MAORI INJURED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20532, 25 September 1936, Page 5

MAORI INJURED

CONDITION SERIOUS By Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept. 24. B. Rogers, a member of the New Zealand Maori Rugby team, was admitted to hospital shortly after 9 o’clock last night, suffering from serious head injuries, the result of a fall a short time earlier. Details of the incident are not fully cleared up. Detectives are pursuing inquiries. Rogers’ condition is stated to be very serious, gradually becoming worse. Rogers comes from the Gisborne district. MANAGER’S STATEMENT WAS ROGERS SKYLARKING? By Telegraph—Press Association PELMERSTON NORTH, Sept. 24. Interviewed concerning the grave injuries sustained by B. Rogers, a member of the Maori team, in a fall last evening, Mr Kingl Tahiwi, manager of the team, said inquiries made by him in conjunction with Mr W. T. Parata, chairman of the selectors, indicated that Rogers and another member of the team, Hawea Mataira, were skylarking when Rogers fell backwards and struck his head on the concrete. “I think it was purely accidental," said Mr Tahiwi. “They were the only two there. They are the best pals. Several members of the team left the hotel to attend a dance just after 9 o’clock. Mr Tahiwi accompanied them. Rogers was still at the hotel, and intended to follow shortly afterwards, but sustained the fall. Rogers comes from Gisborne, but belongs to the Rotorua district. He is 24 years of age and married. INJURIES PROVE FATAL ARGUMENT OVER SOUVENIR Bv Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N., September 24. Bernard Edward Rogers, the Maori All Black, died this afternoon. It appears that deceased and Hawea Mataira, of Wairoa, another member of the team, had an argument as to the ownership of an Australian souvenir jersey, and during the scuffle, Rogers fell on a concrete floor to suffer fatal injuries. The funeral will be held at Rotorua.