Page 208 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat
P. 208

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                     the district for which the owners held no documents were his
                     by right of a gift paper in which Shaikh Isa bin Ali gifted
                     him the district of Barber.     In order not to raise the ques­

                     tion no further steps were taken in the registration of
                     rights in that area.
                        This question is one of great importance,       At present
                     almost all the ground in Bahrain which is aapable of culti­

                     vation is claimed by various members of the Ruling Family
                     who make no use of it and prevent any increase of cultiva-

                     tion in the islands,     If the Shia fellahin had the oppor-
                     tunity they would gladly cultivate a large area of ground
                     by means of small wells which they are capable of making
                     themselves.

                        l!any of the claimants consider that not only the open
                     ground belongs to them but also all the patches of culti­
                     vation, or dulabs, which in most cases existed before the

                     gift documents were signed.
                         One of the few members of the Ruling family who does
                     not make these claims is E. E. Sheikh liaised, the largest
                      claimant is Shaikh Mohomed bin Isa.

                         Public 7:orks.   Total expenditure Bs 8,446/l2/-.
                         Very little new work was done during the year owing to

                      the necessity for strict economy.     The usual repairs to
                      Government buildings onu reads were carried out as cheaply
                      as possible.

                         a wall was built along the shore on the north of Euharrak
                      to Busatin in order to reclaim a fine s tretch of ground
                     which the sea formerly covered at exceptional high tides.

                     This ground is the only direction in which the town of liuhar-
                     rak can extend and in course cf time it will become a valua
                     able building site.
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