A HEAVY MAIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 18, 19 October 1936, Page 11

A HEAVY MAIL

TOUR OF THE SOUTH

(By Telegraph—Press Association.J AUCKLAND, October 18. Since her arrival in Auckland on Friday evening after her record flight from England Miss Jean Batten has been, inundated with cablegrams and telegrams of congratulation from all parts of the world and a heavy letter mail from persons in every district of New Zealand. The messages total up- "■_ wards of 1000. f Though she is very weary and show- ' "ing signs of strain, those in touch with her are amazed at her vitality and "capacity to attend to questions that arise dealing with engagements. She is to leave Auckland on Wednes-

day for Hamilton. On Thursday she will leave for Wellington, where it is possible she will spend four days. She will then go on to Christchurch, and possibly spend four days there. After that she will Visit Dunedin.

She will not fly on this tour, either as a pilot or as a passenger. It is necessary for her to conserve her energies, and on that account she has had to postpone many public engagements in Auckland. * »

Today she was entertained at a luncheon by the Postmaster-General and Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), when the guests included the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) and Mrs, Mason, and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and Mrs. Coates. In the evening she was the guest at a dinner party of the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. E. Davis, other guests being the executive of the Auckland Aero Club. Tomorrow a civic reception will be given her at the Town Hall by the Mayor. Mr. F. B. Dwyer, of the Internal Affairs Department, is in Auckland arranging details connected with her visit, but it is likely that any official Government reception will be held in Wellington, it being her desire that nothing of that sort should be done in Auckland.

Except when she arrived and on her theatre appearances, the public have had little opportunity to see her, but whenever she drives to the theatre, which are the only occasions she leaves her hotel, she is greeted in the streets with enthusiasm.

Miss Batten travelled to Auckland with a very light wardrobe, which did not even include an evening dress. A large spray of orchids had been posted from Sydney to Auckland and awaited her on her arrival. Orchids are her favourite flower.