Sessional_Paper_1885-1886 — Page 144

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No. 17.

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY, FOR 1885.

Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

HONGKONG Observatory,

4th February, 1886.

SIR,-For the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, I have the honour to forward my Annual Report for 1885.

2. The first volume of observations and researches was published in July. In this publication there is seldom any reference made to the storms, that so frequently cross the north of China, passing from West to East. These storms are considered to lie outside the field of my researches, but I have endeavoured to thoroughly investigate the typhoons. The available observations were, however, very inaccurate, were not made according to a uniform system and their discussion was found to consume unduly great time, as no isobars could be drawn. In the course of the past year observations with in- struments verified here have been commenced at a greater part of the stations belonging to the Imperial Maritime Customs of China. The lighthouses outside of Shanghai were, in 1884, furnished with barometers, which had been compared in the Custom House. I expect to make use of these observations in the investigation of the typhoons of 1885.

3. As there exists in Japan an extensive meteorological service conducted on approved principles, it is unnecessary to investigate typhoons in their course across that empire. With reference to this part of their track, the results published in the weather-maps issued from the Imperial Meteorological Observatory, Tokio, are simply quoted.-A similar service in the Philippine Archipelago is urgently required. As it is, the labour of following typhoons in their transit across these islands is thrown upon this Observatory, and the work has to be done on insufficient data. Through the courtesy of the Superintendent of the Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Telegraph Company I receive observations from Bolinao. At 10 a. and 4 p. daily, a telegram containing observations made at the Observatory of the Jesuit Fathers at Manila is also transmitted, and I receive occasionally registers kept on board ships and by private individuals on shore. I do not find any meteorological register in the newspapers published in Manila. In fact they do not usually publish any information useful for such investigations.-I was informed by Dr. BORIUS, that it was the intention of the French authorities to establish a meteorological observatory in Haiphong, but since the lamented death of this distinguished meteorologist, I have had no further news about this project.

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4. It does not appear to have been originally intended to immediately start daily weather-reports and storm-warnings in connection with the Observatory, and no provision was made for such; but immediately on my arrival in the Colony I was instructed to take steps to organise the issue of daily weather-intelligence, for which however no provision was subsequently made in the estimates. The department was thus saddled with a great deal of extraneous work, although the staff was arranged for simply carrying on scientific observations and calculations in the Observatory. The staff is suffi- cient to carry on the work as originally intended, but is of course insufficient for such a material extension. I understand,that the storm-warnings etc., have been of great advantage to the mercantile community, and hope therefore, that funds to enable me to continue them may be forthcoming from some source. If the public is to have the full benefit of the observations and researches, an additional clerk and a messenger must be appointed.

5. With reference to the Meteorological Signals I submitted, that my Notice of the 25th May, 1885, (substantially the same as the two first paragraphs of my Notice of the 11th August, 1884. Compare Obs. and Res. 1884, App. F.) should be published daily in the local newspapers during the typhoon season, so that the shipping community might be made aware of the meaning of those signals, and was informed, that it would appear weekly in the Government Gazette, which has been carried out.

6. The gun placed at Tsim-shat-súi for announcing the approach of a typhoon, was, during the year, also fired for announcing the arrival of the mails. On these occasions the sampans and other small craft sought positions of shelter. After the issue of the Post Office Notice I was informed, that this arrangement might be altered when any serious inconvenience was felt, and I would now venture to submit for His Excellency's consideration, whether it is advisable to have the gun fired for both purposes, and if not, what signal should cease.