MAORI 1907-1946

By Marcus Castell

One of the most important routes the Union Steam Ship Company took up was the inter-island express service between Wellington & Lyttelton, initially operated by numerous vessels owned by the company. The most innovative ship to be introduced was the MAORI of 1907.

• BUILT: 1907 by William Denny & Bros at Dumbarton, Scotland
• TONNAGE: 3399 gross
• DIMENSIONS: 350x47ft (106.7x 14.3m)
• SERVICE SPEED: 17 knots, top speed 20.5 knots
• PROPULSION: Geared turbines/triple screws
• Fitted with a bow rudder for astern berthing

In January 1947 a small vessel named Hwa Lien arrived in Sydney at the end of a harrowing voyage from Shanghai.  Although unfamiliar to Australians, this vessel was better known to New Zealanders as MAORI, which operated on the Union Steam Ship Company express ferry service between Wellington and Lyttelton for almost 40 years. Maori was launched on 11 November 1906, when she crashed in to the opposite bank of the river, and on trials she ran aground, having to go into dry-dock for repairs.  On her second trial runs, she collided with and sank the  KINTYRE, a small coaster, with MAORI going back into dry-dock for more repairs.  At the start of her delivery voyage, the vessel ran aground again, this time without suffering damage, but by the time she arrived in New Zealand during November 1907, the Union Steam Ship Co. must have been wondering what sort of a jinx ship they had acquired.

With accommodation for 630 passengers in two classes, MAORI gave her owner many years of excellent service on the overnight ferry service between the islands, and during a refit in 1923 was converted to oil firing. In 1931 MAORI became relief ship when RANGITIRA entered service, then returned to full-time service during the war years.  On 6th of January 1944, MAORI was laid up again in Wellington, and after two and a half years idle, was sold in June 1946 to the United Corporation of China Ltd, based in Shanghai, Renamed HWA LIEN Lien, she left  Wellington on 22 August, going first to Sydney, then to Shanghai.

She was intended to operate on the China coast, and the local populace considered her the last word in luxury.  However, her first voyage was from Shanghai to Sydney, carrying 474 European Jews who had escaped as far as Shanghai, and been given permission to enter Australia.  Leaving Shanghai in December 1946, HWA LIEN tried to make a direct voyage to Sydney, but on the 10th of January 1947, the ship radioed that it was running short of food and water, and had to divert to Darwin, arriving on the 14th of January.  Restocked and replenished, the voyage continued, reaching Brisbane on the 26th of January, and finally berthing in Sydney on the 28 of January, where the passengers disembarked.

HWA LIEN passing under Sydney Harbour Bridge

HWA LIEN then returned to Shanghai, but the advance of communist forces on Shanghai brought her coastal service to an end in 1948.  She ferried Nationalist troops to Formosa, then in 1950 was laid up in Keelung Harbour. On the 13th of January 1951 the vessel sank at her moorings during a storm, being raised four months later and sold to shipbreakers. However, a section of the hull was converted into a barge and had a crane fitted, serving in Keelung Harbour for many more years.  

The iron steamship KINTYRE which was involved in a collision with the MAORI was launched on 10th June, 1868. All the previous vessels belonging to the Company had been paddle-driven, but this screw-propelled ship, built by Messrs. Robertson & Company of Greenock, was designed for dealing with heavier goods traffic. She was eventually given an extensive overhaul, and more deck and passenger accommodation was installed.  She was a favourite with the travellers of the times, and was considered by the Company as one of their best investments.  She served the Company well for 39 years, and her sinking off Skelmorlie one beautiful September day was a tragic loss.  She was carrying no  passengers or cargo, and was on a special run in connection with the  September Sheep Sales.  Her crew of 15 were enjoying the quiet run and the peace of the day before the hustle of loading the animals would begin.

They were watching the new turbine steamer MAORI, undergoing speed trials on the measured mile off Arran, prior to being handed over to her New Zealand owners.  For some unexplained reason the bow of the MAORI crashed into the starboard side of the KINTYRE with great force close to the ship's engines. It was obvious she could not remain long afloat, as the damage was extensive. By the aid of ropes from the Maori the crew were able to clamber aboard, leaving the rapidly sinking KINTYRE.

Captain McKechnie was on the bridge when the collision occurred.  He refused to take advantage of any means of escape offered by the Maori and gallantly stuck to his post.  The chief engineer, William Lennox, joined him on the bridge, having realised that his task below deck was finished.  Both men stood to attention as the Kintyre quickly sank. An explosion hurled them into the sea; the bow sprit being the last part of the stricken ship to remain visible for a few more minutes. Captain McKechnie was later picked up in a dazed condition, but the chief engineer lost his life, leaving a widow and child.

Bibliography

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