ANNIVERSARY OF NGATAPA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3117, 13 January 1911, Page 7

ANNIVERSARY OF NGATAPA.

A BYGONE RECOLLECTION

January sth was, says the “New Zealand Times,” the anniversary of the fall of Ngatapa Poverty Bay, which happened forty-two years ago, after one of the most notable engagements in the Second Maori AVar. M. Walter Delaney, of 10, Hugh Street, Wellington, was a bugler in that engagement, serving with Colonel _ under Major-General Sir George W hit mo re. “I visited the scene of the fight recently,” he remarked, “and cam© into contact with persons who had lately , been employed in clearing the place, for settlement. They found an old sabre and a parcel of mountings for saddles and bridles‘of ancient pattern. The sabre was very rusty, and could not be drawn from tlie scabbard. It was handed to Mr. E. Williams of AVharekopai. At the time of the massacre, 1868, it was reported that a large amount of money had been ‘planted’ by the rebels, and the men who discovered tho relics recently .made a search for this money, round about the hill of Ngatapa. They onlv found a ‘koluia,’ a three-legged cooking pot. This was supposed to have been the utensil in which the money was placed, a considerable sum having been taken from the settlers who were massacred at tho time. I was pleased to meet again old veterans who were in action with me, and there was general satisfaction expressed amongst them tliat the Government had opened a. Court of Inquiry into the claims of military settlers, so that they could get the justice that has been long overdue as a reward of their services to the country in days gone by.”