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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST AUGUST, 1891.
719
At 1 a. directions were given to fire the Gun one round to forecast a strong gale, which began to blow at 3 a.-
-At 2.30 a. directions were given to fire the Gun two rounds, as the wind (a fresh gale) continued to increase in force without changing its direction from NW, thus showing that the centre continued to advance straight towards the Colony, and the barometer was falling at the rate of nearly a tenth of an inch per hour, which shows that the gradient was about a tenth of an inch in 15 miles, above which the wind reaches typhoon-force, ("Law of Storms," IV page 5). But shortly afterwards the fall was checked and the wind began to back.
The lowest reading of the barometer was registered at 4.40 a. (29.019 at 32° and M. S. L.), but the greatest force of the wind was not experienced till 6.30 a. when it barely reached storm-force. It blew then 70 miles an hour from the SSW. This shows that the force of the wind was concentrated in the southern semi-circle. About 5 a. the centre appears to have been within 20 miles of the Observatory, to the north, moving still about WNWestward. At 5.52 a. the Black Cone pointing upwards was hoisted, to indicate that the centre was situated within 300 miles to the northward of the Colony. Next morning it was intimated that the centre had entered the mainland to the E of Hongkong and was then moving NWestward in China. H.M.S. Pigmy in Canton experienced a moderate E gale about noon of the 19th. The lowest reading of the barometer 29.17 (reduced) was registered at 10 a. The centre passed about 20 miles to the south of the vessel. This shows how great was the difference between winds to the north and to the south of the centre, for the force of the wind at no time exceeded a fresh gale in Canton.
At 9.30 p. on the 19th the Red Ball was hoisted to indicate that the centre was more than 300 miles from the Colony and situated between NW and SW. Shortly after noon on the 20th it was taken down.
A most significant feature in connection with this typhoon is that such observations as were made by the signal-men at Victoria Peak, where full typhoon force was experienced, indicate that the centre of the typhoon passed to the south of the Colony at that altitude. Their observations during certain previous typhoons indicated partly something of the same kind. They say the wind veered from NW through NE round to SE, whereas it is certain that it backed through W to S and SE at sea-level. But it is hardly possible to accept so novel a phenomenon as true on the basis of the mere statement of eye-witnesses although to some slight extent corroborated by previous returns. The centre at an altitude of scarcely 2000 feet cannot be supposed to lie upwards of 20 miles to the south of the centre at sea-level, till that is proved beyond doubt by automatic registers, such as will be available whenever the branch-observatory, that has been for some years under consideration, is constructed. That will enable us to know more about typhoons beforehand than we do at present.
W. DOBERCK, Director.
Hongkong Observatory, 30th July, 1891.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 341.
The following Notice is published for general information.
By Command,
W. M. GOODMAN, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 1st August, 1891.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
Information has been received that on and after the 1st October, the Armeghon Light on the East Coast of Madras will be extinguished for repairs extending over a period of probably two months.
Harbour Department, Hongkong, 30th July, 1891.
WM. C. H. HASTINGS, Comdr. R.N., (Retd.), Acting Harbour Master, &c.