"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٤] (٣٩٦/٢١٤)

(tO^i
if!'
FOR THE YEAR 1917. 35
the Persian G-ulf and Mesopotamia, Brigadier-General Brownlow, C.M.G.,
q I E., Mr. E. B. Howell, C.I.E., Deputy Civil Commissioner, Basrah, Mondeur
Eoux, Consul de France and other Naval and Military officers on their respec
tive staffs.
His Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul, the European residents of Moham-
inerah, and the local officials were present at the Durbar.
The guard consisting of one Non-Commissioned Officer and six sepoys is still
, „ , provided by the Military authorities at
Consular Escort. * , ri ,f / ~ ^ . ,
Basrah, ine Guard is relieved every
month by another detachment.
The Department worked smoothly under Monsieur Van den Abeele, who
Customs was in charge throughout the year.
The Department worked satisfactorily during the year. His Excellency
Pog , g the Shaikh has tentatively agreed to pro
vide funds for building an extra storey
above the ground floor room now occupied by the Post Office. This work will
shortly be taken in hand by the Executive Engineer, Basrah,
In August a notice was received from the Director of Postal Services,
Basrah, to the effect that the parcel and V". P. Post was suspended until further
notice, the reason for this being that it was habitually and grossly abused
by merchants. The question, however, of permitting resumption has been
taken up by the Civil Commissioner.
Sir William Maxwell, Director General of Posts and Telegraphs in India,
visited Mohammerah and inspected the Post Office during the year.
The telegraph line between Mohammerah, Ahwaz, Shushtar, Dizful and
rp, , Behbehan was not in any way interfered
Telegraphs. i • ^ J
wil J i during the year.
British Interest,. The ^nglo- Persian Oil Company, Limited,
carried on their work during the year.
The new 10" pipe line was completed in January 1917, and has since
been working satisfactorily.
A fire occurred at the Pumping Station at Tembi in July. The new
pumping station, erected at the same time as the 10" line was being laid,
was not damaged and the Company have been able to deliver to Abadan all
the Crude Oil with which the Belinery can deal at present.
.For bravery displayed by Mr. B. L. Lindsay, Senior Engineer, and his
assistant, Mr. J. Still, in averting a far more serious catastrophe, the "Albert
medal in Gold " has been awarded to the former, and the same medal in bronze
to the latter. Mr. Lindsay unfortunately lost his life.
Extensions are still in progress, but work has been delayed to some extent
Abadsn Refinery. t0 t 118 ^ present COn-
ditions and to the loss at sea of certain
plant on its way out to Abadan. Further extensions are to be taken in hand.
A dry Dock was built by this Company at Mohammerah at a cost of
c ^ t » *i. j £i,000. This Dock has been well employed
btnck Scott and Company, Limited. ,, ~ J ,
during the past 12 months, 19 of the
small" Fly 1 ' Gun-boats were docked for the Admiralty during the period.
Other private-owned river craft have also been attended to in the Dock.
' ^
Strick Scott and Company have lately taken in hand the construction of
a bridge across the canal at Marid. This will facilitate road communications (
between iVlohammerah and Ahwaz. The bridge is designed to carry five to
seven tons.
The re-erection of the India Office River Craft was taken over from
Messrs. Strick Scott and Company by the Inland Water Transport, which
department has just completed its Avork at Mohammerah. The Yard has now
been closed and all material has been shipped to Basrah. Messrs. Lynch Bro
thers, Limited, continued their business. The mails to Basrah are carried in
their daily passenger launch which runs between Basrah and Mohammerah.