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The subsoil is broken granite. Even the bricks made of Canton River mud contain iron, though to a lesser extent than the granite. I suggest that an analysis be made of the limestone of the White Mountain Range, near Canton, which, if found sufficiently free from iron, might be imported for our purpose. A good deal of extra work will also devolve upon the Department during several months of the year, in collecting information respecting typhoons.
Used both for the masonry and the concrete, if not too costly. A fine concrete, of suitable quality, might be made with washed gravel of this island, i.e., the common decomposed granite (taking care to select a coarse, gritty sample), dug from a nullah side, and washed until only the quartz parts remain. This of course would be expensive. I have little doubt, however, that, on careful inquiry, it will be found neither very difficult nor very costly to procure, near at hand or somewhere on the coast, a material that will fulfil all requirements.
The regular clerical labour will consist mainly of entering the observations and calculations in books and forms for that purpose, transcribing and filing the automatic records, compiling weather changes and storm data, abstracting typhoon-logs, preparing periodical reports, accounts, &c., and general correspondence.
The Director of the Establishment should be, if possible, someone recommended by the Astronomer-Royal. No one could be more desirable than an ex-assistant of the Royal Observatory, and it is important to bear in mind that the copper articles ought to be of European manufacture, as those made in China contain a large percentage of iron. The Reverend M. DECHREVENS, S.J., director of Zi Ka Wei Observatory, with whom I have entered into correspondence, and to whom I am indebted for some valuable suggestions relating to the Magnetic building, as well as for plans and photographs of his own establishment, is emphatic in his caution on this point, and recommends me "n'employ pour les portes, les fenêtres, les jonctions, etc., que du cuivre, et autant que possible que des objets de cuivre contiennent une grande proportion de fer. Tout le cuivre qui est entré dans la salle magnétique, et principalement tout ce que nous avons été obligé de faire fabriquer par des ouvriers Chinois, à été essayé au magnétomètre avant d'être accepté, et rejeté invariablement dès qu'il produit sur l'aimant une déviation de quelques minutes d'arc à un pied de distance."
He should have, as First assistant, a practical man, chosen with great care—a man able to observe and compute, acquainted with the mechanical details of the instruments, and competent to execute, or at least direct, any necessary repairs. An assistant of this kind could probably be got from amongst the non-commissioned officers of the Ordnance Survey Companies of the Corps of Royal Engineers, a very valuable body of men. He should receive a salary of $120 per mensem.
To the Royal Engineers, we may also look for the Second assistant, who should be a good photographer, and be deputed to attend specially to the photographic instruments. Arrangements might, no doubt, be made to procure for him a month's training. He should be paid $75 per mensem.
Clerks, of whom two at least will be needed, can be obtained locally. They should be very trustworthy and accurate men. The rest of the employés may be Chinese, namely, a caretaker, to have general charge of the premises; a gardener, for the grounds; coolies, to act as messengers, keep the buildings and premises clean, trim lamps (there being, most unfortunately for the Observatory, gas at Kau-lung), &c.; and night watchmen; also an intelligent man to attend to the Time-Ball, Weather-Signals, and Tide-Gauge at Tsim-shá-tsui, and who should, if possible, be accommodated in the Police Station.
Page 44
The Barograph, it may also be remarked, must, if possible, have no iron about it, as it will be mounted in the same chamber with the Magnetograph. The instrument-pillars, which should be capped with a slab of slate or marble, may be made from the same material as that of the building itself; but they cannot be built until the instruments themselves, or their exact dimensions, have been received.
For protection against lightning, a single conductor, carried by a post 25 feet high, erected anywhere near the building, will answer.
For the Dip-circle, a small pavilion and pier will have to be erected, in a position well removed from the other magnets, such as the ground outside the astronomical building. This, however, as well as the provision, also above ground, to be made for the Unifilar Magnetometer, may be considered later on.
In the meantime, there will be nothing to prevent the two main buildings from being proceeded with as soon as the working drawings and estimates can be prepared.
IV. Tidal Observations.
There is one instrument which, though referred to in His Excellency the Governor's despatch already quoted from, has not yet been mentioned in this report, and which might with advantage be added to the outfit, namely, a Tide-gauge, for the purpose of determining the laws of the tides at Hongkong, certain phenomena of which, such as the diurnal and other inequalities, are peculiar and, I believe, but little known or understood. An autographic tide-gauge might be set up in a chamber constructed for the purpose near the Tsim-shá-tsui Police Station, and attended to each day by the man in charge of the Time-Ball and Weather-Signals. Such a gauge, of Sir W. THOMSON's pattern, would cost about £95.
Admiral RYDER suggested, in 1877, that an automatic Tide-gauge should be set up at Cape D'Aguilar, and placed in charge of the lighthouse-keeper there. This is most desirable, as a means of establishing the direction and rate of the tides, and I recommend that it be carried out unless the engineering difficulties prove too serious, in which case a suitable spot might perhaps be found on or off the headlands nearer to Stanley. A less expensive gauge, of NEWMAN's pattern, and costing about £50, would serve for this station.
V.—Staff.
Notwithstanding that so large a proportion of the various instruments will be of self-registering patterns, the routine work of the observatory will, nevertheless, be very considerable. Even autographic instruments require periodic attention, most of them at least once daily. Time-determinations should be made certainly three or four times a week, and these necessitate a considerable amount of observing by night and computing by day. Frequent periodic magnetic observations for absolute values will also be required, following the routine of the magnetic work at the Greenwich Observatory.
Clerks, of whom two at least will be needed, can be obtained locally. They should be very trustworthy and accurate men. The rest of the employés may be Chinese, namely, a caretaker, to have general charge of the premises; a gardener, for the grounds; coolies, to act as messengers, keep the buildings and premises clean, trim lamps (there being, most unfortunately for the Observatory, gas at Kau-lung), &c.; and night watchmen; also an intelligent man to attend to the Time-Ball, Weather-Signals, and Tide-Gauge at Tsim-shá-tsui, and who should, if possible, be accommodated in the Police Station.
VI.—Finance.
It is now possible to form an idea of the first outlay and the yearly cost of maintenance for the whole establishment as above designed, which probably will not differ much from the following, though the estimates for the buildings can only be considered as approximate, no detailed drawings and calculations having yet been made.
Astronomical Apparatus, £500 say $2,667 Meteorological do., 397 2,117 Magnetical do., 424 2,262 Time-Ball 400 2,133 Two Tide-Gauges, 145 773 do., 12 64 TWO ROBINSON's Anemometers, for Victoria Peak and Cape D'Aguilar, 23 123 Freight and Insurance of the above to Hongkong, 100 533 Main Observatory Building and Out-houses, Furniture and Fitments, 71 12,900 Magnetic Basement, 500 4,500 1,600 250 250 3,000 Expenditure on the Grounds and Approaches, Fencing, &c., 51 Telegraph Line to the Time-Ball, including spare Cable, say, $33,600 Connecting Observatory with the Kau-lung-Yau-má-ti Telegraph Line, or £6,300 and cost of Speaking-Instrument, &c., Miscellaneous Erections, as for the Time-Ball, Weather-Signals, Tide-Gauges, Meridian-Mark, and parts of the Meteorological and Mag-netical Apparatus, Lamps, Observing Seats, &c., Total Prime Cost (Approximate),Page 31
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dient is broken granite. Even the bricks made of Canton River mud contain iron, though to
which are tedious, difficult and highly complicated, will also have to be made and computed extent than the granite. I suggest that an analysis be made of the limestone of the White Mont attention must be given to the adjustments of the extensive and miscellaneous apparatus, to Range, near Canton, which, if found sufficiently free from iron, might be imported for our purposing and regulating clocks, ascertaining the errors of the instruments, and keeping all clean and in
A good deal of extra work will also devolve upon the Department during several nths of the year, in collecting information respecting typhoons.
used both for the masonry and the concrete, if not too costly. A fine concrete, of suitable qushind order. might be made with washed gravel of this island, i.e., the common decomposed granite (taking ca select a coarse, gritty sample), dug from a nullah side, and washed until only the quartz pa remain. This of course would be expensive. I have little doubt, however, that, on careful inquiry, will be found neither very difficult nor very costly to procure, near at hand or somewhere on the c a material that will fulfil all requirements.
The regular clerical labour will consist mainly of entering the observations and calculations in books and forms for that purpose, transcribing and filing the automatic records, compiling weather hanges and storm data, abstracting typhoon-logs, preparing periodical reports, accounts, &c., and neral correspondence,
ronomer-Royal. No one could be more desirable than an ex-assistant of the Royal Observatory. and it is important to bear in mind that the copper articles ought to be of European manufacture, as to not think we can expect to get a competent person for less than $300 per mensem.
The same rule as regards the exclusion of iron must be followed in every detail of construct The Director of the Establishment should be, if possible, some one recommended by the
All nails, locks, keys, hinges, bolts, books, gratings, pipes, &c., should be of copper, brass, or zie
made in China contain a large percentage of iron. The Reverend M. DECHREVENS, S.J., director of g Zi Ka Wei Observatory, with whom I have entered into correspondence, and to whom I am indebted
He should e, as First assistant, a practical man, chosen with great care-a man able to observe and compute, quainted with the mechanical details of the instruments, and competent to execute, or at least direct, valuable body of of his own establishment, is emphatic in his caution on this point, and recommends me "n'employ
Icers of the Ordnance Survey Companies of the Corps of Royal Engineers, a very pour les portes, les fenêtres, les jonctious, etc., que da cuivre, et autant que possible que des out. He should receive a salary of $120 per mensem.
To the Royal Engineers we may also look "clous, gonds, serrures, charnières, venues d'Europe, ne pas se fier aux Chinois pour cela: tous le
the Second assistant, who should be a good photographer, and be deputed to attend specially to the objets de cuivre contiennent une grande proportion de fer. Tout le cuivre qui est entré dans nometic instruments. Arrangements might, no doubt, be made to procure for him a month's training "salle magnétique, et principalement tout ce que nous avons été obligé de faire fabriquer par des ouvre
some valuable suggestions relating to the Magnetic building, as well as for plans and photograpnary repairs. An assistant of this kind could probably be got from amongst the non-commissioned
44
"Chinois, à été essayé au magnétomètre avant d'être accepté, et rejeté invariablement dès qu'il produis
<<
sur l'aimant une déviation de quelques minutes d'arc à un pied de distance."
The Barograph, it may also be remarked, must, if possible, have no iron about it, as it will be mount in the same chamber with the Magnetograph. The instrument-pillars, which should be capped with slab of slate or marble, may be made from the same material as that of the building itself; but they cam be built until the instruments themselves, or their exact dimensions, have been received.
For protection against lightning, a single conductor, carried by a post 25 feet high, erected an where near the building, will answer.
For the Dip-circle, a small pavilion and pier will have to be erected, in a position well remove from the other magnets, such as the ground outside the astronomical building. This, however, as wi as the provision, also above ground, to be made for the Unitilar Magnetometer, may be consider later on.
In the meantime, there will be nothing to prevent the two main buildings from being proceeded with as soon as the working drawings and estimates can be prepared.
IV. Tidal Observations.
There is one instrument which, though referred to in His Excellency the Governor's despat already quoted from, has not yet been mentioned in this report, and which might with advantage be addels. to the outfit, namely, a Tide-gauge, for the purpose of determining the laws of the tides at Hongkong certain phenomena of which, such as the diurnal and other inequalities, are peculiar and, I believe, bu little known or understood. An autographic tide-gauge might be set up in a chamber constructel är the purpose near the Tsim-shá-tsui Police Station, and attended to each day by the man in charge of the Time-Ball and Weather-Signals. Such a gauge, of Sir W. THOMSON's pattern, would cost about £95.
Admiral RYDER suggested, in 1877, that an automatic Tide-gauge should be set up at Cap D'Aguilar, and placed in charge of the lighthouse-keeper there. This is most desirable, as a means oi establishing the direction and rate of the tides, and I recommend that it be carried out unless the engineering difficulties prove too serious, in which case a suitable spot might perhaps be found on or of the headlands nearer to Stanley. A less expensive gauge, of NEWMAN's pattern, and costing abou £50, would serve for this station.
V.-Staff.
Notwithstanding that so large a proportion of the various intruments will be of self-registering patterns, the routine work of the observatory will, nevertheless, be very considerable. Even auto graphic instruments require periodic attention, most of them at least once daily. Time-determinations should be made certainly three or four times a week, and these necessitate a considerable amount of observing by night and computing by day. Frequent periodic magnetic observations for absolute
The Greenwich Observatory in the routine of the magnetic work. He might be paid $75 per
haem.
Clerks, of whom two at least will be needed, can be obtained locally. They should be very tworthy and accurate men. The rest of the employés may be Chinese, namely, a caretaker, have general charge of the premises; a gardener, for the grounds; coolies, to act as messengers, ep the buildings and premises clean, trim lamps (there being, most unfortunately for the Observatory, gas at Kan-lung), &c.; and night watchmen; also an intelligent man to attend to the Time-Ball, Teather-Signals and Tide-Gauge at Tsim-shá-tsui, and who should, if possible, be accommodated in le Police Station.
VI.-Finance.
It is now possible to form an idea of the first outlay and the yearly cost of maintenance for the hole establishment as above designed, which probably will not differ much from the following, ongh the estimates for the buildings can only be considered as approximate, no detailed drawings ad calculations having yet been made.
Astronomical Apparatus,
Meteorological do., Magnetical do., Time-Ball
Two Tide-Gauges,
do.,
Prime Cost.
TWO ROBINSON's Anemometers, for Victoria Peak and Capel
d'Aguilar,
Freight and Insurance of the above to Hongkong,
Main Observatory Building and Out-houses, Furniture and Fitments,
Magnetic Basement,
£500
say
$ 2,667
397
2,117
424
2,262
400
23
2,133
145
773
12
64
23
100
533
71
12,900
500
4,500
1,600
250
250
3,000
51
.$33,600
or
£6,300
Expenditure on the Grounds and Approaches, Fencing, &c.,. Telegraph Line to the Time-Ball, including spare Cable, say, Connecting Observatory with the Kau-lung-Yau-má-ti Telegraph Line,
and cost of Speaking-Instrument, &c., Miscellaneous Erections, as for the Time-Ball, Weather-Signals, Tide- Ganges, Meridian-Mark, and parts of the Meteorological and Mag- netical Apparatus, Lamps, Observing Seats, &c.,
Totul Prime Cost (Approximate),..........
31
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