For details see PMB Doc 101

Issues for 1876-77

These papers comprise part of the records of the Vicariate of New Caledonia which are designated Oceania Nova Caledonia (ONC) in the Marist Archives. The ONC material fills four large filing cabinets which are listed as APM I ONC, APM II ONC, APM III ONC and AMP IV ONC. The ONC files are not as well organized as the other Pacific vicariates and they contain many unclassified and unnamed sections. Please also see PMB MS 161.

Correspondence from cabinet APM IV ONC in a dossier dated 1878-79

The Reverend Rodger Page (1878-1965) arrived in Tonga in 1908 and, as chairman of the Tonga district of the Methodist Church, worked for a reconciliation with the Tongan Free Church which was established after the Wesleyan Church split in 1885. He was president of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga from 1925 to 1946, the royal chaplain and one of Queen Salote's most trusted political advisers. He retired to Sydney in 1946 returning to Tonga in 1947 to officiate at the double wedding of the Queen's sons. The originator of the scrapbook is unknown although it may well have been the Rev. Ernest E. Crosby (1856-1926).

The scrapbook is now in a very fragile state. Many of the clippings are damaged and some are no longer complete, the missing pieces having been lost. Not all the clippings are in strict chronological order. Most relate to church matters, many of the early entries are concerned with the Rev. Shirley Baker, and there are many about the Tongan Royal Family. Tongan celebrations and notable events are included as are other items of interest such as a tortoise 151 years old, a disappearing island (Fanuafoo or Falcon), sacred flying foxes of Kolovai and the tin-can mail.