Transcription of Maurice M. Witts diary of life as a copra planter in Hog Harbour, Santo island, Vanuatu.

The first diary, written by Rev. Stallan between 1940 – 1943 (though most entries were in 1941), covers life and work in South West Bay. He comments extensively on sickness and death in the local community, including his own periods of illness. Both Rev. Stallan and daughter Janet suffered malaria during this time. Janet was treated by a visiting Missionary GP who administered life-saving quinine. Stallan had no formal medical training, but had worked as an apprentice chemist/pharmacist for an unknown period, and may have received some basic training for the mission field. He was often called upon for medical and dental help, including giving injections (known as ‘stick medicine’), and daughter Janet recalls there was a room in the family home known as ‘the surgery’.
In the first diary he also comments on school activities, agriculture, local customs and preparations for making contact with the Big Nambas; who had violently rebuffed previous European contact and missionaries were forbidden by Condominium authorities from approaching them (Garrett, 1997 p.75). Rev. Stallan also writes of visiting Tangoa, Tanna, Vila and Tongoa.

Five documents from the family collection of Conrad Stallan, who was employed as a missionary in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) from 1940-46, including:
Typescript document (3pp.)
Letter from Boys High School Malua, author unknown, 19 Dec 1931, Ts. (9pp.)
‘1-447’, notebook containing a numbered list of photograph titles and dates (Mar 1940-Jun 1943)
‘448-663/ 700 (-1947)’, notebook of photograph titles and dates (Jun 1943-1947)
Notes on Samoan Islands, n.d. Ms, (7pp.)

For details see PMB Doc 34

Nos. 55-82, January 1907 - October 1913

Names of birds in languages of the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides (Vanuatu). Begins with key to birds names in English and Latin prepared by ICJ Galbraith. Handwritten lists also prepared by John Bisiwei of Motalava, John Edward of Paama, and Abraham Meoto of Santa Cruz.