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from Cebu commenced, with instruments supplied at the cost of the Hongkong Government. The observations are made by the staff of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. From Japan tele- graphic reports are received from Tokio, Kochi, Nagasaki and Kagoshima, and since July, 1898, also from Oshima, Nahia and Ishigakijima. In fact returns from Naha had been received for some time. previous to that date. All these telegrams are almost invariably received too late. From Formosa telegraphic reports were formerly received from the Chinese Government, but irregularly and too late. The Japanese Government improved matters greatly but still the returns were too late till the begin- ning of November, 1899, when the service was accelerated. The stations are Taiboku, Taichu,
Tai- nan, Koshun, and Pescadores.
5. Telegraphic connection between the Observatory and Hongkong was interrupted on the 4th May, 1899, from noon to 2 15 p.; from 6.45 a. on the 3rd June, to 12.12 p. on the 4th; ou the 5th, from 7.6 p. to Midt; from 2.15 p. on the 10th to 8.40 a. on the 12th ; on the 13th from 7 a. to 8.30 a.; from 7.15 p. on the 13th to 7 a. on the 14th; from 7.5 p. on the 14th to 7 a. on the 15th; on the 15th, from 7.5 p. to 7.40 p.; from 10 p. on the 16th to 7 a, on the 17th; from 7.45 p. on the 17th to 6.50 a. on the 18th; from 7.10 p. on the 20th to 6.50 a. on the 21st; from 7 p. on the 21st to 6.45 a. on the 22nd; from 8 p. on the 22nd August to 7.45 a. on the 23rd; on the 24th, from 6.15 a, to 2.5 p.; from 6.45 a. on the 15th September to 10.57 a. on the 16th; from 5 p. on the 27th December to 5 p. on the 28th. Interruptions occurred therefore on 22 days, and, of course, also during thunder- storms. There was no telephonic interruption between the Peak and the Observatory during the year except during thunderstormis.
6. During 1899 in addition to meteorological registers kept at 40 stations on shore, 2195 ship- logs have been copied on board or forwarded by the captains. The total number of vessels, whose log books have been made use of, was 261. The total number of days' observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 19455.
7. The following is a list of ships from which logs have been obtained in 1899. The majority are steam ships, and the others are distinguished as follows:-bk., barque; sh., ship; bqt., barquen- tine; sch., schooner :-Airlie, Alacrity (H.M.S.), Algerine (H.M.S.), Amara, Ambria, Amerigo Vespucci, Antenor, Ariake Maru, Arizona, Arratoon Apcar, Australian, Babelsberg, Ballarat, Bamberg, Barfleur (H.M.S.), Bayern, Belgian King, Bengal, Benlarig, Benvenue, Bombay, Bormida, Boston (U.S.S.), `Candia. Canton (P. & (.), Canton (J.M.), Catherine Apcar, Centurion (H.M.S.), Changsha, Charterhouse, Chelydra, Chihli, China (P.M.), China (Ger.), Chingtu, Chiyuen, Chowfa, Chow Tai, Choysang, Chunsang, Chunshan, Chusan, City of Peking, City of Rio de Janeiro, Clam, Clara, Clyde, Concord (U.S.S.), Coptic, Coromandel, Cowrie, Dagmar, Dardanus, Deucalion, Devawongsé, Diamante, Domenico Balduino, Doric, Ebani, Ekaterinoslav (R.V.F.), Empress of China, Empress of India, Empress of Japan, Esmeralda, Esmeralda (sch.), Etna (H.R.I.M.S.), Ettrickdale, Fame (H.M.S.), Fausang, Formosa, Frundsberg, Fukui Maru, Fushun, Futami Maru, G. C. Tobey (bk.), Gaelic, Germania, Glenfalloch, Glengarry, Glengyle, Glenturret, Grafton (H.M.S.), Guthrie, Haiching, Hailan, Hailoong, Hainan, Hainan, Haitan, Hakata Maru, Haknai Maru, Hangchow, Hanoi, Hermes, Hermione (H.M.S.), Hikosan Maru, Hinsang, Hiroshima Maru, Hitachi Maru, Hohenzollern, Hoihao, Hongkong, Hongkong Maru, Honglecng, Humber (H.M.S.), Hunan, Hupeh, Hyson, Imperator, Independent, Indrani, Indrapura, Indus, Ingraban, Istria, Ivy (sh.), Japan, Jason, Java, Kachidate Maru, Kagoshima Maru, Kaifong, Kamakura Maru, Kanagawa Maru, Kansu, Kasuga Maru, Katsuyama, Maru, Keelung Maru, Keong Wai, Kiangnan, Kingsing, Kiukiang. Kongbeng, Kosciusco (bk.), Kumsang. Kutsang, Kwanglee, Kwangping, Kweiyang, Kyoto Maru, Lennox, Linnet (H.M.S.). Lion (Fr. Man-of-War), Loksang, Loongmoon, Loongsang, Loosok, Loyal, Lyeemoon, Machew, Maidzuru Maru, Manila, Marie Jebsen, Mausang, Mazagon, McLaurin (sh.), Meefoo, Menelaus, Merionethshire, Michael Jebsen, Mike Maru, Mongkut, Monmouthshire, Moravia, Moyune, Nanaimo (sh.), Nanchang, Nankin, Nanyang, Nestro, Ningpo, Nippon Maru, Nubia, Oanfa, Oceania, Olympia, Onsang, Orestes, Oslo, Pakhoi, Parramatta, Pathan, Patroclus, Peiyang, Pekin, Petrel (U.S.S.), Phra Chom Klao, Phra Chula Chom Klao, Phra Nang, Pigmy (H.M.S.), Plover (H.M.S.), P. N. Blanchard (sh.), Powerful (H.M.S.), Preussen, Prinz Heinrich, Progress, Propontis, Pronto, Radnorshire, Raffaele Rubattino, Rohilla, Rose (sh.), Rosetta, Sabine Rickmers, Sachsen, Sagami Maru, Saida (S.M.S.), Salazie, Sandakan, San Gothards (Am. Transport), San Salvadore, Sarnia, Sendai Maru, Shanghai, Shantung, Siam (Br.), Siam (Dan.), Sherard Osborne, Siberia, Silesia, Singapore, Sishan, Socotra, Sofala (sh.), St. Paul (Am. Transport), Suisung, Süllberg, Sultan, Sumidagawa Maru, Sung Kiang, Swatow, Tacoma, Taicheong, Taichiow, Tailee, Taisang, Taiyuan, Tamsui Maru, Tam O'Shanter (sh.), Tantalus, Tartar, Tetartos, Thales, Tientsin, Tonkin, Triumph, Tsinan, Tsurugisan Maru, Victorious (H.M.S.). Vortigern, Wakasa Maru, Waterwitch (H.M.S.), Willy Rickmers, Wongkoi, Wosang, Yamaguchi Maru, Yedo Maru, Yiksang, Yuensang, Zafiro (U.S.S.), Zweena.
8. The entry of observations made at sea in degree squares for the area between 9° south and 45° north latitude, and between the longitude of Singapore and 180° East of Greenwich for the construc- tion of trustworthy pilot charts has been continued, and 218869 observations in all have now been entered.