Miena

[shipstamps]

The trading schooner Miena was one of Capt. Hilder's designs and has been adapted for the stamp from a photograph taken by him. It is a typical example of the trading schooners to be found within the Solomon Islands visiting the villages buying the native copra and selling trade goods, calico, tinned meats, tobacco and tools. Many of the Melanesians like to work in these schooners. The men are well paid, the work is of short duration and the constant movement from place to place is attractive to the natives. A wooden auxiliary schooner of 109 gross tons, the Miena has dimensions: 91ft. x 23.5ft. x 7.6ft., and was built in 1935 by W. W. Wilson at Port Cygnet, Tasmania. She is owned by Mr. J. W. Richmond and her port of registry is Honiara, B.S.I. Engines were fitted into the schooner in 1939.
SG89 Sea Breezes 5/56

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a wooden ketch rigged trading schooner by W.W. Wilson, Port Cygnet, Tasmania for H. Jones, Boxhall Shipping Co., Tasmania
Launched as MIENA named after a small port in Tasmania..
Tonnage 109 gross, 55 net, dim. 93 x 22.1 x 9.9ft.
1935 Completed.

After completing used as an interstate trader between Tasmania and Australia, mostly between Hobart and Melbourne.
1939 Fitted out with an auxiliary 3-cylinder single-acting engine 70 hp, the engine was manufactured by Frederkshaven Jernstoberi og Maskinfabrik A/S., Copenhagen.
10 June 1938 sold to Captain G. George & Co., Auckland, New Zealand, and by them used in the trade between Auckland and the Pacific Islands.
1941 Sold to U.S. Small Ships, where after she was used in Australian Papua New Guinea area for the transport of equipment and stores to the troops, and with on the return voyage wounded troops. Pennant No (S115).
After the war in 1946 sold to J,W, Richmond, Auckland and registered at Honiara, Solomon Island, and used as a trading schooner between the islands in the Solomon Islands.
1961 She sank at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, and was broken up.

Solomon Islands 1956 6d sg89, Scott?
Source: The Mercury newspaper 11 June 1938. Ships on the Australian New Zealand & Islands Registers 1953. Compendium of Australasian Merchant Ships 1831 – 2008. Internet.