Page 260 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat
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                         A kitchen, large enough for the needs of the Police and a mess hall and a
                   canteen were built inside the Fort. Previously the men had no proper place in
                   whioh to eat their meals and it was impossible to prevent food being left lying about
                   in the barrack rooms.
                         The parade ground was enclosed by a strong wire fence which was purchased
                   from the Bahrain Petroleum Company. Only a small portion of the old walls of
                   the fort now remains. The building has been so much enlarged, heightened and
                   strengthened that its original occupants would hardly recognise it.
                         E.  Government Schools. The Technical School was enlarged by the addition
                   of another room at the west end of the building and a walled yard was added.
                         Various alterations were made in the Manaraah Boys’ School, including the
                   addition of two new rooms on each side of the main entrance. Classrooms were
                   whitewashed and ceilings were painted white, and a number of new windows were
                   put into existing classrooms.
                         The proposed school at Naim was not proceeded with. The religious school
                   continues to function in a hired building.
                         F.  Transport Building. Two large new garages were built on the north of
                   the existing building. There is now accomodation for 6 cars and lorries. A ramp
                   was constructed outside the garage on which cars can be examined. Two small
                   flats were constructed above the garageB, each containing two rooms and bathroom
                   and kitchen, for the accomodation of garage and power house staff.
                         G.  Passport Office and Post Office. A new Passport Office consisting of one
                   large office 24 x 24 feet, a small office, record room and verandah was built on to the
                   western end of the Custom House. The Passport Office resembles the Custom
                   House in style of architecture and it has improved the appearance of the Customs
                   square.
                         The old Passport Office and former Police Station, with the large room on
                   the first floor, was converted into a Post Office. The ground floor rooms are used
                   for postal purposes and the first floor was made into living quarters for the Post­
                   master. The new building provides ample space for the postal work and is centrally
                   situated. The Government telephone exchange is in the same building on the first
                   floor. It was enlarged and provided with a separate staircase.
                         H.  Manamah Palace, New entrance stairs. (See illustration, opposite).
                         A handsome flight of stone steps leading from the ground to the central
                   archway of the first floor verandah was built at the Palace. The steps are tiled
                   with locally-made tiles and have carved teakwood railings. A steel expanding
                   door was fitted into the archway and the second staircase was fitted with a wooden door
                   so that the whole first floor can be locked. The steps have greatly improved
                   the appearance of the building and have made it possible for visitors to make a
                   dignified entry without any danger of hitting their heads on the cross bar. This
                    frequently happened on the old staircase.
                         Haw&r Mosque. A small mosque was built in the northern village at Hawar
                    Island. It is used by the local Arabs and the garrison of the Fort. Some altera­
                    tions were made to the Fort and a verandah was built outside the barrack room
                    in the courtyard.
                    3. Works not provided for in 1358 budget.
                    , A. Rifle Range. The existing rifle range, which is close to the Fort, was
                    found unsuitable for work with the new Vicker8 Berthier machine-guns. This
                    range has gardens on each side and faces an inlet of the sea where boats frequently
                    pass. On. the recommendation of the special officer who assisted in training the
                    first Machine-Gun Section a new rifle range was built near the old road leading to
                    Sakhir, about ten miles from Manamah. It appeared that this was the nearest
                    suitable place. The rifle range is in a valley surrounded by high ground and there
                    is a cliff behind the butts. A range of 900 yards was obtained over flat ground
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