Page 488 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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IX ROYAL NAVY
The following ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Indian Navy
visited Kuwait during the year:-

H.M.I.3. "Investigator" l^th February.
H.M.S. "Seabelle" 9th Novonber.
H.M.S. "Shoreham" 31st December.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
The R.A.F continued to maintain their signal detachment, Aerial
navigation beacon, and Rest-house throughout the year, and further in­
creased their detachment by stationing two seaplane tenders and 25 men
at Shuwaikh.
I. KUV.’AIT OIL COMPANY
At the commencement of the year the company was still wording on
a shut-dov/n basis, but during the first quarter of 1945 work was begun
on a hydrographic survey and the testing of proposed sites for loading
tankers. Late in March the Company was authorised to begin vrork on
the 30,000 barrels per day crude oil export scheme, Two oraokish
nater wells at a point about 20 miles V/.N.W. of Burgan were sun^, and
ca their completion work was started on the v/ell reconditioning pro­
gramme. A party from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s Pipe-line
Construction Department began to arrive in October and their work has
progressed satisfactorily up to the end of the year.
A contract for the construction of tankage was placed with the
Yctherwell Bridge & Engineering Company who commenced their work in
the beginning of November and have rmtde fair progress.

At the year's end the Company's personnel strength amounted to:-
Senior staff 79.
Junior Staff 68.
Foreign Artisans 55.
Labour 894.
In addition approximately 307 contract labourers were employed.
The company hope to be able to export crude oil by Nay, 1946.
Sir Y/illiam Fraser, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Anglo-Iranian Oil Company accompanied by Messrs E.H.O. Zlkingtcn and
J.N. '..’ilson, directors, visited Kuwait on the 27th November.
H. EASTERN GUL? OIL COMPANY.
The company's personnel and equipment were taken over by the
Kuwait Oil Company on the 1st April, 1945.

XII. IMPERIAL BANK 0? IRAN.
I
The bank had another satisfactory year and maintained the con­ I
fidence of the public, as is shown b7 the increase in their private
deposits during the year of about three and half million rupees.
Only w one bad debt (of Rs.25,000) was sustained and it is unlikely
that more than a fraction will be recovered. An unusual feature was
vhe absence of demand for rupee coinage. Instead of these being
withdrawn the bank’s holding of coin increased by about Rs.3,50,000.
XHI. VISITORS.'
A considerable number of service personnel visited Kuwait during
the year. Accomodation was provided either at the Agency or at the
3.A.F. resh-house.

3Z- METEOROLOGICAL
Total rainfall during the year 8.75 inches.
Maximum temperature (In September) 115°
Minimum temperature (In January) 38°