The South Seas Commission Conference, held in Canberra Australia in 1947, established the South Pacific Commission. The first sessions of the South Pacific Commission were held in 1948. The first Research Council meeting was held in 1949 and the first South Pacific Conference in 1950. Between 1947 and 1987, 27 South Pacific Conferences, 13 Research Council, 36 Sessions and sundry progress, evaluation and administrative meetings were held, resulting in over 3400 documents. Printed and published versions of the summaries, i.e. proceedings, of these conferences, etc. have been widely distributed. PMB microfilmed the background documents originally restricted to government delegations. They cover a wide range of activities, and include both the SPC Secretariat's and Island governments' evaluations of projects. They also include papers on socio-economic conditions in Island countries, and proposed projects submitted by the Secretariat or by member governments, as well as examinations by member governments of the Secretariat's administrative and financial policies and infrastructure. A French version (PMB Doc 400F) exists but is defective and has not been distributed. Copies of the inventory to the French version are on file in the Bureau. For further descriptions of the English version see <I>Pambu</I> 3(1) 1988.

For microfilming each document and its attachments was assigned an individual serial number beginning with the first document. The individual serial number also appears on the index worksheet prepared for each document. Each volume (= set of documents for a particular meeting) was filed, in order of date, with the other volumes for a particular year i.e. documents 0001-0010 for 1947, 0011-0073 for 1948 etc. A detailed contents list (year: document numbers: corresponding volume title: reel no.) appears in the preliminaries of Reel 1. The following contents list shows: the reel number: years covered: first and last document number: abbreviated title:<BR>R 1: 1947-48, Docs 0001-0266, South Seas Commission: SPCommission Sessions (1-4): Working Committees Res. Council (1)<BR>R 2: 1949-50, Docs 0267-0272, Prog. Reports<BR>R 3: 1950, Docs 0275-0513, SPC (1): Sess (5): Res. Cnc. (3)<BR>R 4: 1951-52, Docs 0514-0676, Sess (7-10): Res. Cnc. (3-4)<BR>R 5: 1953-56, Docs 0677 - 1150, SPC (2-3): Sess (11-16): Res. Cnc. (6-7)<BR>R 6: 1957-58, Docs 1152-1420, Review: Res. Cnc.. (8-9): Sess (17-18)<BR>R 7: 1959-60, Docs 1421-1647, SPC (4): Sess (19-21): Res. Cnc. (10-11)<BR>R 8: 1961-62, Docs 1648-1801, Res. Cnc. (12): Sess (22-24): SPC (5)<BR>R 9: 1963-65, Docs 1802-1946, Res. Cnc. (13): Sess (25-28): SPC (6)<BR>R 10: 1966-69, Docs 1947-2057, Sess (29-31): SPC (7-9)<BR>R 11: 1969-72, Docs 2058-2206, Sess (33-35): SPC (10-12)<BR>R 12: 1972-74, Docs 2207-2435, Sess (35-36): SPC (13-14): Plan. Cmt. (4)<BR>R 13: 1975, Docs 2436-2503, Plan. Cmt. (5): Cmt. Rep.: SPC (15)<BR>R 14: 1976-77, Docs 2504-2668, Rev. Cmt.: P&E (6-7): Cmt. Rep.: SPC (17)<BR>R 15: 1978-79, Docs 2669-2817, P&E (8-9): Cmt. Rep.: SPC (18-19)<BR>R 16: 1980-81, Docs 2818-2904, Cmt. Rep.: P&E (10-11): SPC (20)<BR>R 17: 1981, Docs 2905-2977, P&E (11): Cmt. Rep.: SPC (21)<BR>R 18: 1982-84, Docs 2978-3174, Cmt. Rep.: P&E (12): SPC (22-23): S.G. Rev.: CRGA (1)<BR>R 19: 1984-86, Docs 3175-3343, CRGA (2-6): SPC (24-26)<BR>R 20: 1987, Docs 3344-3404, CRGA (7-8): SPC (?

Sir Colin Allan was an administrator in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). He first served as District Officer Nggela, Western Solomons, then D.O. and District Commissioner Western (1946-1948), D.O. Choiseul and Ysabel (1948), D.O. Malu`u (1949) and finally District Commissioner Malaita (1950-1952) at the time of the Maasina Rule (also Maasina Ruru and Marching Rule).
After World War II, there were efforts by the colonial administration to extend European use of land. A Special Lands Commission was established to examine local land customs and make recommendations on the use of unclaimed land. He was appointed by the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific to be Special Lands Commissioner on 10 July 1953.

This set of five diaries cover a significant amount of Allan’s BSIP tenure, but not the full period. The diaries begin on 1 January, 1947, with a voyage on board the ‘Myrtle’ through the Western District, where Allan was Assistant District Commissioner, then District Commissioner. The diaries end in 1954 after the Special Lands Commission, however no diary for 1952 was transferred to Pacific Manuscripts Bureau.

Diary 1 covers the periods 1 January – 28 November 1947, 28 June – 11 August 1948, then 1 January – 28 March, 1949. There are brief descriptions for most days indicating professional and personal activities. During 1947, he describes visits to various villages in the Western District noting movement of people and vessels, trade, weather conditions, local disputes and crimes and a word list (language unknown). During 1948, he documents the establishment of the Choiseul office, notes demographic information and bureaucratic matters. From 1949, Allan takes the post of D.O. in Malu’u, Malaita during the period of Maasina Rule (also Maasina Ruru and Marching Rule). His diary entries are brief but make reference to early colonial politics, the Maasina Rule movement and associated raids, arrests and imprisonments. He also refers to land matters, native courts and census collections.

Diary 2 (1948) has only sporadic entries, mostly reporting on village visits and bureaucratic activities. This diary also contains a list of plantations and owners on Isabel/Ysabel, meeting resolutions, lists of fines and accounts. There is also a reference to Belamataga’s Guadalcanal Freedom Movement.

Diary 3 (1949) has only sporadic entries, beginning in April and ending in October. The diary begins in Malu’u, Malaita, with observations about other administrators and missionaries, as well as arrest numbers. Entries from August detail travel in England.

Diary 4 (1950-51) covers the period 29 May 1950-9 Jan 1951, having returned to Honiara from London to the news he will be posted to Malaita to take over from Acting DC Stanley Masterman. On arrival, and throughout, he writes of his concerns over the Maasina Rule situation. As he tours Malaita, he writes of colonial administrative politics, arguments around tax collection, religious affiliations in different areas, movement of workers/labour, village politics, local infrastructure matter such as schools and hospitals. He goes on tour with the Resident Commissioner. Throughout he discusses Ariari (‘Are’are) and Kwarae people.

Diary 5 (1953-54, 1956) has a typed report (11pp) relating to the Special Lands Commission inserted in the front of the diary. The report covers an investigative visit to the Western Solomons between July-September, 1953. The diary itself contains handwritten notes on the Special Lands Commission investigations, covering the period May-June 1953 in Honiara, before visiting villages throughout the Western District during the period July-September, then October-November, 1953. Allan returns to Honiara in December 1953 to continue work on the report. During 1954, he tours Central Province and Guadalcanal until 2 April, 1954. The diary resumes on 24 July 1956, explaining it was paused while the Lands Commission was suspended and he took leave in England. From July, Allan tours the Eastern District. The diary ends on his return to Honiara on 14 December, 1956.

Fortnightly newsletter in New Guinea Pidgin. Starts Volume 1, No.28 - No.41; Volume 2, No.2 - No.14.

This collection consists of newsletters of the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA) from September 1946 - September 1950. The 'Monthly Notes' newsletter ran from September 1946 (Vol.1, No.1) - August 1947 (Vol.1, No.12). There is also a Monthly Notes Index. In September 1947, the newsletter name changed to 'South Pacific', which ran until 1959. This set of newsletters was collected by ASOPA student Carl Franke, who served as a cadet agriculturalist in the Territory of Papua-New Guinea in 1947-1948 (see PMB MS 1445). This collection also includes miscellaneous Territory of Papua reports collected by Franke.

This collection includes:

• 'Monthly Notes', Vol.1 - Vol.1, No.12; September 1946 - August 1947
• 'Monthly Notes Index', September 1946 - August 1947
• 'South Pacific', Vol.2 - Vol.4, No.9; September 1947 - August/September 1950. Incomplete: Vol.4, No.7;June 1950 was not available for digitisation.
• 'South Pacific Law Review (Supplement to South Pacific), Vol.1, No.1 - Vol.1, No.8; July 1948-June 1950
• Territory of Papua. Lands, Surveys and Forestry. (ID 1609/27)
• Territory of Papua. Economic Geology and Mining. (ID 1610/27)

Photographs of Papua New Guinea taken or collected by Peter Grimshaw, possibly including some of the missing ones from the Mt Hagen series. It seems Grimshaw collected several of the photographs and some have been identified as likely taken by Michael J. Leahy in the 1930s

This collection of 44 photographs documents time spent by Gwen and Tom Taylor at Buin Area School and Kerema in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea from 1945 to 1961. Most of the photographs relate to Buin Area School and document the physical appearance of the school and various aspects of life there. These include photographs of students in classrooms, making cane furniture, weaving, swimming and gardening. Several photographs show Gwen Taylor holding babies and being pictured with nuns. Tom Taylor is pictured in a classroom and mention is made of his role as the principal of the school at Buin. Some of the photographs depict special occasions and ceremonial events being celebrated by local people. There are good examples of houses, school buildings and a church. One photograph depicts the purchase of a new truck and there are a few photographs depicting canoes, including an outrigger canoe. Also pictured are boats, including the MV Gona. One photo appears to show artillery at Kokopo. A few photographs feature non-local adults and children posing for the camera. One photograph shows a large cloud of smoke and appears to be the burning of garden. Another shows an explosion in the sea.

A Solomon Islands Branch of the Queensland Kanaka Mission was formed in 1904. It established a principal 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. Post-war issues of 'Solomon Soldiers’ News' cover the political events in Malaita.

Nos 1-163, 1945-1966

Captain Singh, of the Dogra regiment, relates that the Indians "left Singapore on 5 May 1943 in seven parties each consisting of about 600 - three of the parties went to New Britain and the other four came to New Guinea", ie. Wewak.

Professor Hank Nelson gave the PMB a cover note on Singh's 'Brief Sketch', as follows: "Singh wrote another brief account of his time in New Guinea as a prisoner of war of the Japanese, 'The Experiences of an Indian Prisoner of War in New Guinea", The Infantry Journal, Vol.1, No.1, July 1949, pp.56-62. In the journal article he notes that the 'irony of fate reached its climax' when of the eleven Indians who survived with the Japanese until the end of the War, nine were put on an aircraft to fly them out of New Guinea and it crashed, killing all nine. Singh, who was not on the flight, was then the only survivor. From the 3,000 Indians originally landed in the Sepik in May 1943 another 191 had survived, liberated by advancing Australians before the end of the War. One of these men, Sepoy Bachan Singh, provided evidence for the Tokyo War Crimes Trials."

Professor Nelson adds that “a copy of Chint Singh’s reminiscences written in Wewak is in the UPNG Library and (I think) the Australian War Memorial.”

The document is a roneoed typescript, 61ppp., dated 4 Nov 1945. It was passed to the PMB by Professor Donald Denoon, who worked at the University of Papua New Guinea. At the time, the author was unable to be contacted. The author's son, Narinder Parmar, has since been identified.

Robert Melrose was born in Hay, NSW, on 5 April 1890. He served as a Telegraphist in the Royal Australian Navy on HMAS Yarra in New Guinea waters. He joined the civil administration of the Mandated territory of New Guinea as a Patrol Officer on 9 May 1921. He served initially as an Assistant District Officer to Colonel John Walstab in Kavieng, New Ireland, 1921-1924, than became District Officer at Manus 1924-1926, Aitape 1926-1931, Kavieng 1931-1933, Rabaul and Salamaua until 1936/37, and then at Rabaul till late 1941, when the Department of District Services and Native Affairs was transferred to Lae with the Administrator. At that time Robert Melrose was Assistant Director, then Director, of the Department.
Robert Melrose returned to the Territory after the War as Government Secretary based in Port Moresby. He sufferred a massive heart attack and returned to Australia in April 1949. During his retirement, Melrose served on a Committee interviewing applicants for government posts in PNG and also served as Honorary Secretary/Treasurer of the newly formed Retired Officers Association of PNG till his death in September 1959.
<BR><P>(Note by Geoff Melrose.)

In January 1942 two parties evacuated Lae and Salamaua in front of the appoaching Japanese forces. One group of young fit people, led by Nick Penglase, went via Wau, Waria valley to Buna and Kokoda. The remaining group of 34, led by Robert Melrose, travelled by pinnace and canoe to Morobe and Buna and then overland to Kokoda.
<BR>Diary of escape from Salamaua, Territory of New Guinea. Ms (faint pencil and pen), 22 Jan-19 Feb 1942
<BR>Transcript of diary, 22 Jan-19 Feb 1942, by Geoffrey Melrose. Ms., p/c.
<BR>Notebook and letterbook (letters-out), Apr-Jul 1941, Feb 1942
<BR>Notebook: list of personnel, stores, provisions and expenditure, n.d.

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.