43 7 -:J J In Egypt, the complementary work of preparing the country for the expected increase in the summer water supply was continued by the purchase of land for the widening of the Eayali Behera and Bahr Shebin. At the same time a series of drainage imf)rovements to increase the present yield of cotton on certain areas were prepared for execution in 1920. From the Main Nile Division of Irrigation in the Soudan, where in 1917 and 1918 the Ministry had carried out the erection of pumps and construction of canals for the irrigation and cultivation under cereals of a number of selected areas, it is reported that the pumps and distributary systems, to which I have already alluded, are working well, to the great benefit of the two provinces of Berber and Dongola.

22. Mechanical Department.

The most important functions of this department are the erection and maintenance of Government pumping stations, the licensing and inspection of engines and boilers, largely in connection with irrigation pumping, the management of the Government workshops and the maintenance of Government steamers.

During the war the department also undertook a large amount of work for the British army, among which may be mentioned in particular the conversion in 1915 of ten Nile steamers to enable them to voyage to Mesopotamia for river service, the manufacture of grenades, and the alteration and repair of machine guns and ammunition and baggage waggons.

In 1917 the department completed the conversion of Government pumping stations in various parts of the country to burn oil fuel, a work which has resulted in a very appreciable saving of money, and it was also entrusted with the issue of coal, oil fuel, and cotton-seed cake to meet public fuel requirements.

The extension of the Atf pumping station and the construction of a new pumping station at Kombera in Giza Province were begun in 1918, and in this year the department was called upon to supply large quantities of drums and other material for the transport of oil fuel, which was now being used to a greatly increased extent. A measure was introduced providing for the registration of river craft, and, excluding Government vessels, 12,491 boats were registered. This work was transferred in 1919 to the Inland Navigation Department of the new Ministry of Communications.

The most important work upon which the Mechanical Department has been engaged in 1919 is the continued extension of the pumping station at Atf, to which are being added nine pumps designed to discharge 750,000 cubic metres of water a day. Specifications have been prepared and tenders invited for machinery for new pumping stations at Batra in Gharbia province, and at Abu Kir. The turnover of the Government workshops has risen from £E. 35,083 in 1914 to £E. 168,000 in 1919.

23. State Buildings Department.

In 1914 the State Buildings Department completed a large secondary school at Tanta, and was engaged upon the construction of a similar school and a native * tribunal at Assiout, a girls’ school at Alexandria, a zoological museum, several provincial hospitals, and other buildings.

During the following four years it was found necessary greatly to reduce the building programme and maintenance work, but the construction of the Assiout tribunal and school were continued and finished, the former in 1916 and the latter in 1918. In 1916 ophthalmic hospitals at Medinet-el-Eayyum and Minia were also completed. The Department was engaged upon alterations to Abdin and Ras-el-Tin Palaces, extensions to the Abbassia Lunatic Asylum, the connection of a large number of Government buildings in Cairo to the newly-installed drainage system, and also in various works for the British army, including the maintenance of six military hospitals.

It was anticipated that in 1919 it would be possible to execute a large building programme; but work was limited by the very high cost of labour and materials, and by difficulties in the demobilisation of officials who had joined the army. The Department proceeded, however, with the building of laboratories for the Cotton Research Board, large new Government offices, and extensions of the Public Health Department’s laboratories in Cairo, a pumping station at Atf, and hospitals at [3437 y-2] G 2 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.