THE FALL OF NGATAPA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1919, Page 7

THE FALL OF NGATAPA.

' FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. THE INCIDENTS RECALLED. By Telngrspi.—Press As»oej«ti«a. Wellington, Dec. 31. The strong hill fort of Ngatapa was the scene of one of the most notable actions of the eleven years war from 1880 to 1871 It w».s the original site of an ancient Maori border pa, refortifled by Te ICooti and his rebel followers, tuid held by them against a strong combined besieging force for nine days. The period between the dates of December 27, 101S, and January 5, 1919, marks the 50th anniversary of the siege and fall of the fort, and it was intended by Poverty Bay old settlers and Veterans to commemorate the half-century anniversary by a gathering upon the site itself. This had been prevented by lato wforseen events.

The known surviving officers who took active part in the fighting arc: Colonel Porter, C.B. (i>), Major Gascoyne (D), Captain Preeco, N.Z. Cross, and Captain Tucker. The veterans, Europeans, and friendly Maoris who took part in the action now number but a few on roll of survivors.

It was on December 27, IBGS, that the combined forces under Jlnjor-Generm Whitmore and Major Ropata advanced to the second- assault upon the fort, the siege operations then continuing by trench sapping and the use of mountain cohorn mortar 3 jtill January 4, 1869, on the evening of which a storming party of 50 Ngatiporo, with one European officer, successfully scaled, under heavy fire, the steep cliff on the left flank of the fort, capturing the outer parapet defence of the enemy. The troops under Whitmore and Ropata then advanced, surrounding the fort in the front, flunks, and fear Te Kooti, realising its final capture was inevitable, by ft masterly «u>+ion escaped during the night »7ith his force by lowering tlnimselvca down A precipice with ropes made, of sheets, blankets, etc. Many were afterwards captured in the bush during the pursuit. At daylight on January 5, 1868, .the fort fell into the hands of the Government forces, to find only the dead jiiid wounded, together with much the goods plundered from the European settlers at the massacres in Nqy.ember" , previous. Thus fell one,of the and most noted till forte of I