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 (?

The Marshall Islands Journal is the newspaper of the Marshall Islands. It began in 1966 and was known as:
1967-1969 – The Marshall Islands Journal
1970-1973 – Micronitor (starting in Dec 1973 [Vol 4 no. 46], changes title to Micronesian Independent)
1974- mid-1980 – Micronesian Independent
1980-2016 – The Marshall Islands Journal Some articles in this newspaper relate to other Pacific Islands as well as the Marshall Islands.

The newspaper was established by Joe Murphy and Mike Malone, two Irish-American expatriates who were in the Marshall Islands. [They claim to have started in 1970; the first three volumes from 1966-1969 appear to have been published by others].

The newspaper was published usually once a week, sometimes monthly, although some weeks it was not published and throughout the 1980s it was sometimes produced as regularly as 3 times per week when Dan Smith, a former Peace Corps Volunteer assisted.

The newspaper set up offices in Truk (Chuuk) and Ponape (Pohnpei) and Saipan. It appeared in other Trust Territory districts under the alias of Marianas Weekly or Ponape Sun. The newspaper simply made print runs using a different masthead.

Giff Johnson became the editor in 1984 and assumed day-to-day responsibility for the newspaper. Giff continues to work as the editor today in 2016.

This collection of 36 postcards and photographs was amassed by Sr. Rhoda Ransom. Sr Rhoda Ransom was born in Maryborough Victoria, 29 Dec 1887 and worked as a nursing sister with the Methodist Mission in New Guinea from July 1912 until March 1913 when she returned to Australia suffering from malaria and rheumatic problems in her legs.
The majority of the collection is post card prints from the New Guinea Methodist mission series, some with notes and letters on the reverse side. Some of the post card print labels are in German. There is a family photograph (possibly taken around the time of WWI?), a passport photograph of Rhoda Ransom in 1949 and a photographic print of Rhoda Ransom in old age.

Nigel Oram was an ethnologist and academic. In 1946, after military service in World War II, he read history at Oxford University. This was followed by a career in the British Colonial Service in East Africa and Uganda. In 1961, Oram helped set up the New Guinea Research Unit, Port Moresby, which was an offshoot of the Australian National University. His role was to undertake social research. To facilitate his information gathering, Oram learnt the Motu and Hula languages. In 1969, he was appointed a fellow at the University of Papua New Guinea, where he remained from 1969 to 1975. Oram returned to Australia where he taught history for nine years at La Trobe University and where, upon his retirement, he became an honorary senior research fellow. An extensive collection of Oram’s PNG research papers is held at the National Library of Australia (MS 9436).

The mystery of Guise: conflict between missionaries, colonial administrators and foreign traders during the British New Guinea Protectorate, Ts., 29pp., is a biography of Reginald Edward Guise, grandfather of Sir John Guise, G.C.M.G., K.B.E., Hon. Ll.D., the first Governor-General of the independent state of Papua New Guinea. This version of Nigel Oram’s manuscript dates from sometime after 1994. In the late 1990s Oram’s health went steadily down hill, and completing the manuscript was beyond him. After Oram’s death, Janet Fingleton rescued the manuscript from her father’s computer. Donald Denoon has since worked on an edited version of this paper which is to be submitted to the Journal of Pacific History. This is a complete copy of the existing manuscript, but note that the references and some of the footnotes are missing.

Early issues of the <i>New Hebrides Magazine</i> were edited by Dr William Gunn of Aneityium and promoted by Rev. Dr Robertson of Erromanga under the auspices of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria. Dr Gunn also printed some of the early issues. The Synod then decided that the journal should be printed in Australia. A few issues were printed in Sydney, but after 1905 it was printed by Arbuckle, Waddell & Fawckner in Melbourne. In 1905 Rev. T Wattlegatt of Malekula became Editor for about three years, but he moved to Victoria in 1906 and as he felt out of touch with the New Hebrides resigned as Editor. Rev. F H L Paton, Foreign Missions Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria then took over as Editor. The <i>New Hebrides Magazine</i> was succeeded by <i>Our Missionaries at work : a journal of missionary information</i> (Vol.1, no.1-Vol.6, no.4, Dec 1911-Oct 1917) issued by the Presbyterian Church in Victoria.

Nos.1-41, Oct 1900-Oct 1911. See Finding aids for details.

'The Solomons News Drum' was a weekly newspaper published by the Solomon Islands Government. A trial edition was published on 25 Oct 1974 followed by a further 366 issues published from 7 Feb 1975 until 7 May 1982. The name of the newspaper changed to the 'News Drum' in July 1979. Its predecessor was the 'BSI News Sheet'; it was succeeded by 'Solomon Islands News'.

Reel 1 'The Solomon News Drum' trial edition 25 Oct 1974; Nos.1-46, 7 Feb-19 Dec 1975;
Reel 2 Nos.47-96, 9 Jan-17 Dec 1976;
Reel 3 Nos.97-147, 7 Jan-23 Dec 1977;
Reel 4 Nos.148-195, 13 Jan-22 Dec 1977; Nos.196-220, 12 Jan-29 Jun 1979; 'News Drum' Nos.221-245, 6 Jul-21 Dec 1979;
Reel 5 Nos.246-295, 11 Jan-19 Dec 1980;
Reel 6 Nos.296-348, 9 Jan-25 Dec 1981; Nos. 349-360, 362, 8 Jan-9 Apr 1982.

‘The Times of Papua New Guinea’ newspaper (also ‘The Times’ and ‘The Times of PNG’) was launched in September 1980 and ran until 1995. It was published by Word Publishing Company, Boroko, Port Moresby. Franz Albert Joku was editor from 1980-1995. Published on Fridays from 1980, a second edition, ‘The Mid Week Times’ was introduced on Tuesdays from August 1982. This run is from September 1980-December 1982 only.

In May 1995, it was rebranded ‘The Saturday Independent’ and later ‘The Independent’.

Dr. Bryant Allen submitted this thesis as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University in 1969. In 1976 he completed a PhD at the Australian National University titled Information flow and innovation diffusion in the East Sepik district, Papua New Guinea.

Dr. Allen carried out research in the Cook Islands in the 1960s and in Papua New Guinea from the 1970s to the present. His main interests are in the sustainability of agricultural systems and rural development. He has studied a number of PNG agricultural systems and has defined, mapped and described all PNG agricultural systems with Mike Bourke and Robin Hide. He has used the agricultural systems databases, to identify poor and disadvantaged areas in PNG, and has worked on food security and on the social and economic aspects of road maintenance. He is a co-author of the PNG Rural Development Handbook. He now works as a consultant for AusAID, FAO and the World Bank.

Foreward
Preface
Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Plates
Glossary of Terms

Introduction, p.1
Chapter I: The Mangaian Environment, p.3
Mangaia, p.3
Mangaian ecological conceptions, p.4
Soils, p.8
Climate, p.12
Mangaian crops, p.14
Ecological zones and land use, p.19

Chapter II: The Mangaian Society, p.28
Major population trends, 1821-1966, p.28
District populations, p.36
Social organisation, p.44
Land tenure, p.48
The village, p.53
Changing social status, p.57

Chapter III: Traditional Agriculture and the Cultivation of Food Crops, p.79
Present patterns of cultivation, p.65
Animals, p.76

Chapter IV: The Development of Commercial Agriculture
Initial moves towards surplus agricultural production, p.79
The introduction of cash crops, p.82
Increased contacts with the advanced economy, p.85
Post 1945 advances in commercial agriculture, p.92
Technological aid and a new market, p.92
Conclusions, p.96

Chapter V: The Extent of Commercialisation in 1967, p.101
Pineapple production, p.101
Sources of income, p.106
Technology, p.118
Patterns of labour, p.129
The use of credit, p.138
The occupational status of agriculture, p.143
Commercialisation and the perception of problems, p.154
Entrepreneurial activity, p.154
Conclusion, p.161

Conclusion, p.164

Appendices

Dr. Andras Balint was a linguist based at the University of Papua New Guinea from 1965-1973, with an ongoing interest in ‘the emerging New Guinean dialect of English’, or Tok Pisin. He promoted the use of Tok Pisin in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea and amassed an extensive collection of Tok Pisin publications, mainly published by the Territory of Papua and New Guinea government and various missionary presses.

Tok Pisin publications on agriculture, health, education and literacy, government, religious texts, children’s books, grammars and phrase books, etc. Also some publications in local indigenous languages (Tok Ples) such as Fore and Atzera, some English publications concerning Tok Pisin, and one short typescript manuscript in Tok Pisin on an account of a first time visit to Port Moresby.

The Balint collection is divided under the following headings: Agriculture, Bible stories, Religious tracts etc., General, Health, Literacy/Primers/Readers/Grammars and Tok Pisin pubilcations.
A summary of the content of each of the collections is below.

Agriculture
This collection ranges from the late 1960s to early 1970s. It includes various guides and public awareness publications focusing on increasing agricultural skills and output. A number of topics are coveredincluding growing rubber, passion fruit and coconuts along with guides on animal husbandry. These texts are primarily in Tok Pisin and English.

Bible stories, Religious tracts etc.
This collection includes publications from the 1930s until the early 1970s. The texts focus on bibles stories, extracts from the bible translated into Tok Pisin and stories of missionaries to PNG. There are also publications of reports on PNG by Christian organizations and hymns recorded in Tok Ples (local language). Publications are either in English, Tok Pisin or bilingual.

General
These publications date from the early 1970s. They are a collection of short stories and information booklets recorded in Tok Pisin and Tok Ples. Their content focuses on public awareness and covers topics such as the introduction of currency, local and international geography, insurance and basic skills and knowledge of carpentry. There is also a collection of short stories and poems.

Health
This collection ranges from the late 1960s to early 1970s. The publications cover various illnesses and include information such as prevention, symptoms and treatment. Public awareness and treatment of Malaria is of a particular focus.

Literacy/Primers/Readers/Grammars
This collection includes publications from the 1950s to the early 1970s. It includes a number of shorts stories and grammars in both Tok Pisin and local languages. The majority of these texts are design to supplement and assist in understanding, speaking and writing in Tok Pisin. This collection also includes a trilingual English, French and Tok Pisin phrase book.

Tok Pisin
These publications range from the 1950s to the early 1970s. They examine Tok Pisin and language in PNG in detail. Some of the texts focus on currents affairs in language and also more broadly with one publication in a newsletter format.

See Finding aids for details.