SUPPLEMENT
To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 23rd February, 1884.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 61.
The following report from the Government Astronomer, for the month of January, 1884, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 23rd February, 1884.
W. H. MARSH,
Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG OBSERVATORY.
Weather Report for January, 1884.
In the China Coast Meteorological Register,-based on information transmitted by the Great Northern and the Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies,-which I have published daily, is given a summary of the atmospheric circumstances in Manila and along the Coast of China as far north as Shanghai.
At the beginning of the month the Barometer stood at about its mean height in these regions. It registered lowest in Manila, increasing towards NW., highest in Shanghai. Fresh NE. breezes indicated by the Gradients prevailed here. The sky was overcast but the atmosphere dry. The wind diminished in force up to the 4th when it died out, and the sky cleared, the Temperature and the Absolute Humidity at the same time reaching a Maximum. The Barometer was rising steadily up to the 8th, when it attained its Maximum, a light E. breeze continuing. The Barometer had not risen quite so much at the Eastern Stations, so that the Gradients then corresponded to N. Winds, which were registered here on the 8th and 9th, the Temperature and the Humidity at the same time falling to their Minima. On the 10th the Barometer began to fall, and the Temperature and Humidity to rise at all stations. The sky became overcast with the R-Cum. clouds characteristic of the season. Gradients for strong E. Winds were followed by a moderate ENE. gale on the 11th, which was not however, of long duration, as it went down to a dead calm with a partly clear sky next day. The following days light E. breezes prevailed. On the 15th the Barometer fell in Manila and rose to 30.4 in Shanghai, and the E. Wind increased to a moderate gale here. From the 16th to the 20th the Baro- meter here, and the Gradients in these regions, continued about the average accompanied by moderate E. breezes and great Relative Humidity with generally a clear sky. On the 18th the Barometer rose in the West and fell in the East. Gradients corresponded to N. Winds and the Humidity again decreased. Cold weather set in at Shanghai, where the Temperature had been hitherto comparatively high. On the 20th a moderate E. gale was felt here, the Barometer having continued to rise in Shanghai. Subsequently the Barometer continued to fall till the end of the month. The Temperature and Humidity increased, and the sky was generally overcast with Cum. or R-cun. clouds. Light or moderate E. breezes prevailed. The Temperature rose again in Shanghai on the 21st. The Barometer was then higher in the South than in the North, with light Winds from various directions along the Coast. But it rose again at Shanghai the 24th, and the E. Wind freshened but did not here exceed a fresh breeze (on the 27th). Subsequently atmospheric circumstances were about normal till the 31st, when the Barometer rose, along the Coast and the E. Wind freshened with greater Relative Humidity.
The building of the Observatory was so far advanced by the 1st of January, that it was found possible to fix the Standard Barometer in the Instrument Room and to put up a Stephenson Screen, as well as stands for Radiation Thermometers, at a distance of about 75 feet SW. of the main building, but the Thermometers are placed over dry carth, as the levelled ground round the Observatory has not yet been turfed. The Barometer is placed 110 feet above Mean Sea Level, as determined by the Officers of the Surveyor General's Department. The bulbs of the Thermometers are about 109 feet above Mean Sea Level and 4 feet above the ground, except the Maximum Therinometer, which is a few inches higher, and the Terrestrial Radiation Thermometer, which is about one inch above the ground.
The Self-recording Instruments are not yet erected, as their places are not ready.--
The Lighthouse-keepers at Cape d'Aguilar and Green Island, as well as the Signal-man at Victoria Peak received in December last orders from Captain THOMSETT, R... Harbour Master, etc., to make Meteorological Observations according to my directions, from the 1st January, and I lost no time in giving the instructions and fitting up their Instruments.