F 18
Peak Anemograph. The Anemograph at the Peak Signal Station was repaired by the Public Works Department and brought into use again on January 14.
Transit of Mercury.—On May 8 the sun rose with Mercury on its disc. Passing clouds were prevalent throughout the morning. From transient views of the sun from 1.30 p.m. the estimated time of external contact at egress was 1h. 36m. 16s., as compared with the computed time of 1h. 38m. 5s.
Visit to other Observatories.—In May and June, the Director visited the Observatories at Shanghai, Pekin and Kobe.
The Director of the Pekin Observatory, very kindly promised to send twice daily to the Hongkong Observatory weather telegrams from Taiying, Kalgan, Shanghai-Kwang and Newchang. They have since been received sporadically in batches. They would be an invaluable addition to the Chefoo observations if received in time for the Daily Weather Maps.
The Director of the Kobe Observatory was asked to consider the possibility of adopting the Hongkong code for the daily weather telegrams, by which pressure, temperature, humidity, wind direction and force, and weather, can be transmitted by means of 6 letters, whereas the code used by the Japanese Authorities gives only pressure and wind direction and force, by means of 4 letters.
Negotiations on this subject, and also on the subject of observations from the Loochoos and Ishigakijima at additional hours are still pending.
The question of a uniform procedure on the matter of wireless time signals was discussed with the Directors of the Kobe and Shanghai Observatories. It is desirable that its probable error should be signalled immediately after the time signal, and also that the exact error should be circulated later. It is also desirable to know whether the signal sent is based on a computed clock correction or in cases of cloudy weather, for instance, a clock error obtained from wireless time signals from other Observatories.
Arrangements were made with the Director of the Shanghai Observatory for the exchange of typhoon warnings and for observations at additional hours from Shanghai, Gutzlaff, Hankow, and Amoy.
The question of a wireless station on the Pratas Shoal was discussed with the Inspector General of Maritime Customs and the Coast Inspector. There are hopes of its early erection by the Chinese Customs.