Composite built (iron frame with wood planked) under yard No 48 by Ramage and Ferguson at Leith for George F. Lees of Mansfield (Notts) as a private yacht.
04 June 1883 launched under the name MERRIE ENGLAND.
Tonnage 257 grt, 143 net, dim. 147.5 x 25.2 x 13.4ft.
Powered by a compound 2-cyl.steam engine 50nhp, one screw. Boiler consumption 3.5 ton coal a day by 86 rpm and a speed of 8.75 knots.
Clipper stem with a figurehead.
Copper sheathed.
Register port Leith.
1889 Sold to Mr. Bailey in Hull.
03 March 1889 sold to the Imperial Government in Britain for £8500 for the New Guinea service.
Under the British New Guinea (Queensland) Act, the Imperial Government agreed to contribute a suitable steam vessel for the service of British New Guinea and the cost of maintenance for the first three years
After she was bought she was altered and armed with three-barreled Nordenfeldt quick firing gun, Martini-Henry carbines, revolvers and cutlasses, and a large supply of ammunition.
07 March 1889 departed from London for a trial trip to Gravesend, where she finished coaling.
08 March 1889 left Gravesend for New Guinea under command of Captain Hampton, she anchored in the Nore to get everything secured on deck and then proceeded, anchored again in Margate Roads, blowing very hard from the westwards, dragging anchor during the night, got underway at midnight and steered closer to shore and then anchored with both anchors in 60 fathoms. At noon on the 9th the weather was moderating, hove up the anchors and proceeded.
Landed pilot at Ventnor, Isle of Weight on the morning of the 10th.
After passing Ushant the wind came from the north-east and increased to a moderate gale before we reached Finisterre and so continued to Cape St Vincent with a moderately high seas; but the ship behaved splendidly, scarcely shipping any water with all sails set. From St Vincent to Gibraltar had fine weather.
Coaled in Gibraltar and proceeded with the voyage. Had fine weather to Malta, from then to Port Said weather fine except a 12 hour gale from the southward.
Touched at Aden and Colombo, from where we left on 15 April, got moderate weather to Batavia except on the 18th when the fore-gaff carried away. This was the only accident during the voyage. Had fine weather from Batavia to Thursday Island which we reached on the 9th, left from there on the 10th and arrived Port Moresby on Sunday 12 May 1889 after a passage from 67 days from London.
After arrival used extensively for inspection visits by Sir W. McGregor the Administrator of British New Guinea.
Carried also the mail and cargo along the coast, and was used for search and rescue operations.
15 November 1898 she left from Brisbane for the North after being in port at Brisbane for some time.
11 September 1899 was reported that she would investigate in about three week’s time the incident between the natives and the launch MUSA at Hardy Point off the village of Kira Kira in Northern Papua New Guinea. The Governor sent a party of native police for the purpose of arresting and bringing in the natives so that they may be punished.
In 1901 was she registered at Port Moresby to the Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea, and also in 1908.
22 November 1904 was reported that the Queensland Government had sent two ships to attempt to tow free the ketch JEERA, stranded near Samarai, New Guinea, one of the vessel sent was the MERRIE ENGLAND, the JEERA was refloated by her own power.
19 October 1912 on a voyage from Round Hill Head to Port Moresby under command of the first mate Burns, Captain the Tonaros was on sick leave, did she grounded on a reef.
During the night in moonlight but there was a haze coming off the land, at 09.30 p.m. a light was observed and it was realized that the light came from a canoe out on Basilisk Reef, in the entrance of Port Moresby.
Immediately full astern was given but to late she slid gently on the reef.
The boats were launched and the crew landed safely, only the last boat capsized in the surf and the men had to swim to shore.
Salvage was carried out without results.
06 December 1912 tenders were invited for purchase as she lies at Port Moresby, not given if she was sold.
Papua New Guinea 1987 1k sg556, scott?, 1999 65t sg859, scott?
Source: Log Book and a few web-sites. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz
Info received from Mr. Haworth his sources were Merchant Navy List 1887 and 1908 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... decade=188 Info received from Mr.Mori Flapan http://www.boatregister.net http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bi ... --1----0--