MISS JEAN BATTEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 10

MISS JEAN BATTEN

ARRIVAL IN CITY

PEOPLE UNAWARE

MANY ENGAGEMENTS

There was no demonstration when . Miss Jeian Batten arrived in Wellington this morning in continuation of her tour of New Zealand. In fact, only eight people, including a "Post" reporter and a photographer, saw her actual arrival. ■ The explanation is simple. Miss Batten arrived unbeIsnown to the citizens of Wellington. She left, the Limited express, which she joined at Hamilton, at Paekakarifci .shortly, before 8.30 a.m., and motored to Wellington, arriving at tile Hotel St. George at about 9.30 ' aim. The majority of the few people who saw her arrival were there* by chance more than by design. During her journey through the streets of .Wellington, Miss Batten was partly concealed behind a hat box, and consequently she would not be recognised, by passers-by. Those waiting at her .hotel were favoured with a smile as she stepped out of the car. Miss" Batten has a. number of business lengagements to fulfil in Wellington, and it was stated that in order to enable. her to attend to these matters a public arrival was avoided. Miss' Batten made her first public appearance in Wellington .at the Plaza Theatre, this morning, when a large audience, consisting chiefly of the pupils of the Wellington Girls' College and the staff, acclaimed her. When 'the young flyer appeared on the stage she was greeted with rounds of applause, and this was repeated many times during the course of her talk- on the flight. Aerial views of the route shd took on the .flight to Australia were shovyn, and Miss Batten1 made some interesting comment concerning, them. , At the conclusion of her talk one of the school girls presented , Miss Batten with a bouquet, and a call ,for cheers was warmly responded to. With a characteristic wave of her .hand...the flyer left the When Miss Batten left the theatre she was greeted with further cheers by a'cr'owd "of • several hundreds gathered outside. ' One admirer called out: "The one and only flying queen.'' Miss Batten quickly entered her car and'was driven off. - •

Miss Batten will; make further appearances at Wellington theatres, and a civic reception will be tendered her in' the Town Hall at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.: ;' ; . ' . '! - .\ ' Miss Batten had an interview this morning with the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage).