SALE OF A NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 13

SALE CROSS.

INTERESTING RESULT. '' LONDON, December 6. For a Ne> Zealand cross— a very, rare; decoration—tfie extraordinary sum of £170 was I Riven art; Sotheby's last 1 Friday, an amount i exceeding by £100 what it was expected, "even by the most' sanguine, to 3 realise."- It Pwas the cross that had been conferred upon Constable Solomon '^BJack • for/bravery -at the siege oi- Ngatapain.l£69. ?..*„ ■ -_ \'- The rari^ of this cross was attested ,in the bidding, which was begun by Mr I Barretb at „£2O, -Mr^^Baljdwitts^eingr his opponent. At £sQSMt;^9inJc:Joined the contest, but Mr Baldwin/ won extraordinary price .of £170^^', "'-<'/, ;,. p . In connection with the^ubjectof its. presentation to Coristablex'Blackr't'ne following outline' is given by "the Morning Post:—* " In the Maori war theTe were many deeds -of valour r- but none* more'-worthy'of esteem* than -that shown at the siege of Ngatapa m January, 1869. A mixed force of military, constabulary, and Natives, -under -(Colonel . (afterwards Major-general Sir) G. S. Whitmore, took this stronghold after a five days struggle. Major Fraser, with Nof.-l«and 3 Companies of the Armed Constabulary < and Natives, attacked ' the enemy s- rear, position, the extreme right of whichj on a scarped rl2ee,' was commanded by the Maori's rifle pits and works, and a lodgement was only effected" after cutting out standing-room with a pickaxe. The enemy made, several ' sorties against this pomt^ which was an essential ~ one for attacking operations, but^itiwas^lield.by e.JJsrly of 12 Volun.teers;tfto \th> "end ,of ±hi^ fliege.;' ; One of the more prominent ol these Jb"rave defenders .. L was 'ponstaWe-^'Soionion^ ;Blao|;; who' was.t&Waraed^b'n,e f ,of-the^-?|^sleV'i N^i • Zealand "<iro3see "bbnferrld"' fof ? *nef6& -"b^"-

vices. This object, in silver, is in thf shape of a Maltese cross surmounted with a crown. On the obverse is a wreath' ol ~ gold, on^the reverse a- circular band witl tne constable's* na-me inscribed." — ■ «$ *ajA -Stpajiv ■-; ot~f Qur - Tauranga sportsmen ;«^iß^^f^'.3»^ofcsßot curlew on NeW.

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