CENTENARIAN’S BIRTHDAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 2

CENTENARIAN’S BIRTHDAY

MRS S. IRVINE, OF OAMARU MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM QUEEN <New Zealand Press Association) OAMARU, April 16. A congratulatory message from the Queen was perhaps the greatest thrill for Mrs Susannah Irvine (formerly Miss Susannah Amies), of 351 Thames highway, today—but then it is not every day that one of the Queen’s subjects celebrates her hundredth birthday. Telegrams and visitors arrived in force at Mrs Irvine’s home throughout the day. . Another. message which she was especially pleased to receive was from the only other surviving member of the Amies family, who arrived in New Zealand in 1858—her “young brother,” Mr George Amies, of Whangarei, who is almost 90. Telegrams were also received this morning from the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie) and the Prime Minister (Mr Holland). With her parents and five brothers and four sisters, three-year-old Susannah Amies arrived at Dunedin in the ship Mourmahal in 1858. Mrs Irvine’s eyesight and hearing are good, and she can still walk unassisted. Recently, her memory has failed, but all her life Mrs Irvine has enjoyed the best of health. Her husband died 61 years ago. Mrs Irvine had a family of five, two of whom are still, living. She has six grandsons and three great grandchildren.