'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎22v] (44/134)

40
behind in Bombay for this purpose and sailing by the mail for Basrah on the 29th
January.
This was agreed to and the staff sailed by the " Edavana on Tuesday, 2oth
January.
(5) The survey equipment, as I have pointed out, was discharged from the
" Orna " by the ships staff on the 23rd January—the date stated by the Govern
ment of Burma in their telegram, but the marine not being aware of the steamer s
arrival in port, took no action and thereby the chance of shipping the equipment
with the staff on the 1 Edavana was lost. Commander Huddleston informed
me that there would not be another transport to Bombay for some considerable
time but I pressed the urgency of the matter upon him and he arranged in con
sultation with Commander Douglas for the Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. to come into Port and
take our equipment to Basrah via Karachi. This arrangement was made on the
27th January and I was told by Commander Douglas that the equipment must be
alongside the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " on the following day otherwise it could not be
accommodated.
As regards the actual transfer of the equipment from the Victoria to the
Alexandra dock I was informed that Commander Douglas would see to this but
on reference to that officer I found that he only dealt with stores delivered along
side the transport and he suggested I should write to the D. R. I. M. and get the
assistance of the Marine Store-keeper. This was done, and [ understand eventually
the Commissioner's Contractor effected the removal of the equipment, I went
to the dock and personally inspected the transfer of the equipment, but would
point out that this was not work which I should have been called upon to do when
1 had so many other matters connected with the dredger to discuss and arrange
with the Chief Constructor of the dockyard.
(6) I can state with assurance that had I not remained behind to arrange for
the transhipment of the equipment that even more delays than those we are now
faced with would have occurred. Had prompt action been taken on the arrival
of the " Orna " on the 22nd to tranship the equipment, I consider it would have
been placed on board the " Edavana "and brought to Basrah along with the staff
and myself.
(7) In the matter of the dredger " Oswald,'' I would also like to point out
that at the eleventh hour of my stay in Bombay, Captain Hordern informed me
casually that the dredger was not coming into Bombay to have the pump casing
renewed as had been definitely arranged but would proceed to Basrah from
Colombo. I immediately wrote to the Director, Royal Iijdian Marine, and made
it perfectly clear that if this were done 1 would accept no responsibility for the
working efficiency of the dredger in Basrah, and that your orders were definite, i.e .y
that the vessel was to arrive in perfect working condition. The Director accept
ed my views, but it is plain to me that had I not been on the spot and pressed
the matter we would have had the Oswald " arriving here with a cracked pump
casing and a serious break down when she was in the middle of the Hammar Lake.
(Sd). ERNEST C. NIVEN,
Assistant Director, River Conservancy,
No
Office of the Director General of
Port Administration, and Conservancy,
53, Strand Road,
Basrah, 2nd March 1916.
To the* Director General of Port Administration and River Conservancy.
Memorandum.
In continuation of my No. 69- A.-16, dated the I4th February 1916,1 now wish
to report on the discharge of our survey equipment from the Transport" Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard.