Higgins went on to score again, and fellow striker Angus Milne also scored twice, in a pleasing return to form that had Northern coach Murray Devereux beaming with delight.
''For a change we put our chances away as we dominated the first half, and might have scored more,'' Devereux said.
''Big Gus in attack got much more support with the new team shape, and Cam Higgins repeatedly made runs up the left that delivered great crosses as well as his two goals.
''We had a sound platform at the back.
''Both centrebacks, Mike Scott and Norbert Dreyer, were steady and in his last game for the club, Robby Swanson was superb at left back.
''It was a good strong midfield performance from Craig Wilkinson and Emmet MacLauren, and our keeper, Blair Brown, capably handled what went his way.''
In a disappointing performance, Green Island started slowly and struggled to match Northern's energy and penetration.
A scintillating hat trick by Peter Rae guided Varsity to a 3-0 win over Northern Hearts, which has won the Timaru competition six years in a row.
Initially, Hearts was competitive, shrugging off a soft eighth-minute goal that must have damaged morale. Long-serving player-coach Matt Chambers felt his side competed well, with Rowan Hewson's pace always a danger.
''We had two very good chances in the first half which Rowan would normally have buried,'' he said.
He also praised the defensive qualities of Maarten Dirkzwagger and Peter Greenwood.
At Bayfield, Roy of the Rovers did not turn up for Melchester Sharks and the 29-place gap in league placings was evident as Roslyn-Wakari hammered in 13 unanswered goals.
Roslyn coach Colin Thom still praised Melchester's spirit and the club's pluck in entering the cup.
Another barrage of goals was fired as Queens Park beat fellow Invercargill side Southend United 7-1, with Matthew Burgess (brother of Otago striker Aaron Burgess) slamming in four goals.
Big centreback Joh Mpondo was the toast of Grants Braes after coach Alan Laidler's bottom-placed FPL side travelled to Invercargill and beat Waihopai 1-0, thanks to an Mpondo goal.
In what should have been an equal contest, Invercargill's Old Boys used home advantage to beat Mosgiel 2-0.
Chatham Cup
The scores
University 3
Pete Rae 3
Northern Hearts 0
Queens Park 7
Matthew Burgess 4, Morgan McCarrison, Tobi Reid, Stu Kent
Southend United 1
James McPhelin
Northern 4
Cam Higgins 2, Ian McHarrison 2
Green Island 2
Taylor McCormack, Craig Buddle
Roslyn-Wakari 13
Sam Mepham 4, Mike Sannum 2, Geordie Mansford 2, Damo Foster, Fraser Cameron, Curtis Day, Cam Attwood, James Watson
Melchester Sharks 0
Grants Braes 1
Joh Mpondo
Waihopai 0
Old Boys 2
Baraa Toubat, Robbie Goddwillie
Mosgiel 0
