Page 7 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

The Bahrain Order in Council, 1907-1913 423

No. 7, doted Bushiro, tlio 10th January 1002,
From—IrtRUTKNANT-CoLONEi. C. A. ICbmdall, Officiating Political Rosidont in tho
Porsian Gulf,
To—II. S. Barnkb, Esq., C.S.I., X.C.S., Secrotary to tho Govornraont o£ India in
tho Foreign Department.
Tho Assistant Political Agent at Bahrein roporfs that during tho year
1901 ho has boon roquostod by masters of morohnnt vossols to issue hills of
honlbh on four occasions aud also to noto fivo Mariuo protests : ho has also
boon nppliod to for ono passport and also to legalize nineteen Bignaturos on
behalf of British Indian subjocts. Ho reports that tho foes leviable for tho sor*
vices thus rendered would havo amounted to £8-17*6 according to tho scalo
of Consular fcos, had ho possossed authority to levy such feos.
2. So far as tho issuo of bills of health, noting of Marino protests, otc ,
aro concerned, such acts can only ho performed by officers possessing Consular
rank, which tho Assistant Political Agont at Bahrein, does not possess, and
with which, in viow of tho political status of Bahrein, it will probably ho incon-
voniont to invest him. I do not, howovnr, nnticipnto that much inconvenience
will bo oxporioncod on this account, as tho nutubor of direct merchant vossels
calling at Bahroin is not largo. The mail stoaraers and most of tho other mer­
chant vossels which call at Bahrein also visit Bushiro, where application can bo
made for tho performance of duties required under tho Merchant Shipping Act.
It will ho bettor thcroforo, I think, that tho Assistant Political Agont should in
futuro inform masters of merchant vessels, who make applications to him, that
ho has no authority to perform dutios of a Consular nature.
3. With regard to duties of a notarial nature such as tho legalization of
signatures, execution of powors-of-nttornoy, and other acts which might be
roquirod of a Notary Public, I think that it may ho advisable that tho Assistant
Political Agont should ho appointed hy notification in tho Gazette of India
undor tho Nogotiahlo Instruments Act, XXVI of 1881, to ho a Notary Public
for tho islands of Bahrein, and authorized at tho samo timo to lovy fees to he
credited to tho Government of India, in accordanco with tho scalo of fecsloviod
undor tho provisions of tho Persian Coasts and Islands Ordor in Council.
4. With regard to tho issuo of passports, I proposo to instruct the Assistant
Political Agont to forward auy applications which ho may rcceivo to mo for
disposal. -----------------
No. 914-E.A., datod Simla, tho CtU May 1902.
From—J. B. Wood, Esq., I.C.S., Undersecretary to tho Governmout of India in
tho Foreign Department,
To—Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kbmdall, Officiating Political Rcsidont in the
Porsian Gulf, Bushiro.
I am diroctod to ncknowlodgo tho receipt of your letter No. 7, dated tho
IGth January 1902, requesting that tho Assistant Political Agont at Bahroin
may bo appointed to ho a Notary Public for tho islands of Bahroin.
2. I am to point out that tho Nogotiahlo Instruments Act, 1881 (XXVI of
1861), undor which you proposo to appoint Mr. Gasldu to bo a Notary. Public,
bus not been applied to Bahrein, and that thoro is not ntprosontany authorised
proccduro by which it can ho brought into gonoral oporntion thoro. Morcovor,
the appointment of Mr. Gaskin to bo a Notary Public undor tho Act would only
constitute him a Notary Public for tho purposos of that specitio ouaotmont, and
would not authoriso him, as you apparently supposo, to do such othor aots as
might bo required of a Notary Puhlio. Spocial provision has beouxnadeby tho
Commissioners for Oaths Act, 1881) (G2 Viet., o. 10), section G, for tho porform-
anoo of Notarial nets in foroigu countries by diplomatic) and Consular officers
of Ois Mnjosty, and, though tho law both in Englaud aud in India rocognises
certain nets of Public Notarios nppointod by foreign authority, it is inexpedient
to roly upon such authority for tho appoiutmout of a diplomatic officer of a
class not speoifiod in tho staluto.
3. In tho oircumstanocH ahovo oxplaincd, it is a matter for cousidoratiou
whetbor tho Assistant Politiaal Agont at Bahroin should not bo iuvestod with
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