The documents and correspondence are in four folders and appear to have been sorted arbitrarily. The contents of the folders relate to the Roman Catholic Mission in Fiji cover the following periods:
1868-1930 (principally land acquisition, Catholic-Wesleyan rivalry and Catholic education).
1871-87 (including the consequences of British annexation for the Catholic Church in Rotuma).
1882-1930 (land matters)
1878-1902. An index to material copied in the Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Office, Suva, was published in the Bureau's newsletter Pambu April-June 1972:27, pp. 17-20 and is available on request from the Bureau.See also PMB MS 159/160 and PMB MS 432-468
See PMB MS 432. Documents relating to the Roman Catholic Mission Fiji.
Correspondence (1856-90) includes conference and ratification of peace between Solevu and Nadi - 1856; religious freedom for Catholics - 1858; enquiry into complaints re Catholic Chief's resistance to Catholicism; extract from minutes of Chiefs at Bau re Catholic resistance to Wesleyan churches; letters from the Colonial Secretary re various land applications and the Teachers' Training School; various letters from Bishop Vidal. Correspondence (1899-1900) includes letters re Catholics being required to work on Wesleyan building projects and Chiefs' complaints re the use of indigenous labour on Catholic mission stations.
See also PMB MS 436 for correspondence with Government for the years 1891-98; and PMB MS 435 for the years 1901-13 and 1916-30.
The notes were compiled by Father F. Terrien, SM (1851-1922) who directed the Wairiki mission from 1895 to 1922. His notes were translated and slightly amplified by B.A.M., Suva, 1943. See also PMB 432.
Historical notes on the Catholic Mission of Wairiki, Taveuni, Fiji (1844-1922).
The records comprise the following registers relating to the Church of England, Norfolk Island: 1. Baptismal register, 1 January 1871 - 31 January 1971; 2. Register of burials, 3 March 1871 - 2 February 1971; 3. Register of marriages, 12 February 1871 - 6 March 1963; 4. Banns of marriages register, 1899 - 1921
The Norfolk Island Whaling and Sharking Co. Ltd., Minutes of workers' meetings, November 1938, August-December 1939, July 1940, September 1941. Documents relating to banking transactions of the Council of Elders, 1903. Copy of the will of Francis Mason Nobbs, 12 December 1907. Probate of Nobbs' will, 12 July 1909. Obituary of Nobbs by the Deputy Administrator, 30 June 1909.
Account of provisions received and issued to colonial prisoners at Norfolk Island, January 1854.
The Demon a biography written by Henry Garrett, a prisoner on Norfolk Island c.1846-53, in response to Marcus Clarke's For the Term of His Natural Life, with notes by R.N. Dalkin.
The 'Bounty' and After. A short history of the mutineers of the 'Bounty' by A.S. Gazzard. Published by the Norfolk Island Weekly, 1943.
Evidence taken at Norfolk Island by Commissioner Alexander Oliver during an inquiry into the administration of Norfolk Island affairs, 1903.
See PMB MS 432, material relating to Roman Catholic Mission Fiji.
Letters from Superior-General, Society of Mary.
In 1836, Pope Gregory XVI was looking for missionaries for Oceania and approved the formation of a religious institute, the Priests of the Society of Mary, or Marist Fathers. Jean-Claude Colin (1790-1875) was elected as the first Superior General and held the office until 1854. He was succeeded by Julien Favre (1854-85), Antoine Martin (1886-1905), and Jean-Claude Raffin (1905-22).