Ngatapa, and Deeds of Valour.

It was in December, 1869, at the first attack on Te Kooti's stronghold Ngatapa, inland from Poverty Bay, that Captain Preece won his New Zealand Cross, that most rare of military decorations, awarded only for acts of exceptional bravery. Ngatapa was the most formidable and also the most picturesque fortification ever defended by the Maoris against a British force. It was a true mountain fortress, a very strong system of trenches and parapets on the crest of a narrow and precipitous range. The present survey trigonometrical station on the highest part of the pa, is 2288 ft. above sea-level. The place was very difficult of approach; it was compassed about with gorges and cliffs and dense forest. Te Kooti's garrison numbered about three hundred fighting men. The Ngati-Porou and other Maoris serving on the Government side were commanded by Major Ropata, Captain Porter and Captain Preece. Ropata and Preece, leaving their main body in the deep valley below the fortress, climbed the steep cliff with about thirty men. With the greatest gallantry the two officers and their best men gained the end of the trench on the left front of the pa, immediately in rear of the front wall. There was no flanking bastion here and Ropata was able to enfilade the trench for some distance, firing away, with Preece passing loaded rifles on to him. There they remained for some hours, the Hauhaus making desperate efforts to dislodge them. The firing was almost muzzle to muzzle. Part of the outer works was captured by the officers and their few men. One of the Ngati-Porou, Ruka Aratapu, kept up an accurate fire on the Hauhaus from the branches of a tree close to the parapets.

Presently ammunition ran short, and it was necessary to withdraw at dawn next morning, in the absence of support from the column in the valley below. The Ngati-Porou lost five men killed.

On the recommendation of Colonel Whitmore both Ropata and Preece were awarded the New Zealand Cross for their personal bravery and the splendid example they had shown their men.

Ngatapa was not taken that time. It remained for a second attack in strong force, some weeks later, to reduce it, but Te Kooti, with his usual skill and astuteness, escaped into the great forests of the Urewera.