JEAN BATTEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 8

JEAN BATTEN.

GREAT WELCOME.

AVIATRIX COMES HOME

WHISTLES, FLAGS, FLOWERS,

« GENUINELY THRILLED."

A delightful young woman totally unspoiled by the great fame she has won. That, briefly, is Miss Jean Batten, who returned to Auckland by the liner Aorangi this morning. Her recent solo flight from England to Australia has made her a world figure, but she came back to her home city to-day only as a wonderfully happy young lady who expressed herself as genuinely thrilled at the- warmth of her welcome.

The greeting accorded Miss Batten this morning was comparatively modest, but only because of the early hour at which the Aorangi came up the harbour. Day had hardly broken when the liner appeared round North Head, and a lone 'plane which circled overhead was no'easily distinguishable. Ferries crossing the harbour tooted shrill blasts of welcome, and if Miss Batten noticed the vessels at the silent wharves she saw that they were all gaily dressed with bunting in her honour. As the liner ncared her berth at the Prince's wharf the single aeroplane, which had greeted the Aorangi in Kangltoto Channel was joined by another 'plane, and the two combined to provide a droning welcome from the sky.

On the wharf an enthusiastic crowd waited j impatiently to show Miss Batten just how proud they were of her, and her first appearance, high up on the bridge of the liner, was the signal for a burst of cheering. A band on the wharf struck up a lively tune, and all eyes were focused on the diminutive figure as long as it waved back greetings from the bridge rail. Daughter and Father. The first people up the gangway, when pratique had been granted were Mr. F. H. Batten, of Auckland, father of the young aviatrix, and Mr. F. H. Batten, jun., her brother. They went direct to the boat deck, where jffiss Batten had seen from the shore, but she was not there, and for a few minutes father looked for daughter and brother for sister in vain. She was eventually located in her stateroom, which she had occupied as the guest of the Union Company for her passage across the Tasman, and Mr. Batten, sen., was first through the door.

"Hello, Jean," was the father's greeting,, and Jean replied with a "Hello, Daddy." When invaded in her cabin, Miss Batten, dressed ready to go ashore, in a brown Angora ensemble, with thick black fur collar, was just finishing her breakfast, and it was just as well that she was, for she was given little time for eating afterwards.

"Jean" was obvioueTy delighted to be tack in her. home town. "I got almost the same thrill when I saw the coast of New Zealand as when I saw the coast of Australia, although of course the conditions were vastly different," she said. "I am thrilled to be here, and I want you to tell everybody, so," she told interviewers.

Black Kitten Mascot. As she talked Miss Batten fondled a small black kitten, which appeared in no way perturbed by the crowd which lad invaded its mistress' cabin. The kitten, she said, had been given to her by the inmates of the Prince of Wales Hospital; for T.B: soldiers at Sydney, and she said proudly that it had 18 hours' flying to its credit. "I took it from Sydney to Melbourne with me' by train, and had it with me when I flew from Melbourne to Sydney, and also on my flight, from Sydney to Brisbane. Eighteen houre' flying is. not a bad record for a kitten .that is only five weeks old. It was christened 'Buddy' on the train trip to Melbourne by Mr. B&nkg, the originator of Ginger Meggs." Then came another knocK on the'cabin door, and Miss Batten stopped tellinc of her kitten to receive a welcome from representatives of the National Council of Women. She had, she said, a meseage of greeting from the council in Australia.

"Oh, don't you know?" eaid Mies Batten when she was asked if the name of. her fiance was still a secret. "He is Captain E. F. Walter." He was a member of the London Stock Exchange. They had only been engaged three months, and owing to the uncertainty of her programme she was unable to give even the approximate date of the wedding.

Movie Film Taken. Mies \Batten could. not talk further on the liner. A number of photographers were waiting for her to come on deck, and the crowd on the wharf was impatient to see her land. When ehe went on deck she was officially greeted by a representative deputation from her old school; the Ladies' College. Miss Anita Webster, honorary secretary of the Old Girls' Association, '.placed a garland of violets round her neck, and the Misses Moore-Jones, principals of the college, handed her a bouquet of irises and Iceland poppies, behind which the young aviatrix was almost completely hidden. On her tvay to the after deck, where lier tiny Moth machine was. lashed, Miss Batten , peeped over the ship's rail, and immediately the crowd renewed their cheering. The after deck was reached at last, and the aviatrix placed herself at the disposal of the photographers. Buddy, the kitten, was there, too. A few minutes were occupied while Mis.* Batten posed for a cinematograph operator, and then she shook hands with the captain of the liner and disappeared below. ' .

It was only a few minutes after eight o'clock when Miss Batten went ashore, but by this time the crowd on'the wharf had increased considerably.. Her appearance at the head of the gangway was greeted with enthusiastic cheering, and ■the band struck up "For She's a Jolly Oood Fellow." The warmth of the welcome could not be- misunderstood, and Mies Batten acknowledged it. with smiles. Once on the wharf she devoted, a few minutes to speak with old girls of the Ladies' College who had assembled to greet her officially. Aβ she walked to the beflagged motor car which was to take her to the Grand Hotel she "was showered with bunches of violets thrown by her former school friends, the music changed- ito. '.'There's No Place - Like Home," arid the cheering of the crowd •was' renewed. Mise Batten- may be engaged to marry Captain Walter', of London, but it Was obvious ffom,the-warmth of her welcome'this morning that during her e'tay in New Zealand she will bo "Everybody's ■Sweetheart; , *"-