Coll 30/9(2) 'Admin. Reports of the Persian Gulf - 1945 -' [‎165r] (329/1148)

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summer by running water barges from Abadan, and have repaired
and are in the process of extending, the bitumen road running
irom the Dasman Balace towards the main square of the town,
ihey have also icept in operation the three desert water wells
fitted with windmill pumps which they presented to the ShaiKh
in 1942 and 1943.
Since August they have been making an extensive
meteorological survey, and latterly marine and coastal surveys
to collect data on which to base plans for future development *
and a combined British and American Technical Mission has
visited Kuwait to examine the problems involved.
In November Mr. C.M. Roseburgh, Chief Pipe-Line
Engineer of the Gulf Oil Corporation of America, also paid a
two day visit to the Kuwait Oil Company.
XIII.
EASTERN GULF OIL COMPANY.
In August some drilling equipment and a staff of
seven American technicians arrived to start exploratory
drilling for sulphur, as required by the Eastern Gulf oil
Company’s concession. By the end of the year they had drilled
ohree wells and started a fourth in the vicinity of the Kuwait
Oi company’s No.l oil well. The results, however, were most
disappointing.
XIV.
IMPERIAL BaNK OF IRAN.
^ ne Imperial Bank of Iran has continued to do
business on a fairly substantial scale. It appears to be
popular amongst the mercantile community who continue to avail
themselves ol uhe facilities it offers. The number of the
Same’s customers, already large, has increased to some extent:
• U \^ 0V/ar ? s Cile 6n(i t '^ e Y ear there was evidence of a decline
in the volume of its operations due, in large measure, to the
Increased restrictions and controls on the import and re-export
of goods. /
The Bank still occupies the same' premises, but it is
Intended, on the return of more normal conditions, to request
the bhaikh to build a new office which will be leased from him
ty the Bank, a course to which His Highness has agreed.
Mr.3.3. Matheson, who was awarded the O.B.E. in the
New Year’s honours, held charge of the bank until the 2nd
October when he was relieved by Mr.R.W. Haig, who held charge
until the close of the year. s
XV.
VISITORS.
. . considerable number of service personnel continued
to visit Kuwait throughout the year. The Royal Air Force
maintained a rest house for this purpose in the first half of
one yesr, but later discontinued it as the rent was found to be
too high. It is now intended that they should take over
the house occupied by the Inland Water Transport Detachment
f S ?u res E Camp when the Army va o at e it. It has been offered
to them free of rent by the Shaikh.
XVI.
METEOROLOGIOAL .
Total Rainfall during the year 5 ggi
Maximum temperature (in July)
Minimum temperature (in February).... 45 o
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. , Kuwait.