Page 453 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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PUBLIC WORKS
(Report by Mr. Stanley Hills, Officer-in-Charge, Public Works Department.)

As last year’s report suggested, 1366 opened with every prospect of the year being unique in
the history of the P.W.D. in Bahrain. An extensive programme of Public Works awaited execution
and the projected centralisation of the P.W.D. offices, shops and stores on one site, with facilities for
off-loading and storing essential local products such as coral, sand, gutch, etc., encouraged the hope
that a new level of efficiency could be reached by the department.
Much was accomplished during the year, but the initial hopes could not be achieved, largely
owing to the unforeseen ill-health of the Officer-in-Charge, Mr. R. Campbell Tunnicliffe. Although
a sick man for several months, he carried on courageously; but he was obliged to give up in May.
He returned to England for specialist medical treatment but, to the sorrow of his many friends, he
died in October. Mr. Tunnicliffe had joined the Government service in March 1946 and during his
brief spell of office he proved himself a good " works officer ”, as well as making many friends in the
Island.

On Mr. Tunnicliffe’s departure the management of the P.W.D. was temporarily taken over
by Mr. A. J. Boyce of Messrs. Holloway Brothers (London) Ltd. Circumstances precluded Mr. Boyce
from having a proper " hand-over ” and always he had the interests of his firm to consider first;
yet, despite these difficulties, he managed P.W.D. affairs most expeditiously and efficiently, and
during the five months when he acted as Officer-in-Charge notable progress was made.

The major works carried out during the year were :—
(a) Town Improvement Plan.—The reclamation of the sea between Customs pier and
the Hilal Building was completed. The metal pier shed was demolished, and a new pier shed erected
on the reclaimed land. New Passport offices and a Customs examination room for passengers’
baggage were constructed. The old Import shed situated along one side of the principal street in
the bazaar was demolished. A new Customs shed was erected on the reclaimed land west of the pier.
Construction details are as follows:—coral stone walls, concrete floor and corrugated asbestos roof.
Wooden trusses from the old shed were used. This job was carried out very well under Mr. Boyce’s
supervision and a large saving on the estimated cost was effected. Nine new shops on the site of the
old Import shed were started in the last month of the year.
(b) P.W.D. Office, Stores, etc.—An area 800 feet by 118 feet was reclaimed from the sea
on the south-east side of the causeway. At the north-east end new offices were built, with a flat
above for use of the Officer-in-Charge. A long store shed was built on the north-west side of the
site, with a lean-to on the side, which will later be converted into shops and lock-ups. At the south­
west comer of the site a pay office was put up. At high water small dhows carrying gutch, coral,
etc., can be brought alongside the south-east side of the site and off loaded direct while there is ample
room available for the construction of garages for motor transport and a gutch burning kiln, etc.
The Department moved into the new offices and stores on 16th Shawal.
(c) Minor Works, Annual Repairs, etc.—Many minor works were carried out at the various
Government buildings; in particular at the State Hospital, the Power House and the State Engineer’s
offices. Small repairs and renovations to Government property continued throughout the year.

(d) Roads.—-The usual annual maintenance of Government roads continued. Many of
the roads were not originally constructed to take the volume of heavy traffic which they now carry
and are steadily deteriorating despite the large sums spent annually on maintenance. During the
year a new departure for Government roads was started, It was decided to " metal ” certain roads
and bind the metal with cold patch. Work of this nature was started on the causeway late in the
year.

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