Oldest Graduate 100 Yesterday

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31761, 19 August 1968, Page 2

Oldest Graduate 100 Yesterday

The oldest living graduate of the University of Canterbury and the oldest former pupil of Christchurch Girls’ High School, Mrs Lillian Blyth, was 100 yesterday.

A contemporary of such eminent students as Lord Rutherford, Sir Apirana Ngata and Mr O. T. J. Alpers, she graduated with an MA. in English in 1889. Yesterday Mrs Blyth was overwhelmed with flowers, birthday cakes, gifts and telegrams of congratulation. She received messages from the Queen, the Governor-General (Sir Arthur Porritt ), the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk), the Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning), and many others. About 30 relatives from as

far afield as the Bay of Islands and Gore attended an afternoon party yesterday to honour Mrs Blyth. It was held at the home of her niece. Dr Mary Harding, Clare Road. “It was the biggest family gathering we have ever held and Mrs Blyth was thrilled to see so many relatives again and to be the centre of so much affection,” Dr Harding said last evening Acute Memory

Mrs Blyth, who has a remarkable constitution for her age and a very acute memory, attends the 8 a.m. service at St Nicholas Church, Barrington Street, every Sunday. She is the best correspondent in her family. Her letters to relatives in England, Australia and throughout New Zealand keep her kinsfolk in touch with one another and well informed on what each is doing. Her hobbies are knitting and crossword puzzles, including the one published in “The Press” every day. She now lives with a nephew, the Rev. W. D. Harding, and Mrs Harding. As Lillian Williams, Mrs Blyth came to New Zealand with her parents when she was 11. They landed at Lyttelton In the Lady Jocelyn after a 100-day voyage from England. At Christchurch Girls' High School, one of her teachers was Helen Connon, whose name is perpetuated in the university residential hall for women. Won Scholarship From this school Mrs Blyth won a Junior University Scholarship. When she enrolled at Canterbury University College it was only 13 years old and had ohe block completed—the building at the present entrance in Worcester Street. The few women students then taking lectures sat in the front row of the class, with the men behind. This tradition was rigidly observed, even in a class which had only two sudents—Mrs Blyth and a young man.

During her years at the university, her fellow-students included Lord Rutherford, Sir Apirana Ngata and Mr Justice Alpers. Miss M. Lorimer, later head-

mistress at Nelson College for Girls and the Misses Gibson, who established RangiRuru School, were also her contemporaries Mrs Blyth taught at Rangiora High School and at Melanesian mission stations before her marriage in 1900 to the late Mr James Blyth.

Two years ago, Mrs Blyth remarked after a tour of inspection of the University of Canterbury at Ham: “They are wondeful buildings, but I much prefer the charm and dignity of the old Gothic buildings. Still, I suppose it it what is inside a university that counts.”