OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26746, 2 June 1952, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR G. P. PAYNE

The death occurred in Christchurch yesterday of Mr George Pentecost Payne, at the age of 85 years, after a long illness. From 1920 to 1925 Mr Payne was on the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union when a member of the successful Marist Brothers Old Boys’ Association. Later he represented the North Canterbury Rugby Sub-Union as a delegate to the Canterbury Union. Previously Mr Payne, when resident in Wellington, was a popular member of the Melrose Club. In 1921 Mr Payne presented the Payne trophy for competition between the leading clubs of Otago and Canterbury, the first match being played between Merivale and Otago University in 1923. Mr Payne’s two sons, Messrs Norman and John Payne, played for the Linwood and Christchurch Clubs, and both represented Canterbury. He accompanied the All Blacks to England in 1925, and held the honorary position of official statistician, his records being the most complete kept on any overseas tour. He was also a prominent racehorse owner, his best performer being Tirole, which won the Timaru Cup in 1905 and many other races, and Sea Lion. Mr Payne was well known as licensee of several hotels in Christchurch, including Warner’s, the Clarendon, Tattersall's, and the Empire Hotel. He is survived by his wife, one son, and a daughter.