Page 231 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1907-1908. 47
that unloss ho was apprised of tho Persian Govormont's approval he would
havo to oppose the building of tho shed ; the laiter he took to task for leasing
land to Europeans. As tho matter was in tho hands of His Majesty's Consul
at Muhnmmerah this Vico-Consulate took no action in regard to it.
Eventually in spring notice was received by His Britannio Majesty's Vice-
Consul direct from llis Majesty’s Legation that Lynch’s designs were approved,
that any attempt at interference by the Persian Government would not he
tolerated, and that Messrs. Lynch Brothers should he urged to proceed with
work as quioklv as possible. Tho at tiludo of tho latter throughout has been
very hesitating, but shortly before the close of the period under review their
Agent hero received instructions to proceed with the work.
Owing to an untimely and excessive rise in tho river the site has been
under water and it has been impossible to commence operations.
Messrs. Lynch Brothers’ affairs with the Bakhtinris havo been oarried on
entirely through the medium of this Vice-Consulate, and detailed mention of
them has already been made.
70. The Bakhtiari Road.—Certain, but inadequate, repairs were executed
on tho road during the year by tho orders ol the Khans, and the road has
remained practicable. In autumn a diversion of some two miles to avoid a
bad piece of landslip was being constructed above Shalil.
Tho two iron bridges were repainted and overhauled by an engineer
despatched by Messrs. Lynch Brothers in September. The downward passage
of the tribes, however, prevented all the work being done which was
desirable.
By an unfortunate misunderstanding the engineer was despatched without
time boing given to approach the Khans on the subjtct, and extract their
consent. As soon as notice of his intended despatch was received reference
was made to the Khans, but it turned out that the engineer washy that time
already engaged on the work. Immediately afterwards it fell to discuss the
claims for expenses incurred in repairing the bridges in former years, and the
objection which the Kbans put forward most strongly wa6 the alleged faot
of the repairs executed in 1904 having been undertaken without their being
consulted.
71. On the present occasion the engineer discovered serious defects in the
form of cracks in the masonry of the bridges. It is understood that Messrs.
Lynch Brothers arc having iron bands made in England to be affixed on the
damaged piors, but no formal reference on the subject has reached the Vice-
Consulate either from the Company or from the Government.
It has therefore been impossible to represent the matter to the Khans.
72. The Agenoy opened at Dehkurd in the beginning of 1907, was visited
by the Vice-Consul in June, when it was gathered that it was not at all in a
flourishing condition, owing apparently to tho failure of Messrs. Lynch
Brothers to place goods on the market at the prices equal to, or lower than,
those locally current.
Further the strong religious party in the place had shown hostility, the
Company’s agents at Ispahan and Deh Kurd had not been at one, and the
acting agent at Ahwaz did not bolieve in the feasibility of the scheme.
73. The Concessions (Oil) Syndicate.—A strenuous aotivity was main­
tained throughout the year by the Syndicate, but without any happy
result.
In consequence of tho adverse opinions as to the hopes of success expressed
by the local General Manager, Mr. Reynolds, a geological expert, was sent out
from England in December, and on the strength of his roports the borings
at Mamatain and Shardin, which had reached depths of some 2,200 and 1,900
feot, respectively, were stopped, and the bulk of the staff were transferred to
re-enforoe those employed at Maidan Munaftun. Here two borings are in
courso of progress, the first of which was begun in the end of January. By
the end of March those borings had been oarriod down to about 600 and 200 feet
respectively. Mr. Reynolds is now ontirely pessimistic as to the prospects