Hello thank you for your reply,
I am actually going to be in Noumea myself on 15th Feb and so have sent another email today to advise this and request the documents I require.
I am hoping that I will have success this time. Interestingly there is an island just off Noumea called Amedee island and my ancestor was called Louis Amedee Girard so I am keen to find out if there is a link or if it is a coincidence.
Cheers Theresa