22
is aware,
of a scientific expedition to the East for the purpose of determining the correct longitude of Hongkong and of the chief ports in China and Japan. A copy of the report
was
shown to this Officer before the Governor left and Lieutenant Commander Green has since informed that it was perfect and left nothing to be
desired.
5.
Your Lordship will
see that Major Palmer, limiting himself to the lines of observation
and research indicated in the official correspondence on the subject,
recommends an establishment which shall
comprise
I
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I. Astronomical observations so far only as is necessary for the accurate determination of local time.
II. A time ball for publishing such time to the shipping.
III. Meteorological observations on the scale indicated in Dr de la Rue's letter of the 18th February 1881 (enclosure in Your Lordship's despatch No. 91 of 19th February 1881).
IV. Magnetical observations, also as indicated in Dr de la Rue's letter.
V. Tidal observations at two points in the Colony.
6.
"The report deals fully with the particulars of these subjects and of the necessary buildings and other