Page 174 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Twenty-five years ago there was no drinking water in Manama, Muharraq or Hedd. The water
which was used by the inhabitants was brought from springs in the country on donkeys or in boats from the
fresh water springs in the sea. It was a costly item. Today artesian water is plentiful in the three towns,
in Manama it is piped into houses. It is unfortunately evident, however, that few people in Bahrain
give any consideration to preventing the waste of water either from artesian wells or from the town water
supply.

GENERAL

Visit of His Highness the Shaikh of Kuwait
In June His Highness Shaikh Ahmed bin Jaber As Subah, paid a visit to Bahrain which lasted for
about two weeks. He came in his yacht and lived aboard it during his stay, spending the days ashore.
His visit was the occasion for a number of public and private social functions. His Highness was
accompanied by two of his sons and several leading merchants of Kuwait.

Shaikh Mohamed bln Isa visits America
During the summer Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa, accompanied by one of his sons, paid a private
visit to America staying in New York and in California. Most of the rest of the year Shaikh Mohamed
spent in Egypt.

Local Commercial Enterprise
Another large open air cinema was completed in Manama towards the end of the year bringing the
number of cinemas up to four in Manama and one in Muharraq. It is estimated that about 52,000 cinema
tickets are sold every month and the amount spent on cinemas is in the neighbourhood of Rs. 75,000
monthly. For some years cinemas were only patronised by townsfolk but latterly the cinema habit has
spread among villagers. English, American, Indian and Egyptian films arc shown.
The hotel in Prior Road, behind the Pearl Cinema, was almost completed at the end of the year.
The proprietor is a local merchant. Discussions took place between the Government and two groups of
people interested in building a large European-style hotel but the project did not materialise because the
Government did not agree to a hotel being built in which liquor would be sold.
Haj Mohammed Taher, a labour contractor, having acquired land on the edge of the Race Course
erected a modem steam laundry which at the end of the year was nearing completion.
Shaikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed, with financial support from the Government, began work on the
construction of a lime plant on the coast of Bahrain Island, opposite Sitra. The demand for lime is great
both in Bahrain and in neighbouring countries.
A British engineering firm, Walker and Partners, opened a branch in Bahrain, an American opened
a draper’s and dress shop in Manama bazaar, an aircraft, with a British Pilot, started a service in Bahrain
and two Americans embarked on a fishing venture.
An automatic telephone system, operated by Messrs. Cable and Wireless came into action in Manama
and Muharraq early in the year. Later, a radio telephone service, providing communication between
Bahrain, the United Kingdom and America, was introduced.
Building contractors, of whom one or two were Bahrain subjects, were engaged on a number of new
buildings in Manama during the year. These included a petrol filling station, several European style
houses, some of them very reminiscent of new houses on the outskirts of Baghdad, new premises for the
British Bank of Iran and the Middle East, an extension to the Eastern Bank, a large rest house for
Petroleum Concessions Ltd., new offices and a Rest House for British Overseas Airways Corporation and
numerous buildings at Jufair.