Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 404

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HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY FOR 1886.

29

No. 87.

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

on the 23rd May, 1887.

HONGKONG OBSERVATORY,

31st December. 1886,

SIR, For the information of His Excellency the Acting Governor, I have the honour to forward my Annual Report for 1886.

2. The second annual volume was published early in the summer, and the third volume will probably be ready for distribution within a few months. The meteorological observations and re- Searches have been extended, and kept up to date since the appointment of an additional clerk. Absolute magnetic observations were made monthly, and Sir W. TiroмSON's automatic tide-gauge was erected and worked since the end of October.

3. The electric time-ball was dropped as usual at 1 P.M., and the sidereal standard clock was kept going without being touched throughout the year. As soon as two years' ten-day rates are available. it is intended to re-examine the co-efficients.

4. Micrometric measures of Jupiter and Saturn occasionally made since 1879 have been reduced, and will be published in the astronomical report.

The Honourable

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,

$o.,

$e.,

&c.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

W. DOBERCK, Government Astronomer.