The papers are part of the Oliver-Bellasis collection, placed on permanent loan to the Museum in 1936 by Captain Oliver-Bellasis. They consist of a notebook kept in the Queen; a general order and memoranda book, 1840 to 1850; a letterbook, 1847 to 1851, and a diary, 1848 to 1850, kept in the Fly, describing Oliver's time in New Zealand and a voyage to the New Hebrides.

Administrative / biographical background
Oliver was the son of Admiral Robert Oliver (q.v.). He entered the Navy in 1825 and became a lieutenant in 1838. He was in the Queen in the Mediterranean from 1842 to 1844 and was promoted to commander in 1844. In 1847 he was appointed to command the Fly in Australian and New Zealand waters. Following his return home in 1851 he served during the Crimean War and was promoted to captain in 1854 but from then had no further service. He retired in 1864 and rose to the rank of admiral on the retired list.