'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎20r] (39/134)

35
which would mean I could form no ideas for improvements before the next low-
water season. I was then arranged the launch " Shushan " should be placed
at my disposal and I proceeded on tour on the 14th February, inspected the Tigris
to above Amarah and the Euphrates to Nasiriveh, returning to Basrah on the 24th
February.
5. The subordinate staflt and the survey equipment left Rangoon on the 14th
January per S. S. " Orna " and arrived at Bombay on the 22nd January where they
were to have been met by an officer of the Marine Department and transhipped to
the Basrah steamer.
i
Mr. Niven left Rangoon overland on the 18th January and arrived at Bombay
on the 24th January and found no arrangements had been made for transhipping
the survey equipment from the " Orna. " The result was that the subordinate
staff left Bombay on the 2oth January, arriving at Basrah on the 31st January.
Mr. Niven arrived on the oth February and the equipment on the 15th February.
As I had given Mr. Niven specific orders to meet the staff and equipment in Bombay
and accompany them to Basrah I asked him for a written explanation and received
a reply (Appendix I) which I considered acquitted him of any blame in the matter.
6. The S. S. " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " bringing the equipment arrived on the 15th Feb
ruary, but delivery of the equipment did not begin until the 29th of February,
and on the same day the Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " sailed taking a large portion of my equip
ment back to Bombay (see Appendix II).
7. A light draft paddler called the " Rebel " had been specially selected to
convey the survey party and operate on the river above Basrah. This boat left
Rangoon on the 15th January, being towed by the dredger as she was quite a small
light craft, with the launch " Industry " steaming alongside. They arrived at
Bombay on February 11th and on the 13th I telegraphed to the Director, Royal
Indian'Marine, that the greatest importance was attached to the despatch at
earliest possible date of the dredger and both the launches.
8. Th launch " Rebel " arrived at Basrah on the 4th of March but as the
floats for the paddles, the roof and the cabins had been left in Bombay she was a
useless hulk. These fixtures had left Rangoon on the 17th January per " Oolaba-
ria, " and the Director, Royal Indian Marine, had stated they would be transhipped
from Bombay about the 1st of February. At the date of this note, i.e., 28th
March, the gear has I believe arrived but delivery has not been given.
9. The launch " Industry " arrived in Basrah in good order on the 4th March
but was not intended for work above Qurnah, being of too deep draft.
10. The dredger <£ Oswald " arrived at Bombay on the 11th February and
was detained for renewal of a pump casing. This should have been done in Ran
goon; in fact it was in course of execution when the Principal Port Officer stopped
the work and despatched the dredger. As without this renewal she would probably
has broken down in the Hammar Lake I insisted on the work being done in Bombay
but I understood it was only about a week's job. The dredger left Bombay on
March 4th but as the dredging master reports that the engineers in the dockyard
did all they could to push on this work 1 accept his statement.
11. The dredger on leaving Bombay was given a heavy paddler to tow and
took; six days to reach Karachi. The dredging master was then prepared to refuse
to leave Karachi until he had communicated with me, but the Transport Officer,
Karachi, on his own responsibility took off the tow and the dredger proceeded
alone, arriving at Basrah on the 21st March.
12. The pipe line of the dredger consisting of about a thousand feet of 24-inch
diameter piping with pontoons 40 inches in diameter anchors, winches
and other gear measuring 642 cubic tens left Rangoon on the 17th January per
Oolabaria, " and on the 18th January the Director, Royal Indian Marine, tele-
.graphed that arrangements for transhipments would be made about the 1st
February. It is not apparent why the " Oolabaria " should not have proceeded
direct to Basrah, more especially as no transhipment was effected on the 1st Feb
ruary. Some pipes arrived on the 11th March and it is believed the remainder
of the material was shipped on the " Braunfels due here in the first week of