Page 138 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

11G Part II.
93. Mr. Plowdcn iufornicd tlicHaji that there was no occasion to make out
an agreement at the time, as it was understood that cither the house would be
vacated ou tho 31st [December 1884 or that if should bo required by Govern­
ment for any lengthened period beyond the year a fresh agreement would bo
entered into.
94. The arrangement was approved by the Government of India and Mr.
Plowdcn was informed accordingly.
95. Meanwhile Mr. Plowdcn was in soarch of a site for building a now
Consulate house, lie found three plots of
A., General E., Muy 1SSI, Nos. G3 G5.
ground on tho left bank of tho Shnt-el-
Arab, which would suit the purpose iu view. Tho most desirable was what ho
described ns part of the Tannumnh estate; the second was known as Milk
Khoja Sahib, and the third as Girdilan. Unfortunately the acquisition of the
first of these required tedious formalities to be complied with. Mr. Plowdcn
therefore requested Air. Robertson, the Assistant Political Agent at Basrah, to
endeavour to secure one of the other sites. Mr. Robertson made enquiries about
the second plot, but found that the owner who resided at Koweit had just left
for Jeddah, and that, even if time permitted correspondence with him, it was
thought extremely unlikely that he would consont to sell the property except
at an exorbitant prico. Mr. Robertson then went about the Girdilan estate,
'ibis was found to bo divided into 12 shares and to be the joint property of
various owners, Jews and Muhammadans, who held out for Its. 2,000 a jerib
(J of an acre) of land, being just double the price Mr. Robertson was author­
ised to oiler. Failure having attended the efforts of Mr. Robertson to secure
either of these two plots, Mr. Plowdcn promised to see what could be done in
connection with the Tanuumah estate,
96. To tho above report Government returned the reply that as it was clear
that there was no immediate prospect of securing at a reasonable cost a site for
the Basrah Consulate, Mr. Plowdcn should bear in miud the advisability of
renewing the lease ot the present building, which would expire in December
1884.
97. A fresh lease for a year was taken on a rent of Rs. 250 per annum,
with effect from 1st January 18S6.
(d) Purchase of the Consulate house and site.
98. In bis letter No. 719, dated the 31st December 18S5, Colonel Twecdie,
Political Resident, Turkish Arabia, sub­
External A., April 188f, Nos. 2G4-272.
mitted two proposals made by Lieutonaut-
Colonel Mockler, Assistant Political Agent, Basrah, for bousing the Consulate
und other public offices at Basrah, namely :—
(1) to purchase for Us. 42,000 the premises then occupied by the
Consulate together with a small strip of land at the back of the
building; and
(2) to acquire for Its. 67,000 the property covered by (a) the above
premises, (5) Messrs. Lynch and Company’s bouse of business
which, however, was not the samo as the Marghill, (<?) certain
store rooms.
99. The Government of India was at first inclined to sanction the smaller
purchase, but as the Political Resident
Proceeding! of External A.—
April 1888, Noi. 10-107. urged the desirability of having round
July 1888, Km. 92-120. tho buildings a larger ground—-tho
March 18Stf, Nos. 97-123.
August 1889, Noi. 109-113. larger purchase was approved. I he
March 1890. Nos. 242-233. sanction, however, could not be given
August 1890, Nos. L0-58.
until after very lengthy correspondence
caused on account of difficulties of the legal title and other matters, ot
length in Foreign Department letter No. 1120-E., dated the 20th May 1390,
the Government of India sanctioned the purchase, for Rs. 65,000, o
*.......... —
occupied by Messrs. Lynch Brothers, and the strip of land in rear of tno
Consulate said Political Resident’s letter No. 719, dated the 31st December