See PMB 432

The histories are:<BR>1. The Beginning of the Mission in Fiji (1842-1936)<BR> 2. Father J.B. Breheret, 1815-1898

Typed extracts from correspondence and documents, principally:<BR>Letter from Fr Verne, first Catholic missionary to Rotuma, 1846 (from Bulletin de la Societe d'Oceanie 12)<BR>Early History of the Catholic Church in Oceania by Jean Baptiste Pompallier, Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania<BR>Circular from Mgr Lamaze to all missionaries of Central and Western Oceania, 1879<BR>L'Histoire de l'Oceanie Centrale by priests of the Vicariat under Mgr Bataillon<BR>Correspondence dated 1872-1874, 1876-1879, 1882, 1889 regarding Catholic-Wesleyan conflict in Rotuma<BR>Full text of letter from Fr Verne describing his visit to Rotuma in 1847 and the establishment of a Catholic mission there<BR>Correspondence regarding the early Catholic mission in Rotuma and the progress of Catholicism there. NOTE: see PMB 428 for information on an index to this material.

See PMB 432

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.<BR>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.<BR>See also PMB 436 for correspondence with Government for the years 1891-98; and PMB 435 for the years 1901-13 and 1916-30.

Letters to Catholic missionaries at Rotuma from Bishops Bataillon, Elloy and Lamaze and Father V-F. Poupinel, written from Apia, Tonga, Wallis, Futuna, Sydney and France. A typed summary in English of the contents of each letter is given at the beginning of the film.

The accounts, by various authors, are as follows:BR>(1) 'Histoire de Rotuma' by Fr Joseph Trouillet, SM. This is in three exercise books covering the periods: a. 'Depuis l'origine des temps fabuleux jusqu'au retour des Missionaires Catholiques, l'an 1868'. b. 'Depuis le retour des Catholiques en 1868 jusqua l'annexion en Juin 1881'. c. 'Depuis Juin 1881-la fin de 1890'. (2) The foregoing 'Histoire de Rotuma' contained in two exercise books labelled 'Ier Cahier' and 'II Cahier'. (3) A journal kept on Rotuma from 1868 to 1871 by Fr L. Dezest, SM (one exercise book labelled 'Journal, Ier Cahier'). (4) A journal kept on Rotuma from 1868 to 1890 first by Fr Dezest, then by Fr Trouillet. (Three exercise books labelled: 'Journal II Cahier,' 'Journal III Cahier' and 'Journal IV Cahier'). (5) An account of Rotuma in about 1824 in Domeny de Rienzi's 'Oceanie', translated by Dr Hugh Macdonald (typescript). (7) An account entitled 'La Premiere Soeur Missionaire a Rotuma' (roneoed). (8) 'Historique de la Station St Michel, Upu, Rotuma', dated 7 April 1949, and signed by L. Soubeyran. (9) 'Historique de la Station Notre Dame des Victoires, Sumi, Rotuma', dated 28 April 1949. (10) Rotuma Brothers' School - Extracts from Council Decisions, 1901-08. (11) Newspaper clippings, 1917, 1932.<BR> An index to manuscript material in the Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Office, Suva, Fiji (reels 159/160; 428/429 and 432-468) was published in the Bureau's newsletter <I>Pambu</I> April-June 1972: 27, pp. 17-20 and is available from the Bureau on request.

The documents and correspondence are in four folders and appear to have been sorted arbitrarily. The contents of the folders cover the following periods:<BR>1. 1868-1930 (principally land acquisition, Catholic-Wesleyan rivalry and Catholic education).<BR>2. 1871-87 (including the consequences of British annexation for the Catholic Church in Rotuma).<BR>3. 1882-1930 (land matters)<BR>4. 1878-1902.<BR>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.<BR><BR>See also PMB 159/160; 432-468

See PMB 432

Correspondence with Government and others re native affairs.

See PMB 432

Minutes of council meetings.

See PMB 432

General letters to Biship J. Vidal, SM. At the end of the reel are private letters from Government House, 1897-1907.

See PMB 432

Letters from Superior-General, Society of Mary