THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH OCTOBER, 1893. 1053
Captain ANDERSON.-Is the Hongkong Observatory in communication officially or otherwise with the authorities of the Manila Observatory and Zi-Ka-Wei?
The CHAIRMAN.—Yes. We are in constant communication and we exchange observations telegraphically, in manuscript, and all the publications. We visit each other whenever possible and facilities are mutually granted for making observations in any one of those Observatories to the staff of the other Observatories; but I have not visited Luzon. The Jesuit Fathers are in a position to spend no end of money on their Observatories, and they can appoint any number of members. I believe in Zi-Kai-Wei they own as much land as British Kowloon, and their income probably equals the income of the Colonial Government.
Captain ANDERSON.-Would not hearty co-operation with these Observatories tend greatly to improve the information available here and enable forecasts to be made at least with regard to typhoons?
The CHAIRMAN.--We co-operate as much as possible at present. Further co-operation, if possible, would mean loss of time.
Captain ANDERSON. Are there any material obstacles to such co-operation? The CHAIRMAN.--We do co-operate at present as much as scientific men can co-operate, and there are no obstacles.
Captain TILLETT.-Would not telegrams from Aparri on the north coast of Luzon be useful?
The CHAIRMAN.-Yes; but I hardly think we would get them regularly or in time. The Spanish land lines do not seem to act satisfactorily in all cases. They do not seem to get their reports in time in Manila. The Manila telegrams reach Bolinao over a land line which is often interrupted, and this line is much shorter than the line to Aparri. We do not receive them in time; but it seems the Jesuit Fathers wait till they receive our 10 A.M. messages and warnings, then they issue their telegrams.
Captain TILLETT.—I should think Manila the most important station in the Far East. Is it not so?
The CHAIRMAN.--By no means! South Cape is perhaps the most important station, but they are all more or less important. Weather forecasts should depend upon the whole system and not upon a single station. Now the wind telegraphed from Manila is usually wrong owing to deflection from the mountains and the The barometer is of some importance, but it is sometimes wrongly trans- mitted. Bolinao is more important, and we can have information from there at any time during the day.
tower.
Captain TILLETT.-But I understand observations are made there by the officials of the Eastern Extension Company. Could their observations be trusted? I should trust them more than any others simply
The CHAIRMAN.--Yes.
because they are not biassed.
Captain TILLETT.-How do you mean? Biassed against the Colony, or against yourself, or what?
The CHAIRMAN.--They are not biassed in making observations because they have not got any theories, or pre-conceived notions about phenomena, and do not claim any particular knowledge of meteorology. They observe and transmit any- thing they see, and ask for information about the weather if they think it looks bad. That is what I mean when I say they are not biassed. The word is used in that sense by scientific observers.
Captain TILLETT.--Please show us some of the telegrams and let us have the opportunity of seeing for ourselves how late they are received.
The CHAIRMAN.-Here is the book. Now, see. In the first half of July the Tokio 9 A.M. was received at 2 P.M., Foochow at 12.15 P.M., Amoy at 11 A.M., Swatow Since then there at 11.30 A.M., Manila 10 observations between 11.30 A.M. and noon.
has been a decided improvement due to the interest Mr. VON PFORDTEN, the Manager in China of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, takes in the matter. I called a few years ago on Mr. JUDD, the then Manager, but Mr. JunD told me he would not do anything further as our reports were not appreciated by the public.
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