proud of its worthy daughter." Mr. Richardson has opened a, fund to provide the plucky girl with a personal gift. "She swoops to conquer" is the "Star's" poster for. the news of' Miss Johnson's flight. On behalf of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Master of Sempill, Colonel W. F. Forbes-Sempill, cabled congratulations, and Sir Alan Cobham says: "Miss Johnson has boomed British prestige throughout the world. The man in the street will say there must be something in this flying business if a girl, singlehanded, flies in a small aeroplane half across the world."