MS 2819
Papers of Justice Ralph Thomas Gore (1888-1968)



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1930-1964
  • 1.4m. (10 boxes)
  • Available for reference

The papers were donated to the Library by Gore's widow in 1969.

The papers comprise correspondence with the Administrator, Government House, Port Moresby; business correspondence; prisoner applications for early release; Appeal Board papers; legal reports; transcripts of criminal and civil cases; Territory of Papua Annual report for 1929-30; a typescript by Paul Quinlivan on colonialism and ownership of land in New Guinea and other papers relating mainly to trials heard by Gore in Papua and Papua New Guinea.

Biographical Note

Ralph Thomas Gore was born in Glen Innes, NSW, on 4 October 1888. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School and was called to the Queensland Bar in 1915. He was Associate to Sir Samuel Griffith in 1915-16 and then served in the AIF. He practised at the Queensland Bar in 1919-24 and became Crown Law Officer in Papua in 1924. He was Judge of the Supreme Court of Papua 1928-42 and Judge of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea 1945-62. He died in 1968.

Gore's autobiography, Justice versus sorcery was published in 1965.


Series Descriptions

Box 1

Folder
1Correspondence from Gore to Donald M. Cleland, the Administrator, Government House, Port Moresby, mostly relating to the cases of prisoners Gore tried, 1953-58. Letter to Gore, 1943 relating to his inclusion in Biographical encyclopedia of the world. Correspondence relating to prisoners interviewed by Gore, 1960.
2Business correspondence addressed to Gore and papers relating to legal problems and judgements of trials heard by Gore, 1946-61.
3Copy of Territory of Papua Annual report, 1929-30. Contains a report on crime written by Gore.
4Judgements, statements, summaries and other papers relating to judgements of trials heard by Gore, 1949-61.
5Judgements and other papers relating to appeals heard by Gore, 1941-64.
6Sentences of recorded death penalty: recommendations to the Administrator, Government House. Manuscripts and typescripts dealing with applications of law in Papua New Guinea, 1952-61.
7Correspondence with the Administrators Colonel J.K. Murray and Donald M. Cleland, 1945-54.
8Details of cases heard by Gore, some correspondence to the Administrator and some manuscripts of the judge's summing up and instructions to jury, 1948-61.
9Typescript by Paul Quinlivan on colonialism and ownership of land in New Guinea inscribed and dated 1964.

Boxes 2-10

Manuscript volumes inscribed with the spine titles 'Circuit criminals', 'PM criminal' and 'Telefomin trials', 1948-62. The volumes contain transcripts of criminal and civil cases.

Box
2Civil 2-7 6 June 1949-21 April 1960
3Civil 8 21 April 1961-1 Mar. 1962
Circuit criminal 9 July 1948-28 Aug 1952
4Circuit criminal 28 Aug 1952-13 May 1957
5Circuit criminal 14 May 1957-15 Sept 1960
6Circuit criminal 21 Mar 1960-30 Mar 1961
Port Moresby criminal 9 Dec 1947-25 June 1948
7Port Moresby criminal 12 Mar 1948-25 June 1953
8Port Moresby criminal 26 June 1953-26 June 1958
9Port Moresby criminal 26 June 1958-31 Aug 1961
Telefomin Trials Books A-B July-Aug 1954
10 Telefomin Trials Book C Aug 1954
Territory of Papua. Outline of procedure before magistrates in criminal jurisdiction (1930)
The economic development of Papua and New Guinea: address by the Minister of State for Territories The Hon Paul Hasluck (1961)
Papua and New Guinea law reports 1964
Revised Motu grammar and vocabulary by Rev. R. Lister-Turner and Rev. J.B. Clark n.d.