'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎107r] (213/416)

. ^ ie oC this rapid means of transport has Droved of
assistance to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in visiting Dhofar and other ontlvim*- portions
ot the feuitan ate which would have otherwise remained inaccessible. 1
bv’ Imr^ihd^XirwM-q * f ^ Gr0( ^ rome Grwadur has been regularly used
bv impelxal Au\\ a>s tor their weekly service whilst Royal Air Porce units
SsSncc ^ al ^ hted hei ‘e - the course i>f long
ctistance ei mses. A lew private individuals have also availed themselves of
the aerodrome. Liiciusmvts ox
. . H^hness the Sultan has now been pleased to accord passage and land-
ing facilities at dns i.erodrome to the Dutch Government for the benefit of the
lv - u iV1 - Aoy. and it now merely remains to settle the consideration.
The hopes that it would be possible to establish an emergency landing
ground at Kalba lor the use of Imperial Airways have not matured owin^ to ttie
obdurate attitnde oi the Sheikh of this place. An emergency landing ground
has been selected therefore at Shinas and is now available for use.
8. Foreign Interests. —American interests remained in the hands
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. during the year.
of the
The French Consulate remained closed but Monsieur Cassin, the French
Vice-Consul at Dushire, paid a short un-official visit to Muscat in March.
During his stay, his chief concern was the repair of the French Consulate
building and the finding out of such little French property that still remains in
Muscat.
Monsieur Cassin left for India on the 17th March to obtain his pilot’s cer
tificate as an aviator and, on his return journey, came ashore for a few hours
only.
9. Missionary Endeavour .—The work of the American Mission (The Dutch
Reformed Church of the D. S. A.) was in the main carried on by the Revd Mr.
and Mrs. Dykstra and Doctor and Mrs. Harrison. Dr. Storm, who returned
from Dhofar in January, proceeded on a short tour to Sur, before taking loiw
leave in April.
The new Mission Hospital at Matrah though not yet fully completed was
opened in October and the Medical Officer in charge (Dr. Harrison) has since
occupied his new residence which adjoins the hospital.
Both hospital and residential quarters are equipped throughout with every
modern convenience including electric light and fans, runping water in baths
and closets, septic tanks, refrigerators and labour saving devices in the kitchen
department. The entire residential quarters and essential portions of the hos
pital are fi 3 r -proofed throughout.
Inspite of adverse financial conditions the responsible Mission authorities
considered the foregoing as essentials to the health and well being of their
staff.
The buildings have been so designed, and constructed of such materials, as
to obviate the necessity of “annual repairs ” for the next 15 years under normal
conditions.
10. Slavery .—21 slaves, comprising 17 males and 4 females, took refuge in
the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. during the year and were manumitted in due course.
11. Climate .—The total rainfall during the year amounted to 4.3P' whilst
the maximum and minimum temperatures registered were 112° in May and
55.3° in January respectively.
12. Official Visits. —H.M.S. “ Hawkins ”, Flagship of Vice Admiral H. E.
Dunbar-Nasmith Commanding the East Indies Squadron visited Muscat on 24th
October and left on the same day.
H.M.S. “ Enterprise ” and H.M.S. “ Colombo ” both of the East Indies
Squadron paid official visits to Muscat on 3rd April and 9th December respec
tively.
The visit of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet has
already been referred to.
Visits of Government Officials to this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. are shown in Appendix “ B ”
of this report.
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