A DEED OF BRAVERY REVIVED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9033, 21 January 1908, Page 7

A DEED OF BRAVERY REVIVED.

+ INCIDENT OF THE MAORI WAR

For a New Zealand Cross, a vc y rare decoration, the sum of £l7O was given at Sotheby's, in London, on November 9tb, an amount exceeding by £IOO what it was expected, even by the most sanguine, to realise. It •was the Cross that had been conferred upon Constable Solomon Black

for bravery at the siege of Ngatapa, in 1869. The rarity of this Cross *S : 'was attested in the bidding, which was begun by Mr Barrett at £2O, MiBaldwin being his opponent. At ££o "Mr Spink joined the contest, but MiBaldwin won at the price of £l7O. In connection with the subject of tl e presentation of the Cross to Captain Black, the .following outline is given by the "Morning Post":--"In the ' Maori war there were many deeds of valour, but nore more worthy cf esteem than that shown at the siege of Ngatapa in January, 1869. A mixed force of military, constabulary, ,■ and natives, under Colonel (afterwaids Majoi-General Sir) G. S. Whitmore, took this stronghold after a five days' struggle. Major Fraser, with Nos. 1 and 3 companies of the Armed Constabulary and rati ns, attacked the enemy's rear pos tioii, the extreme right of which, on a scarped ridge, was commanded by the Maoris' rifle pits and works, and a lodgment was only effected after cutting out standing room with a

pickaxe. The er.emy made several t~ sorties against this point, which was *"" an essential one for attacking operations, but it was held L.v a party of twelve volunteers to the end of the siege. One of the more prominent of these brave defenders was Constable Solomon Black, who was awarded one of the very few New Zealand Crosses conferred for heroic seivices." .