FUNERAL TO-DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19131, 28 September 1936, Page 4

FUNERAL TO-DAY

FOOTBALLER'S DEATH

CEREMONY IN ROTORUA

CHAIN OF FATALITIES

(Special to the Herald.)

ROTORUA, this day

The funeral of Bernard Rogers, the Maori All Black footballer who died on Thursday in Palmerston North in tragic circumstances, will be held this afternoon at Kuawae cemetery, Rotorua. The burial was to have taken place yesterday, but a postponement was occasioned by one of a curious chain of circumstances to which native residents of the district attach much importance. The Herald's special representative was informed yesterday that a week prior to the date of the match in Palmerston North, following which occurred the injuries which caused Bernard Rogers' death, the family of the Maori All Black was saddened by the death of one of its connections in the Rotorua district.

On the day of the match itself it was discovered that the grave of Bernard Rogers' grandfather, who was buried some time ago, had subsided and that the stone erected in his memory had tilted badly. Naturally, in the light of after events, this happening is given some significance by many Maoris of the district. On Saturday; moreover, a niece of the footballer living in Whakatane also died, further strengthening the conviction held by many members and friends of the family that an extraordinary fatality was oppressing the Rogers. Many Bay of Plenty mourners who had arranged to attend the burial of Bernard Rogers delayed their arrival in Rotorua until last evening or this morning, in order to tender their condolences to his stricken relatives in Whakatane. The girl who died on Saturday was a daughter of Mr. Tommy Wi Rogers, a brother of Bernard Rogers. The casket containing the body of the Maori All Black was the centre of many expressions of sympathy yesterday, there being numerous wreaths and other floral emblems on the bier, including the wreath of the Poverty Ray Rugby Union, which, was brought through from Gisborne on Saturday.