'File 3/1 Agency Buildings. From 1900-1911' [‎70v] (147/523)

Construction of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. building at Bahrein.
No. 220, dated Bahrein, the 20th October 1902.
From— J. Calcott Gaskin , Esq., Assistant Political Ag-ent, Bahrein,
To—The First Assistant to 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bnshire.
I have the honour to forward herewith, in duplicate, the building account
of the new Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. up to the 28th July 1902, with vouchers, showing the ex
penditure up to that date was R25,552-11-9, which is H73-11-9 iu excess of the
original and supplementary grants of £25,480.
I would venture to report that the sums granted by the Government of
India have proved insufficient to complete the building, and as it was impossible
for obvious reasons to suspend operations and there being no competent person to
iudge accurately the probable cost of finishing the house, it was considered best
to proceed therewith and carry on to a point at which it is possible to estimate
what will be required to complete the building. Up to the 18th instant 113,790
have been expended beyond the amount given in the account and a further
sum of R700 will be required. I would therefore respectfully request that the
situation may be explained to the Government of India and an application be
made for another grant of Bi,490 to complete the building and Kl,500 for
furnishing the public reception rooms.
I would beg to explain that the masons in the first instance grossly under
estimated the amount of Gatch and labour required to complete the premises,
also that they overlooked the necessity of employing lime with the Gatch for
plastering the building to withstand the climatic conditions of Bahrein and the
number of rafters also was found to be insufficient and the quantity of clay
was underestimated by 2,000 loads. Paving the house and lower rooms
absorbed a greater amount of stones, labour and Gatch than was calculated upon,
and when plastering the Louse, it was found necessary to use sweet water for
mixing the Gatch, as the well on the premises is impregnated heavily with
mineral salts destructive to binding qualities of Gatch.
The expenditure on the extra works have not been exceeded and the extra
works are completed, except the sea wall which requires about E200 more to
finish it and is included iu the figure mentioned above, as this sum was absorbed
by the building. The flagstaff has been removed and will be erected during
the current week. The roof of the house is being covered with clay, and there
remains only the plastering of the facing of the plinth of the basement and the
sea wall as stated above.
No. 52-E., dated Fort William, the 16th January 1903.
From— J. B. Wood , Esq., Under-Secretary to the Government of India in the
Foreign Department,
To- Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, C.I.E., 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. in the Persian
Gulf.
I am directed to reply to your letter No. 166, dated the 6th December 1902»
requesting sanction to a further expenditure, aggregating R5,990, incurred on
account of the construction of the Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. 's house at Bahrein.
2. The expenditure is sanctioned on the understanding that the total
amount now sanctioned is not again exceeded.