Guide to the Papers of Atlee Hunt

Series 1. Correspondence with Capt. F.R. Barton, 1904-7

Correspondence, confidential and semi-official, with Capt. Barton, Administrator of British New Guinea, concerning Barton's assumption of the position of Administrator; his relationships with Administration personnel; Hunt's visit to British New Guinea (1905); Barton's travels in the Possession; establishment and proceedings of the Royal Commission into the administration of British New Guinea requested by Barton (1906).

Comprises Items 1-57

Series 2. British New Guinea and Territory of Papua: General New Guinea correspondence, 1904-11, 1916

Correspondence of both personal and semi-official nature, with various people, notably missionaries and members of the British New Guinea Administration, on matters including: Judge Robinson's administration; Hunt's report on his visit the British New Guinea (1905); establishment of Royal Commission into Administration of British New Guinea (1906); appointment of Judge Murray as Acting Administrator (1907); personal affairs.

Correspondence with Burns Philp & Co. Ltd on various matters; Marshall Island claims; mail contracts; parliamentary visit to Papua (1911); general business.

Series 3. British New Guinea and Territory of Papua: Correspondence with A.M. Campbell, 1904-13, 1927-28

Unofficial and confidential correspondence with A.M. Campbell, Resident Magistrate Eastern Division, British New Guinea, and later Government Secretary to the Territory of Papua (1908), relating to various matters including: Kanaka labour in British New Guinea; Royal Commission (1906); land purchases from natives; scheme of native taxation; Anglo-German boundary survey (1908); Papua Labour Ordinance (1908); personal affairs and dealings with Administration personnel.

Comprises Items 157-259

Series 4. British New Guinea and Territory of Papua: Correspondence with J.H.P. Murray, 1915-17

Personal and unofficial correspondence with Judge Murray, Chief Judicial Officer of British New Guinea, later Acting Administrator (1907) and Lieutenant Governor (1908) of Territory of Papua, chiefly concerned with details of administration and staff; wireless telegraphic communication with Australia; Papuan Pensions Bill; German New Guinea; land purchases from natives.

Unsigned typescript notes of scheme for defence and armament of Papua (manuscript interpolations in Murray's hand).

Comprises Items 260-366

Series 5. British New Guinea and Territory of Papua: General Papua Correspondence, 1907-12

Personal correspondence with various people, including missionaries and members of the Territory administration, concerning various matters: regulations and legislation governing natives; appointment of Administrator (1907); Anglo-German boundary; Papuan goldfields; scheme of native taxation; Federal Government immigration policy.

Comprises Items 367-429

Series 6. British New Guinea and Territory of Papua: Correspondence with M. Staniforth Smith, 1907-15

Confidential and personal correspondence with Staniforth Smith, Director of Agriculture and Commissioner for Lands and later Administrator (1908) of Territory of Papua, concerning various matters, including land settlement; agricultural development policy; Federal politics; Administration personnel; Ladekamu and other Papuan goldfields; oil-boring operations; missionary activities; native labour; electoral representation; Papuan Pensions Bill; Smith's report on Java (1915).

Typescript copy (unsigned) of notes on the island of New Guinea

Comprises Items 430-610

Series 7. New Hebrides: General New Hebrides Correspondence, 1901, 1903, 1905-1910

Personal correspondence with various people, including British Colonial Office representatives, concerning: Anglo-French Joint Commission on landed property in the New Hebrides (1906); appointment of Australian representatives in the New Hebrides; personal affairs.

Manuscript copies of 3 articles by St. Just de Beaupré Mackay concerning Polynesian politics.

Translations of extracts from La France Australe (1910) relating to Protestant missions in Oceania.

Text of speeches at opening of Joint Court of the Condominium (1910).

Comprises Items 611-634

Series 8. New Hebrides: Correspondence with Merton King, 1907-17

Private and personal correspondence with Merton King, Secretary to the Western Pacific High Commission, Fiji, and later British Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides (1907), concerning various matters, including: Australian customs supervision on exports to New Hebrides; operation of the Anglo-French Convention and Joint Court; origin and activities of the Société Francaise des Novelles Hébrides; mail services for the Pacific; surveys of British settlers' lands; missionary activities; appointment of Native Advocate; Royal Commission into the Working of the Pacific mail service (1910?); amendments to Anglo-French Convention (1915).

Comprises Items 635-716

Series 9. New Hebrides: Correspondence with Judge T.E. Roseby, 1909-16

Private and personal correspondence with Judge Roseby, British Judge appointed to the Joint Court of the Condominium, relating to various matters including: colonisation of the New Hebrides; Anglo-French Convention (1907); British New Hebrides Association; communications with Australia; proposed purchase of Société Française land rights; relations between Protestant missionaries and the French; inauguration (1910) and operation of the Joint Court; appointment of Native Advocate; proposals regarding land registration procedure; relations with other Condominium officials; comparisons of land claims by French and English applicants; availability of native labour.

Comprises Items 717-751

Series 10. New Hebrides: General Correspondence, 1911-14

Personal and private correspondence with various people being medical officers, British Merchants Colonial Office representatives, concerning different matters including: public health facilities in the New Hebrides; difficulties of administering the Condominium; purchasing land in the New Hebrides.

Comprises Items 752-759(a)

Series 11. New Hebrides: Correspondence with Rev. F.H. Paton, 1914

Official correspondence with Rev. Frank Paton, Foreign Missions Secretary to the Presbyterian Church of Australia, concerning Paton's request for an interview with Minister of External Affairs regarding New Hebrides question.

Comprises Items 760-763

Series 12. Colonial Office and Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London: General Correspondence, 1907

Semi-official and personal correspondence with various people, including publishers, Australians in Europe, relations, concerning different matters: proceedings of the 1907 Imperial Conference which Hunt attended with Alfred Deakin; functions connected with the Conference; a private collection of Australian books and documents held in London.

Comprises Items 764-781

Series 13. Colonial Office and Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London: General Correspondence, 1907-08

Official and semi-official correspondence with the Australian Government London Offices and Colonial Office staff, notably Sir Francis Hopwood and Sir Charles Lucas, on various matters, including action arising from Imperial Conference resolutions; principles governing Honours awards to politicians; Colonial office staff changes; newspaper article by W. M Hughes.

Comprises Items 782-862

Series 14. Colonial Office and Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London: Correspondence with R. Muirhead Collins, 1908-12

Official, and private correspondence with Capt.Collins, Official Secretary to the Commonwealth of Australia Offices in London, concerning various matters, including: site and plans for London Office; naming of Navy vessels; appointment of Australian High Commissioner to London (1909); methods of circulating Australian news in England; appointment of Australia representatives to London and the Continent; personal affairs.

Text of speeches by the Earl of Dudley and Capt. Collins at Royal Colonial Institute, 1912.

Pamphlet The Foundations of British Policy by J. A. Spender.

Press clippings of Australian news releases and general publicity.

Typescript note (unsigned) concerning Canadian immigration policy and methods.

Comprises Items 793-862

Series 15. Colonial Office and Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London: Correspondence with Sir Charles Lucas, 1908-10, 1912, 1930

Personal and semi-official correspondence with Sir Charles Lucas, Under-Secretary of Dominions Department of the Colonial Office, on various matters including: Colonial Office re-arrangement after 1907 Imperial Conference; South Australian reserved Bill regarding Northern Territory; Lucas' visit to Australia (1909); New Hebrides; personal affairs.

Typescript memo by Hunt concerning (1) official dealings with Colonial Office; (2) Lucas' visit to Australia; (3) Imperial Conferences.

Printed Colonial Office Despatch from Secretary of State for Colonies regarding re-arrangement of Colonial Office (1907).

Comprises Items 863-883

Series 16. Colonial Office and Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London: Correspondence with H.C. Smart, 1912-16

Official, and private, correspondence with H. C. Smart, head of Publicity Department, Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London, concerning various matters, including: difficulties with Agents-General in London; Australian exhibitions and other publicity activities in England; news services between Australia and London; encouragement of British migration to Australia; Smart's report on Continental emigration; war news service from London offices; establishment and operations of Australian Military office in London.

Newspaper clippings concerning British migration to the Dominions.

Comprises Items 884-962

Series 17. Colonial Office and Commonwealth of Australia Offices, London: Letters from Sir George Le Hunte, 1902-1908

Private and personal letters from Sir George Le Hunte, previously Lieutenant Governor of British New Guinea (1898-1902), then Governor of South Australia, concerning various matters including: relinquishment of British New Guinea appointment; Papua Act (1903); import of liquor into British New Guinea; banking arrangements by the Administration; British New Guinea mail services; the Goaribari island incident (1904); relations between Administration Officials; appointment of Royal Commission to enquire into administration of British New Guinea; personal affairs.

Comprises Items 963-1035

Series 18. Northern Territory: General Northern Territory Correspondence, 1908, 1912, 1915-16, 1920

Private correspondence with Government representatives, notably W. Baldwin Spencer, concerning various matters, including: illegal entry of Chinese into Australia; appointment of Dr. Gilruth as Administrator of the Northern Territory; work of Chief Protector of Aborigines (W. Baldwin Spencer); Parliamentary party's visit (1912); relations between Asians and Aborigines; Administration personnel; sheep raising at Mataranka; Royal Commission concerning the Northern Territory (1920).

Comprises Items 1036-1054

Series 19. Northern Territory: Correspondence with H.E. Carey, 1912-1916

Personal and semi-official correspondence with H. E. Carey, Private Secretary to the Administrator of the Northern Territory, concerning various matters, including: Administration office accommodation; Welshmen migrating from Patagonia to Australia; difficulties with labourers; other Administration personnel; Federal Government attitude to the Territory; Roper River mission; duties and operations of Classification Board handling land applications; Australian Workers Union activities in the Territory; Carey's work as Censor; Royal Commission regarding pastoral matters (1916); personal affairs.

Letter from Dr. Gilruth concerning visit to Mataranka.

Correspondence with Burns Philp regarding passages for workmen.

Comprises Items 1055-1168

Series 20. Norfolk Island: Correspondence with M.V. Murphy, 1901-10, 1913-17, 1920

Private and unofficial correspondence with M. V. Murphy, Administrator of Norfolk Island (1913-20) concerning various matters, including: Lord Chelmsford's visit to Norfolk Island (1910); Norfolk Island Fund; inadequacy of available shipping services; development of export products; establishment of Savings Bank Branch; election of new Executive Council (1915); improvement in cattle breeding; extensions to Harbour works; changes in Federal politics; salaried staff on the Island; personal affairs.

Comprises Items 1169-1252

Series 21. Correspondence with Sir Edmund Barton, 1901, 1903-4

Letters of Sir Edmund Barton, Prime Minister of Australia, concerning various matters: protocol; High Court work; personal affairs.

Comprises Items 1253-1258

Series 22. Correspondence with F.M. Bladen, 1901, 1903-4

Personal correspondence with F. M. Bladen, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of N.S.W., regarding various matters, including: gift of Roman stone fragment; Commonwealth Library Fund; publication of Historical Records; personal affairs including prospects of appointment.

Pamphlet on immigration entitled Peopling Australia by F. M. Bladen.

Comprises Items 1259-1266

Series 23. Correspondence with J. O'N. Brenan, 1906-8, 1910

Personal and confidential correspondence with J. O'N. Brenan, Chief Immigration Agent to the Government of Queensland, concerning various matters including: details of repatriation of Kanaka labourers to the Islands; Alfred Deakin's visit to Queensland (1907); arrival of Russian migrants (1910); personal affairs relating to future employment.

Comprises Items 1267-1286

Series 24. Correspondence with E.L. Batchelor, 1908-11

Semi-official correspondence with E. L. Batchelor, Minister for External Affairs 1908-9 and 1910-11, concerning various matters, including: Immigration League of Australia; Franco-British Exhibition project; effects of Stowaway Act; Northern Territory affairs; Government assistance for Douglas Mawson's proposed Antarctic expedition; Governor-General's projected visit to Papua and the Northern Territory; Report of Wireless Tender Board; general office routine.

Correspondence with Mrs. Batchelor at time of E. L. Batchelor's death.

Comprises Items 1287-1299

Series 25. Correspondence with Y.M. Goblet, 1908-11

Personal and semi-official correspondence (in English and French) with Yann M. Goblet, French journalist, concerning various matters, including: New Hebrides affairs; insertion of Australian articles in French press; Franco-Australian commercial relations; Federal Government changes; American influences on Australian living; possibility of appointing official French correspondent to Australia Government.

Comprises Items 1300-1311(a)

Series 26. Correspondence with Japanese Consulate-General, 1908, 1910-12, 1914-16

Private and semi-official correspondence with E. W. Foxall, of Japanese Consulate-General in Australia, and with M. Saito and S. Shimizn, Consuls-General for Japan, relating to various matters including: operation of Immigration Restriction Act of 1901; Agreement governing entry of Japanese merchants into Australia; appointment of Honorary Consul for Japan in Victoria.

Comprises Items 1312-1336

Series 27. Correspondence with Sir Everard Im Thurn, 1909-10

Personal and unofficial correspondence with Sir Everard Im Thurn, Governor of Fiji, concerning various matters, including: Hunt's visit to Suva (1909); introduction of outside labour to Solomon Islands; Pacific steamer service contracts; details of guano deposits in the Pacific (1909); New Hebrides labour deficiency; Im Thurn's retirement to England.

Comprises Items 1337-1351

Series 28. Correspondence with P. McMahon Glynn, 1909-10

Personal and semi-official correspondence with P. McMahon Glynn, Minister for External Affairs 1913-14, and Minister for Home and Territories 1917-20, concerning various matters, including: Northern Territory Administration Act 1910; survey and construction work for Transcontinental Railway (Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta); Northern Territory procedure concerning capital sentences; Norfolk Island Bill; staff appointments; Premiers' Conference (1914); establishment of freezing works in Northern Territory; appointment of M. V. Murphy as Administrator of Norfolk Island; change to Ministry; status of enemy subjects in Australia; naturalisation of Syrians; issuing of passports to women for travel through danger zones; Report of Royal Commission regarding Federal Capital; development of Papuan oilfields.

Printed copy of address by Glynn, Some Aspects of Imperialism.

Pamphlet The Disposition of Shakespeare by Glynn.

Comprises Items 1352-1489

Series 29. Correspondence with Hugh Mahon, 1914-15

Personal and semi-official correspondence with Hugh Mahon, Minister for External Affairs 1914-16, on various matters, including: dispute among Vestey's workmen in Darwin; financial aid to Papuan missions during war; Hunt's report on Northern Territory visit (1915); proposed treatment of naturalised citizens in wartime; restrictions on entry of Japanese merchants into Australia; personal affairs.

Comprises Items 1490-1530(a)

Series 30. Correspondence with Professor Harrison Moore, 1916

Semi-official and personal correspondence with Prof. Harrison Moore, Professor of Law at University of Melbourne, on various legal matters, including: Australian naturalisation of enemy subjects during War; British Nationality and Status and Aliens Act 1914; naturalised persons of enemy origin and their rights to the franchise.

Comprises Items 1531-1538

Series 31. Burns Philip Company Ltd:Col. James Burns, 1902

Unofficial and private correspondence with Col. James Burns on various matters, including: mail services to North America; provision of steamer for British New Guinea mail and passenger services; Sydney to Singapore steamer service; land settlement in the New Hebrides; use of coloured crews on Singapore services.

Correspondence between Edmund Barton and Sir Andrew Clarke concerning the New Hebrides (1901).

Comprises Items 1539-1561

Series 32. Burns Philip Company Ltd:Correspondence with Col. James Burns, 1904-07, 1910-11, 1915

Private and unofficial correspondence with Col. Burns on various matters, including: missionary attitudes to recruitment of labour for the New Hebrides; Burns Philp investment in the New Hebrides; Marshall Islands case; proposed establishment of wireless stations; criticism of Papua and New Hebrides mail services; Japanese trade and steamer services in the Pacific Islands.

Comprises Items 1562-1584

Series 33. Burns Philip Company Ltd:General Correspondence with Burns Philp, 1905, 1907, 1909-11

Private and unofficial correspondence with Col. Burns and A. Forsyth, senior partners in Burns Philp & Co. Ltd , on various matters, including: Société Française des Novelles Hébrides; Marshall Islands case; appointment of Burns Philp Solicitor for the New Hebrides; duties of native crews on Burns Philp vessels; New Hebrides mail subsidy.

Typescript copies of Cairns-Papua and Sydney Papua steamer services (undated).

Comprises Items 1585-1605

Series 34. Burns Philip Company Ltd:Correspondence with Walter H. Lucas, 1907-9, 1919-20

Private and personal correspondence with W. H. Lucas, of Island Department of Burns Philp, concerning various matters, including: accommodation for Kanakas leaving Queensland for the New Hebrides; competition for New Hebrides cargo from European lines; British land claims in the New Hebrides; effect of Quarantine Act of 1908 on imports of New Hebrides produce; supplying of coal to Admiralty ships in the New Hebrides; proposed Commonwealth Government action regarding German New Guinea (1920).

Typescript copies of Cairns-Papua and Sydney Papua steamer services (undated).

Comprises Items 1606-1627

Series 35. Burns Philip Company Ltd:General Correspondence, 1910-12

Private and unofficial correspondence with Burns Philp principals, notably Walter Lucas, concerning various Pacific Island matters, including: proving of titles to British settlement land in the New Hebrides; negotiations with Commonwealth Government regarding mail contracts; survey of New Hebrides settlement land; prospect of Commonwealth Government assuming control of British interests in Western Pacific; rising costs of Pacific mail services; Australian claim to the waters of Port Sandwich; appointment of Surveyor for the Solomons; appointment of new solicitor to represent Burns Philp in the New Hebrides.

Press clippings relating to missionary activities and other matters in Papua.

Comprises Items 1628-1762

Series 36. Burns Philip Company Ltd:Correspondence with Eyre Hutson, 1916

Private and personal correspondence with Eyre Hutson, Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific at Fiji, on various matters, including: appointment of Sir Francis May as Governor of Fiji (1916); prominence of German firms in Tonga; proposals to introduce German New Guinea labour into the Solomons; indenture of Indian coolie labour for Fiji; Commonwealth amendments to the War Regulations regarding passports.

Comprises Items 1763-1774

Series 37. Autographs: Papers of autograph interest, 1901-1921, 1924, 1927-30

Letters of personal, and semi-official nature from some 120 correspondents, many of them British and Australia political figures, concerning a variety of subjects and apparently considered valuable principally for their signatures; 28 letters by Hunt.

Comprises Items 1775-2071

Series 38. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1900-2

Personal and private correspondence with various people, principally family friends, concerning several matters including: Hunt's appointment as Private Secretary to Edmund Barton (1901); family affairs.

Comprises Items 2072-2092

Series 39. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1901-8

Private, and semi-official correspondence with various people, notably Australian political figures and principals of Burns Philp, on many matters, including: salary of President of Federal Senate; Sir Edmund Barton's interest in New Hebrides and British New Guinea affairs; Burns Philp claims against German authorities in the Marshall Islands; desertion of Chinese crews from Burns Philp steamers; deportation of Kanakas from Queensland; proposal to establish Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine in Townsville; procedure regarding correspondence with Governor-General.

Comprises Items 2093-2184

Series 40. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1909-12, 1914, 1916

Personal and private correspondence with various people, including British and Australian government officials, on a miscellany of subjects: Colonial Office work to combat tropical diseases; 1909 Declaration of London regarding naval warfare; Hunt's visit to Fiji (1909); old age pensions law and applications for naturalisation; land policy of British Unionist Party; matters for discussion at Imperial Conference (1911); appointment of Administrator of the Northern Territory; proposals to improve shipping accommodation at Norfolk Island.

Press cuttings concerning British Unionist Party land policy.

Comprises Items 2185-2239

Series 41. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1911-1

Personal, and semi-official correspondence with various people, notably Australian government representatives, on several matters, including: prospects of increased immigration to Australia; relationship of Dominion High Commissioners to the Imperial Conference; discovery of petroleum in Papua; proposed medical training in Australia for natives of Tong; Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Townsville; work among Aborigines in the Northern Territory.

Comprises Items 2240-2266

Series 42. Letters of congratulation to Hunt on C.M.G., 1910

Personal and private letters from some 70 people, including British and Australian political figures and government representatives, congratulating Hunt on his receipt of C.M.G. honour, and two letters of formal acknowledgment by Hunt.

Comprises Items 2267-2348

Series 43. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1913-16, 1919-20

Personal and private letters from various people, including Australian and other government officials, concerning a miscellany of subjects: appointments for Northern Territory and Papua positions; origin and observance of Wattle Day; proposed new Anglican Mission on Groote Eylandt; powers of an Assistant Minister; rumour of Commonwealth Gvernment takeover of Fiji; alien indentured labour in the Pacific; boundaries covered by the term ‘Australasia'.

Press clippings concerning recruiting of Kanaka labour (1901).

Typescript Government agreement (unsigned) to employ petroleum expert for work in Papua and Australia.

Comprises Items 2349-2400

Series 44. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1925, 1927, 1930

Personal and semi-official correspondence with several people, including Australian government officials, concerning various matters: congratulations to recipients of Birthday Honours (1927); Hunt's retirement from the Public Service.

Comprises Items 2401-2441

Series 45. Miscellaneous Printed and Undated Material

Photographs of friends and associates; press cutting concerning Japanese visitor (1915); typescript notes (unsigned) concerning Colonial Sugar Refinery labour policy for Queensland canefields; typescript notes (unsigned) regarding labour recruiting under the terms of the 1907 Anglo-French Convention governing the New Hebrides.

Pamphlets: Scottish Agricultural Mission to Australia 1910-11; Notes on N.S.W. Coat of Arms (1907); What's in a Name, by David Macrea, being a discussion of Imperial terms ‘Britain' and ‘British'; Nation Building in Australia by L. E. Groom.

Comprises Items 2412-2434