Maurice M. Witts, (1877-1966) an Australian who fought in the Boer War, went to the New Hebrides as a settler in 1904 after a brief sojourn in Fiji. With two cousins, Theo and Arthur Thomas, he planted coconuts in the Hog Harbour area of Espiritu Santo. He returned to Australia about 1913 and lived in the Moss Vale district until his death.

The diary gives an account of the life of a copra planter in a remote part of the New Hebrides, and contains numerous observations on the natives of the Hog Harbour area. See also PMB 8 for a later diary by Witts for the year 1911.

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

Letters associated with the Roman Catholic Mission New Hebrides (Vanuatu):

1. Letters of Father Casimir Bancarel, S.M. from Talomako (Espiritu Santo) 1901-1905 and 1916, and from Craig Cove and Sesivi (Ambrym) 1906-1913.
2. Letters of Father Pierre Bochu, S.M. from Talomako and Port Olry (Espiritu Santo), 1901-1910.
3. Letters of Father Francois Le Fur, S.M. from Wanour (Pentecost), 1899-1906.
4. Letters of Father Ch. Faure, S.M. from Aoba (Ambae) and Mele (Efate), 1901-1903.
5. Letters of Father Jean Andre Vidil, S.M. from Vao, Malekula, 1894-1897.
6. Letters of Father Gerome Guitta, S.M. from Wala (Malekula), and Port Olry, 1893-1895.
7. Letters of Father Theophile Busson from Wala and Vao (Malekula) 1897-1898.
   Note: Most of the letters on this microfilm are addressed to Monsignor Victor Doucere, S.M., Apostolic Vicar of the New Hebrides.

Dictionaries produced by the Roman Catholic Mission New Hebrides (now Vanuatu):

1. Dictionary of the language of South-West Bay, Malekula, by Father Pierre Chauvel, S.M. (French-South West Bay).
2. Dictionary of the language of Vao, Malekula, by Father Casimir Salomon, S.M. (Vao-French).
3. Dictionary of the language of Olal, Ambrym (French-Olal).
4. Dictionary of the language of Talomako, Big Bay, Espiritu Santo (Talomako-French).
5. Dictionary of the Talomako language of Big Bay, Espiritu Santo, by Father Alphonse Ardouin, S.M., (French-Talomako).