Appendix F.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, HONGKONG, FOR THE YEAR 1919.
I.-GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS.
The grounds were kept in order by the Botanical and Forestry Department with the assistance of the Observatory coolies.
A portion of the area between the main building and the servants' quarters was covered with concrete in March.
Four water closets were installed in May.
Many books and records were destroyed by white ants during the summer months, notwithstanding frequent airing and painting the book cases with Atlas solution.
II. METEOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Barometers.-Casella No. 2451 was repaired by the makers and returned in December.
Comparisons between this barometer and the Observatory Standard gave for the index correction of the latter ·010 as against an adopted correction of — ‘007.
Kew Barograph.-This instrument is to be superseded by a Marrin compensated syphon barograph, which is expected shortly.
Beckley Anemograph:-This instrument was oiled once a month, and the orientation of the head checked.
Dines Baxendell Anemograph.-The head was oiled once a month, and the spindle of the float cleaned and oiled once a week. The orientation of the head was checked monthly.
The mean monthly results of comparisons with the records of the Beckley Anemograph from 1910-1918 are given in the following table, together with the results for 1919:
Month Mean 1910-1918 1919 Factor (Dines → Beckley) January, 2.14 2.20 1.78 February, 1.78 1.78 March, 2.19 2.22 1.85 April, I'99 2.32 2'03 May, 2.18 2.32 2.06 June, 2'00 2:30 2.20 July, 2'21 2.23 2.18 August, I'99 2.18 2'15 September, 2'22 2 ΟΙ 2.II October, 1.85 2.II I'72 November, 2'21 December, I'97 Year,