Orini: 86ft George Niccol Scow

The Begining and End of Orini

Built in 1918 by George Niccol for the East Coast Co-op Freezing Co. Ltd.  Orini started life as a schooner-rigged deck scow but her owners also installed two 60hp engines.

Orini ran into trouble on the 5^th June 1925 just off Port Hardy on D’Urville Island.  She left Castlecliff on the 2^nd June heading to Wellington with 2500 cases of benzine on board.  This cargo had come from the wreaked steamer Cyrena but it would never reach its destination. 

Orini spent two days sheltering from rough south easterly winds, but it was on the 5^th June that the real trouble struck them.  Orini caught fire causing an explosion on board.  The boat was burning all the way to her waterline and the crew could not put it out.  Realising the ship was lost and the flames would soon reach the benzine cargo on board they piled in their lifeboat and rowed to Patuki Station.  All the crew survived though the engineer had burns on his hands.