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Appendix E.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL
OBSERVATORY, HONGKONG, FOR THE YEAR 1914.
I.-GROUND AND BUILDINGS.
The grounds were kept in order by the Botanical and Forestry Department, with the assistance of the two Observatory coolies.
In the month of March blue grass (ophiopogon) was planted under the pine trees in the western portion of the grounds, and over the denuded area between the pine trees and the Kowloon School playground. This has improved the appearance of the grounds and will prevent erosion when the grass has spread.
The paths were considerably damaged by heavy rain in the summer months.
The new shed for the thermograph was completed early in the year and the thermograph mounted.
The roof of the main building was repaired by the Public Works Department on several occasions.
year.
II. METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Kew Barograph.-This instrument worked well during the
The temperature compensation is now practically correct.
Beckley Anemograph.-The electrical time-break apparatus has failed occasionally. The three-minute contact every half-hour made too great a demand on the battery of 14 dry cells. An accumulator set of ten three-plate Tudor cells, of 27 ampère-hours capacity and 9 ampères maximum discharge, was put in by the Public Works Department in the month of November. The installation was not completed by the end of the year.
The spindle of the direction apparatus became disconnected from the recording pencil on August 26. This was remedied on September 9. The Dines-Baxendell record was utilised in the interval.
Dines-Baxendell Anemograph.-With the exception of the electric time-break, which is operated by the same battery as the Beckley Anemograph, this instrument worked well during the year. A strong spring was fitted to the driving clock on February 12, in order to overcome the additional friction caused by unwinding the roll of paper from a spool, over a recording spindle on to the cylinder. It was found, however, that even with the stronger spring the friction was too great. The recording spindle was therefore