'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎158v] (316/416)

1 ^™r^\rur B'founds between Aden arid Basrah has now been com-
^ Uprises landing gronnda at Shims, .Sofer,
^4^ Masirah Island ’ Kher 6hft1 '^
Murbat and Salalah (Bhofar). ■ ^ .... . .. . ,
Refuelling points for Flying Boats of Hie Koyal An- Force ex.st at Muscat,
Khor Jarama, Masirah Island, Murbat and Salalah.
7 Aviation General.—^ already stated, an agreement has been, concluded
between His Matty’s Government and the Sultanate to regularise the condn
tions for Civil Aviation in Muscat limits.
The rh A :r d gr t rS^h"^t ha ^
Cam^TbuiU by Imperial Airways with the sanction of His Highness the Sultan.
Notable passengers, who have alighted at this Aerodrome during the year,
kiclnde theS- Excellencies the Viceroy and Lady W dlmgdon, and the Hon ble the
A"ent to the Governor General in Baluchistan.
" The aerodrome continued to be used by Royal Air Force units engaged on
lone- distance flights from ’Iraq and Quetta. A number of private aircratt also
landed here in the course of the year but, with one exception, which fortunately
was not attended by fatal results, no accidents occured.
The emergency landing ground at Shinas. constructed for Imperial Airways,
has not been called into use, though Royal Air Force machines have landed
there in the course of routine patrols.
8. Foreign Interests .—American
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.
interests remained in the hands of the
On 18th March the Minister of the United States of America at Baghdad,-
His Excellencv Mr. Paul Knabenslme, accredited as Minister Plenipotentiary and
Envoy on special missiori, paid a short visit to Muscat to convey the felicitations
of the President of the United States to His Highness, the Sultan on the occa
sion of the Centenary of the conclusion of a Treaty of 1 nendship and Commerce
between the U. S. A. and Muscat.
At the special invitation of His Highness, 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. and the
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Medical Officer attended all the State functions m connection with the
visit.
The French Consulate remained closed throughout the year hut Monsieur
Georges Casin, French Vice-Consul at Bushire landed for an hour from the mail
+1,^ -renn Tvwno rmiixrpr —• + —op if ,c nllpp-pfl. to
cvf/■* a tyv/} v rm
His Highess the Sultan.
9. Missionary Endeavours.—The work of the American Mission (The Dutch
reformed Church of the U. S. A.) was carried on by the Revd. Mr. and Alrb.
Dvkstra and Doctor and Mrs. Harrison, whilst Dr. (Miss) Hosman conduct
the. Zenana Mission Hospital in Muscat for some months, before preceding to
the Batinah Coast for mission-cum-medical purposes.
Occasion was taken of the American Minister’s visit to Muscat to “ officia .)
open ” the new Mission Hospital at Mat rah, which had however been m use
since October 1933.
The popularity of this hospital, which is most evident, has been further en
hanced by the introduction of a small infant school, conducted under the gui
of Dr. and Mrs. Harrison, aided by a native teacher. By the construction o a
tennis court in their private grounds, the Doctor and his able wife are endea^ou
ing to inculcate the rudiments of healthy, open air exercise into the minds o
of the younger inhabitants of the Matrah bazaar.
During the summer months this and the Zenana Hospital at Muscat are
closed as the entire Mission staff leave Muscat territory for cooler climes,
beat in their opinion being too intolerable.
10. Slavery .—31 Slaves, comprising 21 males and 10 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 3.7 in. whils^
the maximum and minimum temperatures registered were 114.6° in June a
49.9 in January.