'File 11/1 VI Muscat Administration Reports and related correspondence' [‎23r] (45/56)

is again smuggled into Karachi to agents there who either bank the money or
make use of it again in business transactions. Incidentally the Pakistan
Government still have a ban on the export and import on their currency, and
no passenger is allowed to bring in or take out more than Rs. 50 /-. A cer
tain amount of chaos arose when the local B.I.Agent, M/S Hoodbhoy & Bros.,
began demanding Indian currency for freight and passages. I managed to
check this in time. Last year the company demanded Pakistan currency with
the excuse that their head office was at Karachi, Pakistan. This year their
excuse was tnat remittances had to be made to their principal agents at
Bombay, M/s Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co., Ltd. I spoke to the local agent and
advised him to accept whatever currency was offered, at par, but getting no
satisfaction from him I reported this in my fortnightly diary. The Consul
reported the matter to the Bombay agents, and orders were received from them
in November that the local B.T.Agent should accept whatever currency is
offered for freight and passages etc. The present position now stands that
the local agent will pay the Commanders of the B.I.steamers in Pakistan
currency and this will be treated as an advance for disbursements. This
will then be exchanged with the Company’s Bankers at Bombay.
Shipping.
17. Until March the "B" boats were calling at Gwadur as usual. In
January a Mr. G-rant and Capt. Bishop, representatives of the B.I.S.N.Co.
Agents, Bombay, arrived here in the ’’Bamora" and came ashore for a few
hours to inspect the local agents office etc. Many suggestions were made
by the merchants asking for more ships and eventually it was decided that
they would get more ships. However this finally resulted in the "B" boats
being taken off the run, as they were far too old, and they were replaced
by the "D" boats, the first of which to call here was the "Dara" on the 13 th
March. Fames of the ships which operated here this year are "Barala", "Bar-
peta M , ’’Bamora”, ’’Vasna”, ”Dara”, ’’Dumra”, "Dwarka” and a new ship which
the fleet in August, the , Da^essa' , , Gwadur now receives a ship every
eight days - one up, one down alternately. During the year "
there were 2i». inward and 2£ outward voyages. One ship, the "Moorcot" cargo
boat, was chartered by the B.I.S.N.Co, to ease the rush of cargo held up at
Bombay. She made one inward and one outward voyage, thus making a grand
total of 48 services during the year. According to the local agents figures
over 4,500 passengers were received and booked during the ybar.
The name of the local B.I.Agent’s firm was changed in September.
Formerly they were known as Cursetji Hoodbhoy, but Cursetji presumably sold
out his share, and the company is now known as Foodbhoy & Brothers.
18. In addition to the steamship company operating here, the launch
service known as the Muslim Navigation Company continues to operate also
during the non-monsoon season. As already mentioned, considerable gold
smuggling is done by this service. One can obviously gather when a consig-
nement of gold is on board because, when there is, the launch captain will
refuse to accept any passengers.
Public Y/orks.
1 9. A lot was expected to be started this year in the line of const
ruction etc, but only minor repairs have been carried out on the school at
Sur, the Forts at Pishkan and Gwadur, and the old Cable and Wireless bunga
low was renovated for the purpose of a doctor. A new fish godown has been
built during the year. No Customs House, godown or school have been built
as hoped. The merchants complain that their goods are damaged by the damp
ness here as they are allowed to stay out in the open overnight. There is
no Customs godown or shed in Gwadur. The Administrator hopes to see some
construction work start in the new year.
The Y/eather
/