DEATH OF MR. B. BIDDLE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1933, Page 9

DEATH OF MR. B. BIDDLE

SIEGE OF NGATAPA RECALLED. The last surviving holder of the New Zealand . Cross, Mr. , Benjamin Biddle, died at Whakatane on Friday, aged 93 years. , ~ • . . • /■■■ ; -* " Mr. Biddle, who was a well-knoym resident of the Bay of Plenty for the greater part of his long life, joined the Armed Constabulary at the close of the Waikato War. After the landing of Te Kooti near Poverty. Bay. in July, 1868, he was a member of the force which set out under the command of Colonel (afterwards Major-General) Sir G. S. Whitmore, in pursuit of the rebel leader.. In December, after the frightful massacre of 32 Europeans at. Matawhero, near Gisborne, Whitmore and the loyal native leader Major Ropata succeeded in driving Te Kooti into his* stronghold of Ngatapa, a formidable old hill fort which' had been*'greatly strengthened" to resist rifle fire. Seven hundred Europeans" and natives took part in the siege, but their number was insufficient to surround the> pa completely. The fortress occupied a strong position upon a height, surrounded by cliffs and steep palisaded slopes on three sides and narrowing in the rear to a scarped ridge. It was necessary that this ridge should be occupied, as it was believed to be the' only possible line of escape for the defenders. A party of 12. constabulary and Sergeant Shepherd, and including Mr. Biddle, was told off for the task. To reach the crest the men had to cut steps up the face of the cliff under sharp, fire from the enemy’s works. They succeeded, and eventually gained the ridge,'which they held for the whole , five days of the siege. Every day theywere exposed to very heavy fire from the pa, which virtually commanded the spot where they lay.- Their only protection was a low breastwork of stone and a trench barely a foot deep that had been hastily dug with bayonets and tomahawks.

Meanwhile, Whitmore’s and' Ropata’s force kept firing into the stronghold, which was also shelled with a couple of light howitzers. On the eighth day of the siege part of the first defence line was taken, and the final assault was deferred until the next morning. ( Being well aware of this, Te Kooti and the surviving rebel tore up blankets into strips, let themselves down an unguarded section of cliff and escaped in the night. Ropata made a successful pursuit, capturing many stragglers, all of whom were summarily shot. Te Kooti, how? ever, evaded the pursuit aind disappeared for a time into the mountains.

The attacking force lost 22 in killed and wounded and 132 rebels were killed in the pa and during the pursuit. For conspicuous bravery in the fight Mr. Biddle and another constable, named Black, a member of the same party, were awarded the New Zealahd Cross. Sergeant Shepherd was already the possessor of that decoration.

For a number of years Mr. Biddle and the late Mr. George (Rowley) Hill, of Auckland, shared the honour of being the only surviving holders of the NeW Zealand Cross. *

In the early days of the Opouriao estate Mr. Biddle came to the Whakatane in the Opouriao Valley. When the esdistrict and undertook contracting work tate was ultimately cut up for ballot he was successful in drawing one of the sections.

Mr. Biddle acted as guide'to Richard Seddon when, during his long term as Premier of New Zealand, he visited the Bay of Plenty district and journeyed by way of the Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana through to Gisborne. Such a trip was a great undertaking in those days, the travellers having to, follow, the course of the Whakatane River well jnto the Urewera country. The- tale is told that the boat containing the Premier, and his guide, which was used in crossing Lake Waikaremoana, came .very. near, to swamping, as a result of thechoppi-r’ ness of the water. As a token of appreciation for , his services, the Premier, presented Mr. Biddle on arrival at his. destination with a gold ring he ’was wearing.

As the last living holder of the New Zealand Cross, a place has been reserved for Mr. Biddle’s portrait in the House of Representatives. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Takarua, of Ruatoki, and Mrs. P. Nathan, and four sons, Messrs. Edward, Jack, Tore and Robert Biddle.