'Second Memorandum on the Lighting and Buoyage of the Persian Gulf' [‎151v] (5/6)

9. It was first proposed to locate the lighthouse
depot at Koweit, but this plan was abandoned in
favour of a site on the land leased by the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company on the island of Abadan, near
Mohammerah. Details are about to be investigated
locally, but the conditions contemplated are, briefly,
that land up to a total of two acres should be
rented at U. an acre for 49 years from the 29th
May 1912, the period of the Company's own lease,
and that the Company should carry out certain
works recommended by the Trinity House,supply
oil (if in accordance with specification), and erect
the necessary oil tanks.
It is hoped that the result of the local investi
gation will enable work at the depot to proceed
without delay. An appreciable saving should
apparently be effected on the cost of the depot, as
originally estimated, through the employment of the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company's agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .
10. In accordance with the recommendation of
Trinity House, certain stores for the depot are being
sent out from England, viz :—
2 spare lighted buoys.
2 spare lanterns.
3 sets of spare buoy moorings.
It is also in contemplation to send out a crane.
11. Mention may here be made of the supply of
two dioptric lanterns for the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire
at an estimated cost of approximately 124^. initial
expenditure, plus 2J per cent, for Trinity House
charges, and 241. annual recurring. The Treasury
took exception to the supply of these lanterns
outside the sanctioned programme, and explanations
were furnished by this Office.
12. In a letter to the Foreign Department,
dated the 11th August 1912, Sir P. Cox has called
attention to " the regrettable consequences, both
" political and economic, that might result from the
" failure of any light, even temporarily," and, with
a view to placing future administrative arrange
ments on a satisfactory footing, has suggested that
for the present the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. should be the
chief lighting authority in (he Gulf and ex officio
Inspector oi Lights,' and that pending the
provision of the lighthouse tender the officer
commanding the R.I.M.S. "Lawrence" should be
gazetted u Assistant Inspector of Lights." He has
also suggested a scale of allowances for officers
and men of the "Lawrence" employed in lighting
and buoyage work.
The views of the Government of India on these
proposals have not yet been received. Any extra
expenditure on this head may perhaps be met out
of savings effected on other parts of the scheme.
The Lisrhthouse Depot.
Letter of Foreign Office to Anglo-
Persian Oil Company, 19th October 1912.
P. 4069/12.
* Letter of Trinity House to India
Office, 25tli April 1912. paragraph 13.
P. 2182/12.
Letter of Trinity House to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
7th October 1912.
P. 3881/12.
Letter of Trinity House to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
25th April 1912.
P. 2182/12.
Stores for the Depot from England.
dia Office to
H2.
P. 3903/12.
Letter of India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to Trinity House,
15th October 1912.
Letter of Trinity House, 7th October
1912.
P. 3881/12.
Two Dioptric Lanterns for Bushire.
Letter of India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to Foreign Office,
28th May 1912.
P. 1803/12.
Letter of India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to Foreign Office,
27th September 1912.
P. 3095/12.
Future Administrative Arrangements.
P. 3599/12.