For details see PMB Doc 34

Nos. 28-54, April 1900 - October 1906

Early issues published under the title New Hebrides South Sea Island Quarterly Jottings of the John G. Paton Mission Fund, edited by Rev. James Paton, a member of the Paton family which was very active for many years in the New Hebrides Presbyterian Mission. Place of publications and publishing body vary. For further details and contents see R. Langdon (ed) An index to Quarterly Jottings from the New Hebrides ... (Canberra: PMB, 1988)

Nos. 1-27, July 1893-Jan 1900

Members of the Young, Deck and Grant families established the Queensland Kanaka Mission in 1886 and extended it to various centres along the Queensland coast. A Solomon Islands Branch of the Queensland Kanaka Mission was formed in 1904. It established a principal mission station at Onepusu on the west coast of Malaita in 1905 and changed its name to the South Sea Evangelical Mission in 1907. The Mission continued to operate in the Solomon Islands, and in New Guinea after World War II, till it was localised in the 1980s.

• 'Queensland Kanaka Mission Annual Report', Nos.1-9, 1887-1895
• ‘Not in Vain.’ What God hath wrought amongst the Kanakas in Queensland, (Annual Reports, cont.), Nos.10-28, 1895-1914
• South Sea Evangelical Mission, Not in Vain (Annual Statistics)', 1915-1919
• SSEM Letters by Northcote Deck and others (untitled, un-numbered series), 1909-1919
• SSEM Letters, includes Annual Statistics and Financial Report (untitled series continued), Nos.1-26, 1920-27; followed by
• Not in Vain, Nos.29-297, 1928-1995 (Nos. 163, 176, 270, 273, 294 and 295 are missing), includes Annual Statistics and Financial Report, 1928-1975.

See Finding aids for details.

The author of this manuscript, generally known as Gordon Thomas, was born in Chicago, USA, in 1890 and died in Sydney in 1966. After schooling in England, Germany and Switzerland, he began a newspaper career in Canada. In 1911 he joined the Methodist Mission in New Guinea as a printer, and later worked as a planter, trader and oil driller in that territory. He was editor of the 'Rabaul Times' from 1925-27 and 1933-42. An obituary of Thomas was published in 'Pacific Islands Monthly' for August, 1966, pp. 9-10.

When the Japanese invaded Rabaul, New Britain, in January 1942, they captured about 300 European civilians. All but half a dozen of these were removed from Rabaul in the 'Montevideo Maru', which was sunk with all hands before reaching her destination, Japan. Thomas was one of the few Europeans who was kept back by the Japanese - to work as a rouseabout at the freezer and power station. 'Rabaul - 1942-45' is an account of Thomas' life as a prisoner-of-war in New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

See also PMB 600.

Records of the Melanesian Mission, New Hebrides (Vanuatu) from the period 1857-1968. Including the following:

1. Baptismal Register of St Paul's Church, Lolowai, and from ketch Patteson, 1928-1968, with Register of Burials, St Paul's Church, Lolowai, 1929-1964, and Marriages, 1929-1965.
2. Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, at Mera Lava, 1917-1963, copied from the original register, 1967.
3. Names of Birds in Various Languages of the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides.
4. An Account of the Huqe (or Suqe) of Nduindui, Aoba (Ambae), written c.1930; found among the papers of Archdeacon A.E. Teall, Archdeacon of Southern Melanesia, d.1966.
5. Vocabularies of and stories in various languages of the New Hebrides [including Pentecost, Maewo, Ambae, Torres Islands and Banks Islands] - Vocabularies of North, Central and South Raga; story in Mota; Vocabularies of Mota, Tegua and Toga; Loh-English Dictionary; Notes on Loh Grammar; Maewo Vocabularies; Stories in the Aoba Language.
6. Family Prayers and Communion for the Sick in the Language of Lakona, Santa Maria, Banks Islands, with English translations.
7. Melanesian Mission Papers, 1891-1934, mainly relating to land matters.
8. History and Diary of Aoba, 1857-1922, by Father A.S. Webb.
9. Records of Events and Register of the Melanesian Mission at Maewo.
10. Mota-Maewo Vocabulary.

Records of the Societe des Etudes Oceaniennes, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia:

1. Documents concerning Ernest Darling, the Nature Man, 1913-18. (See also the Bureau's newsletter 'Pambu' 1969:14, pp. 1-9)
2. A document concerning the establishment of the French protectorate over Rurutu, Rimatara and dependencies, March 27, 1889.
3. Miscellaneous manuscripts of Xavier Caillet (1822-1901).
4. Miscellaneous documents relating to the reign of Queen Pomare IV.
5. Autobiography (in Tahitian) of Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai (1875-1952), a notable Tahitian chief and orator.
6. Newspaper clippings concerning an old cannon found in the pass of Papeete in 1963.

Kalsakau became chief of Fila Island in 1908 and held that position for many years. He was a member of one of the most notable New Hebridean families of Efate. His three sons, Graham, John and Makau are (1969) also outstanding members of the New Hebridean community.

1. Lists of important dates and events in Kalsakau's career and family life.
2. Record of births and deaths (1908-1961)
3. Accounts relating to business, household and the marriage feast of his son Makau (March 1, 1945)
4. Record (September 1956) of visit by Gen. and Mme de Gaulle
5. Centenary Celebrations, Erakor, 1st May, 1945 - an account of the settlement of Erakor by the early missionaries.
6. School fees collected in 1943 - list of families and amount paid.
7. Lease of land owned by Kalsakau.
8. Celebration of the 105th Anniversary of the New Hebrides Presbyterian Mission, May 1, 1950.
9. Correspondence regarding residency of Fila Island Reserve.
10. Discipline book (1911-1943) in which fines and other punishments against members of Kalsakau's village are recorded.

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 copra trade was the core business of the Deutches Handel und Plantagen Gesselschaft. The company had monopoly recruiting rights enabling it to draw labour for its plantations in Samoa from the eastern New Guinea islands and the northern Solomon Islands. The labour registers give the number and name of the labourer, his or her village and district. The registers also note the plantation on which the labourer worked and transfers to employment elsewhere. If applicable, the date and cause of death is noted. There was a high mortality. Otherwise the register notes the date of return. There is also a column for further notes.

Arbeiter Register, Nos.6367-7832, 25 May 1887-24 Feb 1891 [16 Mar 1891];
Arbeiter Register, Nos.7833-9409, 16 Mar 1891-Jan 1897;
Arbeiter Register, Nos.9406-10128, Nos.1-1237, Jan 1897-Jan 1906;
Arbeiter Register, Nos.1238-3187, Jan 1906-Sep 1913.

See also SSEM correspondence, 1890-1946, at PMB 1150; Not in Vain, 1887-1995, at PMB Doc 439; Despatches from the SSEM, Mar 1932-Jul 1956, at PMB Doc 440; and Solomon Soldiers’ News, 1945-1966, at PMB Doc 441.

Reel 1
Queensland Kanaka Mission. List of Baptisms, Nos. 1-1369, 1886-1900
Notes on baptised people, cross referenced to QKM List of Baptisms, above, 1902(?).
Solomons Baptisms Register, Nos. 1-1203, 1902-1905.
Solomons Register of Baptisms, Nos. 1204-2811, 1915-1922.
Solomons Baptisms Register, Nos. 2812-5821, 1922-1932.
Solomons Baptisms Register, Nos. 5822-9310, 1932-Mar 1946.
Solomons Baptisms Register, Nos. 9311-14796, 1946-1962.
New Guinea Baptism Record Book, Nos. 1-3180, 1958-1973.
Reel 2
Miss L. Drewitt. List of Villagers visiting Mission (One Pesi?), 1927-1951.
Furlough Lists (2 volumes). Lists time spent by staff in the Islands, 1907-1965.
Grammar Notes and English-Makira Vocabulary WB [Wanoni Bay], arranged by Miss Waterson. Ts., carbon; c.80pp., (first page missing), 1931.