Guide to the Lists and indexes of the Western Pacific Archives

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MS 9749

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Western Pacific Archives
Title
Lists and indexes of the Western Pacific Archives
Date Range
1857-1975
Collection Number
MS 9749
Extent
0.97 metres (7 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Naitonal Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises lists of records of the Western Pacific High Commissioner, the WPHC Secretariat in Suva, the British Commissioner and Consul in Tonga, and the New Hebrides British Service. The records listed include despatches, correspondence files, personal files, land claims registers, printed documents, financial records, legal records, passport registers, maps and plans. They extend from the formation of the Commission in 1877 until its closure, but do not include records of the Commissioners in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate or the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3066746).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Lists and indexes of the Western Pacific Archives, National Library of Australia, MS 9749, [box number and series and/or file number]'.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated to the Library in 2003 by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Library in London at the request of the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau.

The Library holds microfilm copies of Colonial Office records relating to the Western Pacific held in the National Archives in London. The principal class is CO 225, Western Pacific: original correspondence, 1878-1951. Lists of these records can be found in the Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook, Parts 2 and 11.

Arrangement

The lists are arranged in four series: WPHC, BCT, Subseries [unnumbered] NHBS and miscellaneous. Within the first three groups the lists are arranged by record group number.

Administrative History

The Western Pacific High Commission was created in 1877. Its jurisdiction extended over all the islands of the Western Pacific not within the limit of the colonies of Fiji, Queensland, New South Wales or New Zealand or not within the jurisdiction of any other colonial power. They included the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, British Solomon Islands Protectorate, Tonga, the New Hebrides Condominium, and Pitcairn Island. Sir Arthur Gordon was the first High Commissioner for the Western Pacific and his successors as Governor of Fiji also held the office of High Commissioner.

The High Commission was abolished in 1976. The records of the Secretariat in Suva and the Commissioners in the other island groups were transferred to London and were held for many years in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Eventually, they were returned to the Pacific and are now held in a number of repositories: WPHC 1-32 - University of Auckland Library; Subseries [unnumbered] NHBS1-19 - University of Auckland Library; SPO 1, 3, 4 - University of Auckland Library; SPO 2 - National Archives of Fiji; BCT 1-7 - University of Auckland Library; BSIP 1-33 - National Archives of the Solomon Islands; GEIC 1-40 - National Archives of Kiribati and National Archives of Tuvalu; WPA Vila Archives - National Archives of Vanuatu; WPA administrative records - National Archives of Vanuatu

Item Descriptions

Series 1. Lists of Western Pacific High Commission records in the Western Pacific Archives

Subseries. WPHC 1

Correspondence and despatches of HBM Deputy Commissioner and Consul, Samoa, 1876 – 1900 (File 1) - Box 1
Various records of HBM Deputy Commissioner and Consul, Samoa, 1874 – 1890 (File 2) - Box 1
Records of HBM High Commissioner and Consul General for the Western Pacific relating mainly to Samoa, 1880 – 1900 (File 3) - Box 1
Prints relating to the affairs of the Samoas, 1875 – 1918 (File 4) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 2

Papers relating to Tonga, 1881 – 1918 (File 1) - Box 1
Papers relating to Samoa, 1857 – 1900 (File 2) - Box 1
Papers relating to Yap and to the Marshall Islands, 1879 – 1883 (File 3) - Box 1
Papers relating to the Cook Islands, 1892 – 1898 (File 4) - Box 1
Court stamps and seals. (File 5) - Box 1
Papers relating to the Solomon Islands and to Papua and New Guinea, 1879-1921 (File 6) - Box 1
Papers relating to the Gilbert Islands, 1879 – 1912 (File 7) - Box 1
Papers relating to the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, 1878 – 1926 (File 8) - Box 1
Papers relating to the Estate of William Greig of Fanning and Washington Islands and to litigation involving the Estate, 1880 – 1908 (File 9) - Box 1
Various Rules of the Court, c.1877 – 1956 (File 10) - Box 1
Correspondence and proceedings, 1875 – 1921 (File 11) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 3

Indexes and lists of minute papers. (Secret and confidential). (File 1) - Box 1
Secret and confidential minute papers of the Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, 1909 – 1943 (1913 – 1930) (File 2) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 4 Vol. 1

Indexes, 1897 – 1941 (File 1) - Box 1
Inwards correspondence registers, 1875-1941 (File 2) - Box 1
Alphabetical indexes to accounts inwards correspondence, 1924 – 1946 (File 3) - Box 1
Inwards correspondence, MP series, 1875 – 1941 (File 4) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 4 Vol. 2

Secret and confidential minute papers of the inwards correspondence, MP series, 1875 – 1941 (1915 – 1941). [See below for more detailed list] (File 5) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 5

Secret minute papers, 1924 – 1941.

Subseries. WPHC 6

Confidential correspondence files, 1 – 100 series, 1942 – 1954 (1932 – 1959) (File 1) - Box 1
Confidential correspondence file, 100 – 200 series, 1954 – 1959. (1954 – 1961) (File 2) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 7

General correspondence files of the Residual Office – Suva, 1952 – 1953 (File 1) - Box 1
Income tax return files of the staff of the Secretariat – Suva for the year ending, 31st December 1949 (File 2) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 8

Printed estimates, 1915 – 1919 (File 1) - Box 1
Printed papers relating to the New Hebrides, 1880 – 1940 (File 2) - Box 1
Printed papers and typescript copies of documents relating to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, 1880 – 1942 (File 3) - Box 1
Printed papers relating to Tonga, 1887 – 1918 (File 4) - Box 1
Printed papers and typescript copies of documents relating to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, 1875 – 1967 (File 5) - Box 1
Various printed papers relating to the Western Pacific including copies of legislation, 1886 – 1960 (File 6) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 9

Various records

Subseries. WPHC 10

Miscellaneous records, 1877 – 1962.

Subseries. WPHC 11

Secret correspondence files, 1 – 100 series, 1942 – 1954 (1936 – 1964) (File 1) - Box 1
Secret correspondence files, 100 – 200 series, 1954 – 1959 (1956 – 1960) (File 2) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 12

Naval intelligence files, 1925 – 1929. (Secret and Confidential).

Subseries. WPHC 13

Original contracts and documents, 1906 – 1964.

Subseries. WPHC 14

Registers of correspondence, despatches and telegrams, 1940 – 1955.

Subseries. WPHC 15

Registers of service, 1910 – 1956 (File 1) - Box 1
Personal files. (Some confidential and some secret) (File 2) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 16

Indexes, registers and general correspondence files. 100 – 200 series, 1954 – 1959 (c.1940 – 1965).

Subseries. WPHC 17

Consul General for the Western Pacific consular records, 1934 – 1952 (File) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 18

Land claims registers, 1886 – 1936 (File 1) - Box 1
Copies of registered land claims, 1886 – 1907 (File 2) - Box 1
Prints relating to land claims. (File 3) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 19

Papers relating to civil aviation in the South Pacific, 1926 – 1969 (File 1) - Box 1
Records relating mainly to marine and naval Affairs, 1879 – 1956 (File 2) - Box 1
Records relating mainly to administrative matters, 1901 – 1969 (File 3) - Box 1

Subseries. WPHC 20A - Box 2

General correspondence 200 – 300 series, 1960 – 1966. Volume I – 200 – 221.

Subseries. WPHC 20B - Box 2

General correspondence 200 – 300 series, 1960 – 1966. Volume II – 222 – 225.

Subseries. WPHC 21 - Box 2

Papers of HBM High Commissioner and Consul-General for the Western Pacific relating to Tongan affairs, 1874 – 1911.

Subseries. WPHC 22

Outward despatches and letters, 1879 – 1943 (File 1) - Box 2
Inward despatches and letters, 1880 – 1941 (File 2) - Box 2
Printed documents and other papers relating to the defence of British territories in the Pacific, 1914 – 19, 1925 – 28, 1939 and 1941 – 42 (File 3) - Box 2
Miscellaneous records, 1912 – 1969 (File 4) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 23

General correspondence from WPHC MP series, relating to Pitcairn and Tonga, 1875 – 1941 (1934 – 1941) (File 1) - Box 2
General correspondence files from WPHC 1 – 100 series relating to Pitcairn and Tonga, 1942 – 1954. (1942 – 1952) (File 2) - Box 2
Indexes and registers. (File 3) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 24

Registers, 1939 – 1941 and 1952 – 1953 (File 1) - Box 2
Schedules of mails, 1939 – 1951 (File 2) - Box 2
Card indexes to classified correspondence of 1 – 100 series, 1942 – 1954, and 100 – 200 series, 1954 – 1959 (File 3) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 25

Confidential correspondence files relating to Pitcairn and Tonga, 1 – 100 series, 1942 – 1954. (1937 – 1951) (File 1) - Box 2
Secret correspondence files relating to Pitcairn and Tonga, 1 – 100 series, 1942 – 1954. (1929 – 1952) (File 2) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 26

General correspondence, 1878 – 1882 (File 1) - Box 2
Correspondence relating to Solomon Islands affairs, 1881 – 1897 (File 2) - Box 2
Correspondence relating to New Caledonia and New Hebrides affairs, 1872 – 1889 (File 3) - Box 2
Correspondence relation to Samoan affairs, 1878 – 1882 (File 4) - Box 2

Subseries. WHPC 27

Volumes of despatches, letters, circulars, telegrams, and schedules of correspondence and telegrams, 1876 – 1944 (File) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 28

Confidential correspondence files, 200 – 300 series, 1960 – 1966. (1955 – 1967) (File 1) - Box 2
Secret correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, 1967 – 1971. (1967 – 1974) (File 2) - Box 2
Confidential correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, 1967 – 1971. (1967 – 1974) (File 3) - Box 2
Papers relating to Government House meetings, 1966 – 1968 (File 4) - Box 2
Restricted correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, 1967 – 1971. (1967 – 1972) (File 5) - Box 2
Secret correspondence files, 200 – 300 series, 1960 – 1966. (1958 – 1968) (File 6) - Box 2
Confidential correspondence files, single number series, 1944 – 1955 (File 7) - Box 2
Confidential correspondence files, 400 – 500 series, 1973 – 1975 (File 8) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 29

Indexes and registers to general correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, 1967 – 1971 (File 1) - Box 2
General correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, relating to the WPHC and British Solomon Islands Protectorate, 1967 – 1971. (1962 – 1972) (File 2) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 30

Indexes and registers to general correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, 1967 – 1971 (File 1) - Box 2
General correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, relating to the GEIC, 1967 – 1971. (1966 – 1973) (File 2) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 31

Indexes and registers to general correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, 1967 – 1971 (File 1) - Box 2
General correspondence files, 300 – 400 series, relating to the New Hebrides, 1967 – 1971 (1965 – 1972) (File 2) - Box 2

Subseries. WPHC 32

Confidential personal files, c.1942 – 1974. (1932 – 1974) (File 1) - Box 2

Subseries. WHPC 4

Lists of Western Pacific High Commission Secretariat records, Suva

Inwards correspondence, MP Series, 1917-1941 (File 4) - Box 2, 3, 4, 5

Series 2. Lists of records of HBM Commissioner and Consul, Tonga

Subseries. BCT 1

General correspondence and miscellaneous records, 1862 - 1959 (File) - Box 5

Subseries. BCT 2

General correspondence files, subject prefix series, 1954 – 1970 (1949-1970) (File 1) - Box 5
Indexes and registers of correspondence (File 2) - Box 5
Inward and outward telegrams, 1960 - 1965 (File 3) - Box 5

Subseries. BCT 3

Secret and confidential correspondence files, subject prefix series, 1954 – 1968 (1916 – 1968) (File) - Box 5

Subseries. BCT 4

Passports and certificates of identity, 1916 - 1964 (File 1) - Box 5
Special and advance warrants, 1930 - 1954 (File 2) - Box 5
Papers relating to estates administered by HBM Consul in Tonga, 1907 - 1968 (File 3) - Box 5
Miscellaneous items, 1884 - 1964 (File 4) - Box 5
Drawings and plans, 1930 - 1955 (File 5) - Box 5

Subseries. BCT 5

General correspondence files, MP series, 1914 – 1955 (1914 – 1965) (File 1) - Box 6
General correspondence files, 1921 - 1967 (File 2) - Box 6

Subseries. BCT 6

Secret and confidential correspondence files, alphabetical prefix series, 1913 -1968 (File) - Box 6

Subseries. BCT 7

Secret and confidential correspondence files MP yearly number series, 1922 – 1954 (1922 – 1956) (File 1) - Box 6
Unnumbered secret and confidential files, 1904 1940 (File 2) - Box 6

Series 3. Lists of records of the New Hebrides British Service

Subseries. NHBS1

Office of the Resident Commissioner.

General correspondence files, MP series, 1907 – 1942 (1902 – 1954) (File 1) - Box 6
Registers and indexes to general correspondenc, 1907 – 1948 (File 2) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS2

Duplicate despatches from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, 1910 – 1939; despatches from the High Commissioner and Consul-General for the Western Pacific to the Resident Commissioner, New Hebrides, 1910 – 1911 (File 1) - Box 6
Duplicate circular despatches from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, 1914 – 1939 (File 2) - Box 6
Despatches from the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific to the Resident Commissioner, New Hebrides, 1902 – 1939 (File 3) - Box 6
Despatches to the High Commissioner for the New Hebrides from the British Resident Commissioner, New Hebrides, 1907 – 1939, and letter to the French Resident Commissioner, 1907 – 1911 (File 4) - Box 6
General letters outward of the British Resident Commissioner, New Hebrides, 1907 – 1939 (File 5) - Box 6
Prints of correspondence regarding the New Hebrides, 1906 – 1913 (File 6) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS3

Registers and indexes of general correspondence, 1943 – 1953 (File 1) - Box 6
General correspondence files, 1943 – 1953 (File 2) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS4

Indexes to general correspondence files, 1953 – 1961 (File 1) - Box 6
General correspondence files, 1953 – 1961 (c.1934 – 1962) (File 2) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS5

Registers of births, marriages and deaths, 1903 – 1949 (File 1) - Box 6
Passport records, 1916 – 1918 (File 2) - Box 6
Passenger lists, air and sea, 1951 – 1961 (File 3) - Box 6
Registers of prosecutions, etc.,, 1927 – 1956 (File 4) - Box 6
Records relating to Joint Regulations and Joint Court rules and decisions, 1906 – 1956 (File 5) - Box 6
Miscellaneous reports relating to New Hebrides administration etc., 1955 – 1975 (File 6) - Box 6
District reports, 1953 – 1971 (File 7) - Box 6
Royal and official visits, 1969 – 1971 (File 8) - Box 6
Records relating to shipping including log books, and agreements and lists of crew, 1925 – 1971 (File 9) - Box 6
Papers relating to town planning and public works projects, etc., 1959 – 1971 (File 10) - Box 6
Cash books and monthly abstracts, 1925 – 1954 (File 11) - Box 6
Various maps and plans, 1910 – c.1965 (File 12) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS6

Correspondence files relating to proceedings of the Joint Court, 1927 – 1954 (File 1) - Box 6
Central District 1 local councils estimates etc., 1962 – 1965 (File 2) - Box 6
Court records, 1958 (File 3) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS7

General correspondence files, yearly number series, c.1924 – c.1937 (File 1) - Box 6
General correspondence files, MP series, 1933-1950, (1932 – 1956) (File 2) - Box 6
General correspondence files, two number series, 1951 – c.1970 (1950 – 1971) (File 3) - Box 6
Personal files, 1964 – 1971 (File 4) - Box 6
Correspondence registers and indexes. (File 5) - Box 6
Correspondence from the Resident Commissioner, and the Commandant, British Division, New Hebrides Constabulary, 1926 – 1935 (File 6) - Box 6
Copies of correspondence to the Resident Commissioner from the BDA Malekula, 1926 – 1934 (File 7) - Box 6
Various and other items. (File 8) - Box 6
Papers relating to the Condominium census, 1967 (File 9) - Box 6
Touring notes and reports. (File 10) - Box 6
Various papers including Joint Defence Regulations, wartime notice, population statistics, etc. (File 11) - Box 6
Joint Court notices and other Court records. (File 12) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS8

General correspondence files, MP series, 1936 – 1949 (1936 – 1952) (File 1) - Box 6
General correspondence files, multiple number “old” series, 1948 – 1954 (File 2) - Box 6
General correspondence files, multiple number “new” series, 1954 – 1966 (1936 – 1972) (File 3) - Box 6
Personal files, 1961 – 72 (File 4) - Box 6
Secret and confidential correspondence files, 1950 – 1959 (File 5) - Box 6
General correspondence, 1926 – 1957 (File 6) - Box 6
Various plans, reports and other records. (File 7) - Box 6
File indexes and registers. (File 8) - Box 6
Minutes of meetings of Luganville Town Advisory Council, 1967 - 1968 (File 9) - Box 6
Joint regulations and orders. (File 10) - Box 6
Court records, 1947 – 1966 (File 11) - Box 6
Secret intelligence reports and related correspondence, 1937 – 1941 (File 12) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS9

General correspondence files, 1962 – 1966 (1959 – 1967) (File 1) - Box 6
Indexes and registers of general correspondence, 1953 – 1966 (File 2) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS10

Office of the Resident Commissioner: confidential personal files, alphabetical prefix series, 1940 – 1971 (File 1) - Box 6
Confidential personal files, single number series, 1961 – 1971 (File 2) - Box 6
Western Pacific High Commission: confidential personal files of officers serving in the New Hebrides, 1953 – 1972 (File 3) - Box 6

Subseries. NHBS11 - Box 6

Papers relating to the revision of the British laws of the New Hebrides by B.C. Ballard, 1971.

Subseries. NHBS12

Court minute and evidence books, 1932 – 1965 (File 1) - Box 7
Judicial Commissioner’s handwritten notes of Court cases, 1909 – 1918 (File 2) - Box 7
Indexes and registers, 1909 – 1968 (File 3) - Box 7
Orders, rules and regulations, 1893 – 1955 (File 4) - Box 7
Court cash books, 1937 – 1959 (File 5) - Box 7
Various files relating to Court cases and other papers, 1909 – 1969 (File 6) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS13

Registers of land claims and of indentures, titles, bills of sale, etc., 1902 – 1953 (File 1) - Box 7
Land claims applications for publication, 1913 – 1914 (File 2) - Box 7
Copies of land claim documents registered in Western Pacific High Commission Registers A, B, and C, 1912 (File 3) - Box 7
Card indexes to land claims, caveats, etc., c.1927 – 1940 (File 4) - Box 7
Miscellaneous deeds, titles, etc. (File 5) - Box 7
Copies of sketch maps supporting land claims registered in Western Pacific High Commission Registers A and B, 1912 (File 6) - Box 7
Maps and plans relating mainly to land subdivisions and surveys (File 7) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS14

General correspondence files from Resident Commissioner’s series, 1961 – 1966 (1959 – 1967) (File 1) - Box 7
General correspondence files, 1965 – 1972 (1966 – 1972) (File 2) - Box 7
Press cuttings relating to the New Hebrides, 1965 – 1971 (File 3) - Box 7
Radio Vila. Territory news bulletins, August 1966 – March 1972 (File 4) - Box 7
Miscellaneous papers. (File 5) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS15

General correspondence files, c.1946 – c.1966. (1916 – 1969) (File 1) - Box 7
General correspondence files, c.1966 - c.1971. (1921 – 1971) (File 2) - Box 7
Court records. (File 3) - Box 7
Regulations and circulars, 1926 – 1968 (File 4) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS16

General correspondence file, subject prefix series, 1964 – 1975 (File 1) - Box 7
Correspondence files relating to co-operatives from the Resident Commissioner’s general correspondence series, 1953 – 1961. (1946 – 1961) (File 2) - Box 7
Correspondence files relating to the co-operative movement from the Resident Commissioner’s general correspondence series, 1962 – 1966. (1958 – 1973) (File 3) - Box 7
General correspondence files, 1963 – 1971 (File 4) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS17

Miscellaneous unregistered correspondence, 1909 – 1972 (File 1) - Box 7
Papers relating to the Jon Frum cult, 1941 – 1964 (File 2) - Box 7
Miscellaneous classified and demi-official correspondence, 1940 – 1958 (File 3) - Box 7
Records of discussions concerning Protocol amendment, etc., 1954 (File 4) - Box 7
Schedules of correspondence and telegrams sent and received, 1912 – 1924 (File 5) - Box 7
Records relating to World War II, 1943 – 1947 (File 6) - Box 7
Agreements for the supply of electricity, etc., 1939 – 1960 (File 7) - Box 7
Authenticated copies of Queen’s Regulations, 1971 – 1973 (File 8) - Box 7
Various orders, instructions, etc., 1903 – 1972 (File 9) - Box 7
Papers relating to the Anglo-French Protocol respecting the New Hebrides, 1906 – 1974 (File 10) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS18

General correspondence files, 1967 – 1974. (1961 – 1975) (File 1) - Box 7
File lists and indexes, 1967 – 1974 (File 2) - Box 7

Subseries. NHBS19

Lists, indexes and registers of correspondence, 1943 – 1954 (File 1) - Box 7
Secret and confidential correspondence files, MP series, 1907 – 1942. (1926 – 1941) (File 2) - Box 7
Secret and confidential correspondence files, 1943 – 1953. (1936 – 1958) (File 3) - Box 7
Secret and confidential files, unnumbered, 1938 – 1964 (File 4) - Box 7

Series 4. Miscellaneous lists - Box 7

Bibliography of lists of Western Pacific High Commission records (File) - Box 7

Bibliography pf lists of records of HBM Commissioner and Consul in Tonga (File) - Box 7

Bibliography of lists of New Hebrides British Service (File) - Box 7

Western Pacific Archives registers: supplementary list (File) - Box 7

List of microfilm reels transferred to the University of Auckland (File) - Box 7


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