"ملف ٣/١ أبنية الوكالة. من ١٩٠٠-١٩١١" [و‎‎٧‎٠] (٥٢٣/١٤٦)

Construction of the Agency building at Bahrein.
FURTHER EXPENDITURE ON ACCOUNT OP THE CONSTRUCTION OP THE
AGENCY BUILDING AT BAHREIN.
No. 166, dated Bushire, tbe 6th December 1902.
From— L ieutenant -C olonel C. A. K emball , I.S.C.^ Officiating Political Resident
in the Persian Gulf,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
With reference to the correspondence ending with your telegram dated
15th May 1902, on the subject of the Assistant Political Agent's house at
Bahrein, I have the honour to report that the house has now been completed;
the sea wall and wall round the building have been finished and the flagstaff
has been erected.
2. I greatly regret to have to report that it has not been found possible to
complete the works within the amounts sanctioned at various times by the Gov
ernment of India. The amount originally sanctioned by Government was
E20,000, which sum was to include the cost of furniture for the house. In my
letter No. 7-, dated 31st March 1902, I had to apply for a further grant of
B3,0()0, which sum the Assistant Political Agent estimated at that time would
suffice to enable him to complete the house.
This amount was sanctioned by the Government of India, who were also
pleased to accord their sanction to the expenditure of a further sum of E2,480
for certain extra works not provided for in the estimate for the house. It will
thus be seen that a sum of 1125,480 was sanctioned by Government for the
house and furniture and the extra works alluded to above.
The Assistant Political Agent has now reported in his marginally noted
letter (copy of which is herewith sub-
No. 220, dated 20tii Octo er 1902. mitted) that the sanctioned amount has
not proved sufficient and has been exceeded by the sum of R4490, for which as
well as for the sum of El,500 for furniture, or R5,990 in all, the sanction of
Government is now solicited.
3. During my recent visit to Bahrein I inspected the works and am of
opinion that they have been very well done, and that credit is due to Mr.
Gaskin for the care taken by him to see that the work was properly done. So
far as the construction of the house goes, there is no doubt that an excellent
result has been achieved, and I can confidently assert that the money has been
economically expended.
I trust that the Government of India will understand the difficulties which
are in the way of framing reliable estimates in a place like Bahrein, where both
workmen and materials have to be imported from outside, where rates are con
stantly varying, and where no one has the experience to be gained only by
similar building work for his guidance. It is evident to me now that the
mistake as regards this house occurred when the plan was made. I now see
that a house of this size could not have been constructed within the estimate
framed at the time, and I greatly regret that I did not then considerably curtail
the size and numbers of the rooms. I had no experience then of building work,
and such local assistance as I was able to obtain for the purpose of checking
the rates was of little use.
In conclusion, I can assure the Government of India that the house which
has now been provided for the Assistant Political Agent at Bahrein is a very
good one and is well worth the money which has been expended on it. The
vouchers forwarded by the Assistant Political Agent have been returned to him
for certain corrections and will be submitted to the Comptroller, India Treasuries,
shortly.
E—10-11—Feb.—1753 F. D.