OBITUARY

0 CAPTAIN CYRIL PEPPER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 30 Captain Cyril S. Pepper, M.C., aged 31, died in the Wellington Public Hospital at 6.30 this morning as a result of severe head injuries received when he fell from a fourth storey window of a residence in Salamanca road, (Kelburn, several hours earlier. He was married and had one child. Captain Pepper was a member of the All Black side which visited Britain

CAPTAIN PEPPER in 1935. He went overseas with the 2nd Echelon and served with distinction, gaining the Military Cross for bravery. Through being run over by a truck while in a shallow trench, he was severely hurt, lost an eye, and was invalided back to New Zealand in June. 1940. He became a staff officer at Army Headquarters, occupying the post of General Staff Officer to the 3rd Home Guard. He was also particularly active in training officers and men in bush and mountain warfare. MR CLAUDE HAIGH Mr Claude Herbert Haigh (Huege de Eerville), who died in Christchurch yesterday, aged 68, was for many years associated with theatrical and cinema interests both in New Zealand and in Australia. He came first to New Zealand from Melbourne to manage a theatrical company for Mr John Fuller, of vaudeville fame. Mr Haigh was in charge of Sousa’s Band when* that combination made a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Born at Hokitika, Mr Haigh was associated with orchestras and choirs, both as a performer and as conductor, at an early age in Melbourne, where he lived for some years. He was also known as a singer and as a bass player. On coming to New Zealand he settled first in Dunedin and then in Wei-

MR CLAUDE HAIGH lington before making his home’ in Christchurch, where he was ,assofiij»i,ed with Christchurch Cinemas;;ltWttCas manager of that firm’s thegQjgfcffigd. latterly as advertising and~tmb»wy manager. Seven years ago he* took over the Regent Theatre in Rangiora, and held that interest until his death. Mr Haigh came of an old French family. He preferred to use the English equivalent, Haigh, rather than his family’s name of Huege de Serville. He is survived by his widow, and the following family: Lieutenant Cecil Haigh (who is now serving overseas). Major Carl Haigh. of Melbourne, who recently returned to Victoria, after serving with the Australians in the Middle East: Mr Alfred Haigh, of Rangiora; Mrs Neil McArthur, wife of Colonel McArthur, of Melbourne (who is also serving with the Australians), and Miss Viola Haigh, who has resided in London for many years. MR E. W. RELPH Mr Edward William Relph, a former manager of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., and a former Mayor of Rangiora, died on Friday, aged 85. Born in England, he came to New Zealand in 1879 in the Hurunui. He entered the employ of C. W. Tanner, merchant and shipowner of Christchurch, and subsequently that of Vaughan and Cordner, grain merchants and storekeepers. In 1902 he accepted the management of the North Canterbury Co-operative Stores at Rangiora. When that organisation amalgamated with the New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association in 1908, Mr Relph was appointed general manager, and he held that position until he resigned in 1920. For some years, however, he acted as superintendent. Mr Relph took a keen interest in local body affairs in Rangiora. and was Mayor from 1905 until 1908. MR REGINALD THOMPSON The death occurred on Saturday of Mr Reginald Thompson, a well-known Christchurch sportsman. He was 72 years old. Mr Thompson was well known in musical circles because of his association with the firm of Milner and Thompson, of which his father was the founder. Mr Thompson was a competitor and later an official in cycling in the early days of that sport in Canterbury, and when the motor-cycle and motor-car were introduced he was one of the pioneer drivers in the South Island. At the time of his death he was a life member of the Canterbury Automobile Association. Mr Thompson took a keen interest in the light harness sport and was a steward of the New Brighton Trotting Club.