Mr Cockburn provided a brief outline of his time in Papua New Guinea from Christmas 1949 to April 1976. His postings were, in sequence, with Dept. of Native Affairs which later became Dept. of the Administrator, as follows:.
• Eastern District, Papua:- Esa Ala, Bolubolu, Samarai.
• Western District, Papua:- Daru
• New Ireland District, New Guinea:- Taskul, New Hanover (Lavongai)
• East New Britain District:- Pomio, Rabaul.
• East Sepik District:- Maprik
• New Ireland District:- Kavieng, The last three years with the Dept. of Law as Resident Magistrate at Kavieng.
See also PMB Photo 54, Michael and Margaret Cockburn, Papua New Guinea slides. 1941-1970.

Reports of patrols carried out by Mr Cockburn while stationed at Daru, 1952-1953, and related papers, as follows:
Daru Patrol No.5 of 1951/1952, 18 Apr – 14 May 1952;
Daru Patrol No.9 of 1951/1952, 15 Jun-5 Jul 1952
Daru Patrol No.2 of 1952/1953, 12-16 Aug 1952
Daru Patrol No.3 of 1952/1953, 22-30 Sep 1952
Daru Patrol No.4 of 1952/53, 9-30 Jan 1953
Daru Patrol No.5 of 1952/1953, 12-17 Feb 1953
Daru Patrol No.6 of 1952/53, 23 Mar-18 Apr 1953
Daru Patrol No.1 of 1953/54, 26 Jul-20 Oct 1953
Daily diary, including on exploration patrol, Daru Patrol No.1of 1953/54, Jan-Oct 1953;
Outline of talk by M.J. Cockburn to Baptist Men’s Dinner, Stroud, 30 Oct 1993.
See Finding aids for details.