Great Britain. High Commission for Western Pacific Islands
Dates
- Existence: 1877 - 1978
Biography
The Western Pacific High Commission (WPHC) was established in 1877 by the Western Pacific Order in Council with the aim of better carrying out the provisions of the Pacific Islanders' Protection Acts, 1872 and 1875, and to provide a civil court for the settlement of disputes between British subjects living in the islands. The jurisdiction of the WPHC included all islands in the Western Pacific not within the limits of the Colonies of Fiji, Queensland, New South Wales, or New Zealand, or within the jurisdictions of any formal European government.
In 1893 a further Order in Council defined the High Commissioner’s executive and legislative powers and extended their jurisdiction to include foreigners and, in most cases, indigenous residents of British settlements or protectorates within the limits of the Order. By 1907 the High Commissioner’s responsibilities included the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (Kiribati and Tuvalu), Tonga, Pitcairn, and the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) including the Banks and Torres Islands.
Initially the role of the WPHC was to control the more unruly and illegal activities of European traders and settlers, especially the traffic of indentured labour, over time however it came to manage most colonial administrative functions in the region including health, taxation, communications, land policy, and public works.
For the first 75 years of its existence, the WPHC was based in Suva, Fiji, where the posts of Western Pacific High Commissioner and Governor of Fiji were held conjointly. In 1952, the two roles were separated and in January 1953 the WPHC headquarters was moved from Suva to Honiara. Here the High Commissioner took over direct administration of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate in addition to their other duties.
The responsibilities of the WPHC declined as the island nations within its jurisdiction achieved independence and in July 1978 the Commission and post of Western Pacific High Commissioner was abolished.
Found in 124 Collections and/or Records:
BCT 1: General correspondence and miscellaneous records.
These records form part of: Great Britain. High Commission for Western Pacific Islands. Western Pacific archives (MSS & Archives 2003/1). Work on fully listing this collection is yet to be completed for further details of record sets 1-42 please see the older finding aid attached as a digital object below. For details of set 43: miscellaneous papers please use Manuscripts and Archives listing.
BCT 2: Records.
I. General correspondence files, subject prefix series. 1954-1970 (1949-1970). II. Indexes and registers of correspondence. III. Inwards and outwards telegrams. 1960-1965. These records form part of the Western Pacific Archives (MSS & Archives 2003/1).
BCT 3: Secret and confidential correspondence files, subject prefix series.
These records form part of the Western Pacific Archives (MSS & Archives 2003/1).
BCT 5: Records.
Collection contains general correspondence files and a small number of unnumbered files.
BCT 6: Secret and confidential files, alphabetical prefix series.
These records form part of the Western Pacific Archives (MSS & Archives 2003/1).
BCT 7: Records.
I. Secret and confidential correspondence files, year/number series. 1922-1954 (1922-1956). II. Unnumbered secret and confidential correspondence files. 1904- 1940. These records form part of the Western Pacific Archives (MSS & Archives 2003/1).
British Agent and Consul, Tonga, records
Collection contains records created and maintained by the British Consulate in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga, including completed passport applications and certificates of identity, Special and Advance Warrants, papers relating to estates administered by HBM Consul in Tonga Miscellaneous, drawings and plans and other miscellaneous records.
Garth Rogers research papers on volcanic eruptions in Niuafo'ou, Tonga.
High Commissioner and Consul General for the Western Pacific papers relating to Tongan Affairs
Collection contains the HBM High Commissioner and Consul-General for the Western Pacific's copies of deeds, despatches, correspondence and other papers relating to Tongan affairs.
High Commissioner's Court for the Western Pacific, New Hebrides, records
Collection includes court minute and evidence, handwritten notes and files relating to court cases, indexes and registers, copies of court orders rules and regulations, cash books and other papers.