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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)' [‎141v] (40/86)

The record is made up of 1 volume (42 folios). It was created in 1940. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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34
The Department recovered a number of old debts due to estates without
resorting to the courts and it collected the rents of 160 different properties. Over
Rs. 10,000 was spent on purchasing house property for minors and Rs, 6,000 was
advanced from minors funds in loans at 10% & 15% interest secured by mortgages
on gold or house property.
The Department maintained 70 orphans during the year, paying them
regular allowances from the income of their properties.
The Minors Department, although not as effective as it might be, is doing
valuable work and its existence is a deterrent against administrators who in the
past had nothing to fear if they misappropriated the funds of the persons entrusted
to their care. It is not possible, at present, to insist on the estates of all minors
being automatically administered by this Department as such a suggestion would
cause strong opposition from the Bhara as well as from a number of notoriously
corrupt administrators.
The experimental garden at Budeya, which is now in its third year, was put
under the charge of Captain A. C. Byard, who reports upon it as follows :—
In the autumn the whole area of the garden was taken into use and laid
down to the following crops :—
In addition an acre on the east side was taken in and planted with grain,
half wheat and half barley. The total area now under cultivation is 10 acres.
A considerable amount of additional space for cultivation was made inside the
garden by digging up unnecessary paths and water channels. The whole cultivated
area has been deeply dug twice, cleared of stone, and enriched with good manure
and as much green manure as was available. The value of green manure is not
appreciated by local cultivators in Bahrain who are accustomed to burn all such
material before using it in the ground.
I he water supply, which is from one artesian well, is good and adequate, but
irrigation neods careful attention owing to the unsatisfactory drainage system. This
is a difficult problem owing to the relative levels of sub-soil water and the sea, which
is about a mile away. A solution of this problem may be found expensive as there
is much rock in the garden and between the garden and the gea.
A very healthy crop of lucerne was grown from local seed, which is considered
better than imported seed. The second cutting produced 7 tons. The income from
this main crop should cover the cost of maintenance of the garden. The lucerne
is being bought by the Police Department for the camels and horses.
The potato crop was sown from South African tubers which were bought
locally. A quantity of seed potatoes were ordered from England, including samples
of about a dozen different kinds, but these were lost at sea. The potato crop was
healthy: the early yield produced 4^ cwts to the quarter acre, which is not a full
yield, but better results will be obtained with the improvement of the soil. It is
possible that other types of potatoes may produce better results but the South
African were the only ones available at the time.
I ho tomato crop did well under the trellis system and is producing well, but
tomatoes, in Bahrain, are not a money-making proposition.
Agriculture.
Approximate
acreage.
Main crop, lucerne
Vegetable crops, Potatoes
4
1
i
„ „ Tomatoes
Miscellaneous vegetables etc.

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Content

This volume is the Annual Report of the Government of Bahrain for the year 1358 AH (1939-1940) and gives te details of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Bahrain State and contains notes on the activities of the various Government departments, as well as the budget 1359 and some particulars of importance which took place in Bahrain during the year. It includes text, photographic images and tables. The report appears to be compiled from reports from various Government departments and officials. An Index appears on folio 122r, followed by a General Review by Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, dated April 1940 (folio 125r).

The contents are divided into the following sections and sub-sections:

  • Budget 1358 (folios 126r-127v);
  • Summary of Revenue and Expenditure 1358 (folio 128r);
  • Statetment of Revenue and Expenditure 1358 (folio 128v);
  • Notes on Revenue 1357 (folio 129r);
  • Notes on Expenditure 1357 (folios 129r-130v): Allowances to Ruling Family, Adviserate, Customs Department, Judicial, Awkaf [Awqāf] and Minors Departments, Public Works Department, Land Department, Passport Department, Oil Gauging, Transport Department, Public Health, Education, Municipalities, Agriculture, Departmental expenses, Unforseen, Public Protection, Armaments, Transport, King [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] Ibn Sa'ud's visit, Food Supplies, and Public Works (Manamah-Muharraq Swing Bridge, Hospital Building, Manamah Pier extension, Pier Trolley Lines, Fort, Education Department, Transport Department, Passport Office, Miscellaneous, Mosque at Hawar, Kozabia House, Budeya Garden drainage, Annual Repairs, and Road Repairs);
  • The Pearl Industry (folios 130v-131v): The Pearl Industry and Pearl Propaganda;
  • Police and Public Security (folios 132r-133v): Police Administration (Strength, Recruitment, Routine, Defence Duties, Health of the Police, Infant Welfare Clinic, Mounted Sections, Machine Gun Section and Motor Bicycle Section, Buildings, Promotions and Appointments), Naturs, Traffic Control and Crime;
  • Public Health (folios 133v-139r): Appointment of Staff, The Village Dispensaries, Health (Malaria, Eye disease, Ear diseases, Respiratory disease, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Venereal disease, Small-Pox, Alimentary diseases, Rheumatic disease, and Gynaecological and Obstetrical diseases), Medical examination of school children (Boys' Schools and Girls' Schools), Health of the Police (Infant Welfare Clinic and Prisoners' Health) and Malaria;
  • Land Registration Department (folio 139r): Registrations, Iranian Property, Island Beacons, and Survey Students;
  • Judicial (folio 139v): Bahrain Courts and Bahrain Small Courts;
  • Municipalities (folio 140r): Anti-Malaria Measures, Widening and Constructing town roads, New Road, Water Cart, Road Metalling, Lease of Markets, Swamp Reclamation, and Miscellaneous;
  • Wakf [Waqf] Department (folio 140v): Shia Wakf Department and Sunni Wakf Department;
  • Education (folios 140v-141r): School Reforms and appointment of Director of Education, Technical Schools, and Female Education;
  • Minors Department, (folios 141r-141v);
  • Food Control, report by A C Byard (folios 142r-143v);
  • King Ibn Sa'ud's Visit to Bahrain (folios 143v-145r);
  • Passport Department (folios 145r);
  • Public Works Department (folios 145r-148r): Recurrent Expenditure, Non-Recurrent Expenditure (Manamah Muharraq Causeway and Bridge, Manamah Pier Extension, State Hospital, Fort, Government Schools, Transport Building, Passport Office and Post Office, New entrance and stairs at Manamah Palace, and Hawar Mosque), Works not provided for in 1358 budget (Rifle Range, Jida Island, Idari Spring, Hedd Girls' School and Om Ashaoom Spring);
  • General (folios 148r-148v): New Appointments, Local Newspaper and Cinema, H.H.'s visit to India, Press and Broadcast propaganda, Catholic Church, Government Rest House, Appointment of a Governmental Representative with the Oil Company, and Shaikh Mohomed bin Isa's [Muḥammad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] visit to New York;
  • Electric Department (folios 148v-150): Electricity Department (Wiring Contracts, Temporary Wiring, Main Extensions, Alteration to Mains, and Air Conditioning), Government Telephone Department, Transport Department, Fire Department, Traffic Section, Government Technical School, New Government Hospital - Naim, Anti Malaria Campaign, Oil Royalty and other gauging, Muharraq Bridge, Financial Position, Electricity Charges, and Prospects for 1359;
  • Profit and Loss Account (folio 151r).
  • Revenue Account (folio 151v);
  • Balance Sheet (folio 152r);
  • Statement of Energy Sold (folio 152v);
  • Customs Department, report by Mr C C L de Grenier, Director of Customs and Port Officer (folios 153rv-159r);
  • Budget 1359 (folios 160r-161r);
  • Notes on Estimated Revenue 1358 (folios 161v);
  • Notes on Estimated Expenditure 1358: (folios 161v-162v).

Illustrations appear on four folios and they are labelled as follows:

  • Folio 134: 'The Government Hospital, with labels Men’s wing in progress (left) and Women’s wing (right)';
  • Folio 136: 'The Government Hospital: The Women’s Wing from the west';
  • Folio 144: 'H.M. King Ibn Sa’ud inspecting the guard of honour, accompanied by H.H. Shaikh Hamad';
  • Folio 147: 'H.M. King Ibn Sa’ud and H.H. Shaikh Hamad, on the palace’s new flight of steps'.

On the front cover there is an inscription that reads 'Printed at the Times Press, Basrah', as well as a note in pen that reads 'Confidential' (folio 122r).

Extent and format
1 volume (42 folios)
Arrangement

This file contains an index (folio 122r) which references pages of the report.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: Folios 122-164.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)' [‎141v] (40/86), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/750/4, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024140827.0x000053> [accessed 12 May 2024]

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