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(y) Landing arrangements in Maskat Harbour.

701. Since 1902 there hayo been placed before the Government of India
Kitwotl A., February 1003, Not. 30 33. several proposals for improving the land­
External A., Jane 1005, No«. 10*38.
ing arrangements on the Maskat harbour.
We shall deal with each of them—
(i) A pier built of rails and screw piles, with floor Railway sleepers, for
Makalla Coal Dep6t. The estimated cost was near Its. 22,000.
The Government of India sanctioned Rs. 3,000 for small jetty in
Foreign Department No. 145, dated 28th January 1903.
Further expenditure of Rs. 8,664 was sanctioned in Foreign Depart­
ment telegram, dated 1st 1903. The charges to be met
from the Marine Budget.
(ii) Landing pier opposite the Consulate, variously estimated from
Rs. 24,882.
(iii) A break water on the east side of the head of the harbour at a
cost of Rs. 44,780 to Rs. 1,39,000.
(iv) Deepening of the Dweira channel at a cost of Rs. 6,662.
702. The Government of India decided that, in view of the costliness
of the project for a pier of breakwater, it would be advisable first to see whether
the suggested deepening of the Dweira channel would mitigate the present
difficulties. They accordingly sanctioned the latter scheme (Foreign Depart­
ment letter No. 4194-E.B., dated 14th December 1904).
703. Major Cox in his letter No. 148, dated 28th May 1904, pointed out
that the proposal for the pier and breakwater was based on the opinion
expressed by Admiral Bosanquet that it was desirable to provide better
facilities for communication between His Majesty’s ships and the Bhore at low
water in bad weather.
[The Foreign Department Proceedings, External A., June 1906, Nos. 10—
30, contain interesting reports about the Maskat harbour, the winds blowing
into it, and Beveral sketches of the harbour.]

O. C. Pmm, CWI P. D.-16-Me^ »-H. A. W.