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HONGKONG OBSERVATORY,
26th April, 1894.
SIR-I have the honour to submit my annual report for 1893 to His Excellency the Governor. 2. My ninth volume of observations and researches was published last summer and the tenth volume is now being printed. It contains in addition to this report, the meteorological observations made every hour in 1893, investigations of the typhoons of 1888 and 1889 and a report on the ten years' observations made at this Observatory during the years 1884 to 1893 inclusive (Appendix B) the latter arranged in such a form as to render it complete for purposes of harmonic analyses of the various meteorological elements, whereby constants may be calculated, by aid of which, single obser- vations, made at any hour, may be reduced to daily and monthly means.
3. The present appears to be an appropriate time for comparing the Observatory as now finally arranged with the scheme advocated by the late General H. S. PALMER, R.E., in his report of 17th July 1881 which was printed in the Government Gazette of the 3rd September of the same year.
4. In the astronomical and meteorological departments his suggestions have all been fully carried out, except in so far as regards the thermograph, in the latter branch. He proposed to erect this instrument in a detached hut whereas it was mounted in the main building. The introduction of the rotating thermometers in 1885 made, however, the observations of temperature and humidity independent of the position of the former apparatus. A King's barograph would be a useful addition to the meteorological recording instruments, as the record would be at once available whereas the photographic curves from the present barograph cannot be utilized until after three days. This necessitates the reading of the barometer hourly by the staff by night as well as day during the typhoon season. An anemograph was erected at Victoria Peak during the course of last summer as recommended by General PALMER.
5. With regard to magnetism his scheme included a complete set of continuously recording instruments which would have made our magnetic as complete as our meteorological returns, but only absolute magnetic observations are made at present. But in view of the fact that an immense material consisting of unreduced magnetic records has accumulated at several other Observatories, it would be, perhaps, of doubtful advantage to multiply such observations--the practical utility of which is probably as yet far distant-before the existing records have been discussed in an exhaustive manner and published by scientific authorities so much more as our time is fully occupied with more valuable work connected with typhoons and storm-warnings.
6. Tidal observations were also included in General PALMER's scheme and these have been carried out during the three years (1887, 1888, 1889) by aid of Sir W. THOMSON's autographic gauge. The instrument-since handed over to the Imperial Maritime Customs of China-has now been erected by them at Whampoa and when thirteen consecutive months' record has been obtained there, data will be available for studying the tides in the Canton or Pearl River after the methods devised and adopted by the late Sir GEORGE BIDDELL AIRY with regard to the Thames.
7. The Observatory building is considerably smaller than that proposed to be erected under General PALMER's scheme and although the staff has been increased, no further office accommodation has been provided. As a consequence the work is hampered and much inconvenience and loss of time results. An extension of the main building is urgently required.
8. The staff of this department is remunerated on a lower scale than that suggested by General PALMER and, moreover, the salaries were not increased in 1890 at the time general increases of about thirty-five per cent. were awarded to officials in other Government Departments. In the event of a vacancy arising, from any cause, amongst the foreign staff, it will be quite impossible to efficiently fill it on the present salary scale.
9. The China Coast Meteorological Register was issued as usual and since October 14th it has been printed daily at the Observatory by aid of a small fount of type and press. More copies are, therefore, now available than was formerly the case, and several spare copies are forwarded to the Harbour Office for the use of shipmasters who require them. Copies are generally affixed to the notice boards and distributed in the city by 11.30 a. Information regarding storms is telegraphed to and exhibited on the notice boards in Hongkong at other hours and as often as such information can be justified by the observations received. Any information issued or observations received too late to be embodied in the China Coast Meteorological Register will be supplied to shipmasters on application to the Observatory, so that they may thus obtain the latest available information before sailing.
10. With reference to para. 4 of my last annual report, I am now able to state that "Precedence Urgency" has recently been granted for meteorological telegrams supplied to this department by the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Telegraph Companies, free of all expense. This valuable concession on the part of the Companies cannot be too highly appreciated. The telegrams from some of the most important reporting stations come through the lines of the Chinese Telegraph Adminis- tration, and it is a matter for regret that such telegrams continue to be received too late, as a rule, to be of much service. (The Chinese Telegraph Administration granted "Precedence Urgency few days ago) Victoria Peak and Gap Rock are not yet in direct communication with the Observatory, but it is probable that this improvement will be effected shortly. The important messages from these two stations, on which local warnings mainly depend, are often received too late.
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