JEAN BATTEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 149, 26 June 1934, Page 12

JEAN BATTEN

A PERSONAL IMPRESSION.

"I can work that thing," said Jean Batten, getting into the lift with a '".Star , representative interviewing her yesterday ■afternoon. And but for the intervention of the porter she would have been as good as her word, for the clever hands of the little aviatrix wero already on the controlling lever. Miss Batten's private .silting room was abla/.e with flowers—bouquets of violets, paiwies, orchids and poppies— and piles of congratulatory letters and telegrams littered the chairs. A saucer of milk, rich in cream, suggested the presence of ''Buddy, ,, the kitten mascot, and a search revealed him among the cushions. "J Ec; is a savage little creature," Jean said, showing her scratched and bitten hands. "But he likes flying. He has been across Australia with mo, and he never gets sick. Which reminds me," she began, and walked over to the 'phono. "Will you please send me. up some raw meat, cut very small?" she called downstairs. "Wα has a savage appetite, ,, she said, and smiled. A slim, well-poised body, wide cybs. 11 nd dark wavy hail , } a clear skin and a firm hand clasp—these are the outstand-

ing qualities of the girl whose courage and daring have made her name a household word in Australia and New Zealand. "What has struck 1110 more than anything else nbout Australia and Now Zealand is the tremendous sincerity I have met with," Jean said, cuddling the small black "Buddy," upside down on her lap. "The welcomes I have received everywhere have given me real joy, because I know they have been heartfelt. 'When I arrived in Auckland this morning my old school mates were there to meet me, and it gave me a real thrill to see them again. And everyone, has been very charming to me." Nursing the cat, and reading messages of friendly greeting from all over the country, Miss Batten looked a very small, almost child-like person, sitting in the big chair with her flowers all around her. At the Civic Reception. "It's just like when the Duchess was here." This remark was made by .1 woman in tones of excitement outside the Town Hall yesterday, when she and hundreds of others who had not been able to get inside had waited at the doors for a glimpse of the heroine of the hour, Jean Batten, when she was tendered a civic reception.

For more than all hour the crowd waited, and even the sudden misty rain did not take them away. Men and women alike were determined to see the girl flyer, and what, as they asked each other, was a little bit of rain?

While they stood they talked of the avatrix's achievement, and everyone was intent upon expressing admiration for her. When the flight had been fully discussed, they talked of Jean, the girl. Was she dark or was she fair? "It must be a great strain for the girl," said a motherly one.

The crowds waited patiently, though there was a general exclamation of disappointment from those who had secured good positions around the flagdecked car, when it was moved to another door where the crowd was loss intense. In a mass they followed, , however, and cheers rang out when the slender girl in a dark brown coat, with I deep fur collar and close-fitting brown hat, appeared. She waved the bouquet she was carrying as she got into the car, and, still standing , and giving friendly waves of the hand, she picked flowers from her posy and threw thorn to those clustered iiround the oar. Her dark eyes were smiling and friendly as they moved quickly over the hosts of admirers. Pulling off her hat in an intriguing way, Mixs Batten unwittingly answered the question of her colouring— a brunette with masses of dark brown hair.

"She's just a elip of a girl," said one man, "and she's got grit, too." The charm of manner of the young flyer and her graceful poise were the admiration of all who saw her, and many of the remarks embodied the fact that she appeared so unspoilt after a series of events which niight be likely to turn the head of any young girl. New Zealand's girl flyer was a great Huecesri on her return to her country; the vote of the people was one of pride and delight in her undertaking.