FATAL INJURIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 4

FATAL INJURIES

FOOTBALLER’S DEATH

STORY OF A SCUFFLE

POVERTY BAY SYMPATHY

After lying unconscious for 18 hours, following upon a fall in which lie sutfeved serious head injuries, Benue Rogers, aged. 24. Maori All Black footballer and a Poverty Bay representative player, died yesterday afternoon in Palmerston North Hospital, the services of specialists having been called in without avail. The death of Mr Rogers lias spread grief among the Maoris of the Poverty Bay. least Coast, and Rotorua districts in particular, but will have a saddening effect upon football enthusiasts throughout Now Zealand', pakeha and Maori alike. The Press Association telegram, received overnight, telling of the death ol the player, indicated that lfts injuries followed on a scuffle with Ilawea Mata ira. of Wairoa, another member of the Maori All Black team, for possession of a souvenir jersev claimed by both men. The jersey, was one ol those worn ky (he, Australian team in the match played in Palmerston North on Wednesday, an,l several members ol the Maori team had secured the coveted souvenirs from ibe tourists, in accordance with the usual custom in international games. Arrangements for the burial of Mr. Rogers are proceeding in Rotorua, where his parents reside. Mrs. Rogers, his young wile, was sent to Rotorua yesterday morning, after receipt of news from Palmerston North which held 1 out little hope for the injured mail’s recove.rv. The more hopeful message received (hiring the afternoon, which seemed to indicate a faint chance of Mr. Rogers’ survival, was not supported by subsequent events. RUG BY UNION SYMPATH V Deep sympathy with the widow and other relatives of the deceased! was expressed to-day by Mr. G. H. Scents, on behalf of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, the chairman of that body recalling that Mr. Rogers had been a valued and popular member of the district team during the past two 'seasons, and that he had seemed to have a long and fruitful connection with the game before him. Ills untimely end would be regretted by all who were acquainted with Mr. Rogers, and much sympathy would be extended to Maori Rugby football enthusiasts. Mr. Scents mentioned that his union was arranging to send a representative to attend the funeral. The Y.M.P. Football CLuib, of which Mr. Rogers was an outstanding member, will send a delegation to Rotorua for the funeral, and a large number of other natives from Poverty Bay will make the journey out of respect to the deceased and to his relatives. The East Coast Rugby Union and the Tairawhiti Maori district organisation will he strongly represented. The lute Mr. Rogers is a descendant, on his mother's side, of an English peer, Earl Gossett of Jersey, -who came to New Zealand in the early days, and, who died at Rotorua, leaving a Maori wile and family. Earl Gossett was the greatgrandfather of Mr. Rogers, whose family has interests in property located chiefly in Middlesex. England'. Through his father and mother, the late Mr. Rogers inherited the blood of Ngatiporou, Arawn, and Ngapulii families oi note.