MISS BATTEN RETURNS TO AUCKLAND

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1936, Page 3

MISS BATTEN RETURNS TO AUCKLAND

[Special to “Northern Advocate/”! AUCKLAND, This Day.

After a triumphant tour, of southern centres, Miss Jean Batten returned to Auckland on Saturday, and she. is looking forward to further rest and holiday here. Miss Batten hopes later, in the summer to make an aerial tour of the Dominion in her Percival Gull machine, which is at present at Mangere.

“Within the next fortnight or so I may go to Sydney to meet my mother, who is travelling from England on the steamer Esperance Bay and expects to reach Sydney on December 14, and to travel back with her to New Zealand,” said Miss Batten.

“It is quite possible that I may stay on in New Zealand indefinitely. I have made no plans in regard to a return flight to England.”

Miss Batten, however, is eager to take her machine into the air again. Reassembly work on the wing of the Percival Gull is necessary and this will be done within the next few days, after which She hopes to make a test flight.

Aerial Tour of Dominion.

It is her wish later to make an aerial tour of New Zealand, and in connection with this flight she said she would like to do something to encourage greater enthusiasm in aviation in the Dominion. She hopes, by visiting various clubs and aerodromes, to help to increase airmindedness among the public and especially among the younger people.

Miss Batten said she had visited a number of aerodromes on her recent tour and was amazed with the progressive alterations that had been made since the occasion in 1934 on which she made an aerial tour. She said that the aerodromes compared well with those in other countries.

Miss Batten is looking well, but a further rest has been advised.

Contributions to the Jean Batten testimonial fund opened in Auckland by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, now total £I6OB.