Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 169

No. 1906

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONGKONG OBSERVATORY, FOR THE YEAR 1905.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

The comparison of weather-forecasts, issued daily about 11 a.m., with the weather subsequently experienced. has been conducted on the same system as heretofore (cf. Annual Report for 1896 § 5). The results are as follows:-

Success 56 per cent., partial success 33 per cent., failure 1 per cent., partial failure 10 per cent.

Following the method used in meteorological offices and taking the sum of total and partial success as a measure of success, and the sun of total and partial failure as a measure of failure, it follows that 89 per cent. of the weather forecasts were successful in 1905.

2. The China Coast Metrorological Register was printed every morning at the Obser- vatory, and information regarding storms was telegraphed to Hongkong and exhibited on -notice-boards as often and as fully as such information could be justified by the weather telegrams received. This happened on 90 days in 1905. The Red Drum alone was hoisted twice, the Red South Cone and Red Drum twice, the Red South Cone alone once, the Black Drum alone 4 times, the Black North Cone and Black Drum 3 times, the Black South Cone and Black Druni twice, the Black South Cone alone 4 times, and the Black South Cone and Black Ball 3 times. The typhoon gun was fired once. Printed bulletins for general distribution were issued once.

3. The thanks of the Government are due to the Telegraph Companies, who continue to forward meteorological telegrams from outports to Hongkong free of charge and also to the staffs of the Eastern Extension and Australasian Telegraph Company at Sharp Peak, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu, who make and transmit observations twice daily.

4. Telegraphic connection with Victoria was interrupted as follows:-February 19th 5.30 p. to 20th 7 a. ; 21st 7 a. to 2.35 p. ; 21st 6.26 p. to 22nd 4.10 p.; March 31st 9.30 a. to 3.30 p.; April 1st 10.15 a. to 11.34 a.; 3rd 10.10 a. to 3.15 p.; 9th 10.10 a. to 10th 10.40 a.; 10th 4.15 p. to 11th 7 a.; 11.25 a. to 2.30 p.; May 21st 4.10 p. to 22nd 10.7 a. ; 30th 8 a. to 12.5 p.; June 15th 3.50 p. to 6.5 p. ; July 21st 2.50 p. to 6.10 p. ; 26th 11.50 p. to 27th 6.50 a.; 27th 6.55 a. to 29th 1.8 p.; August 30th 1 p. to September 1st 2.20 p.; November 20th 4 p. 10 21st 10.26 a. Interruptions occurred therefore on 24 days, and of course, also during thunderstorms.

5. Telegraphic connection with Gap Rock was reported interrupted as follows:---January 24th 1 a. to 25th 1.50 p. ; 27th 1 a. to 30th 11.41 a.; February 20th 4

to 21st 2.35 p.; p. March 31st 1 a. to 4.21 p. ; June 14th 6.30 p. to 15th 10.13 a., 15th 10.15 a. to 16th 12.23 p.; 16th 9.50 p to 17th 2.30 P.; 17th 10 p to 18th 3 a.; 24th 1 p. to 27th 10.50 a.; July 26th 7 p. to August 10th 11.25 a.; 11th 10 p. to 12th 11.35 a.; 12th 10 p. to 13th 3 p. ; 23rd 7 p. to 24th 2.26 p.; August 30th 1 p. to December 14th 12.20 p. Inter- ruptions occurred therefore on 146 days, and of course, also during thunderstorms. As our warnings in connection with typhoons in the China Sea are based mainly on reports 1eceived from the Gap Rock lighthouse, it is of the utmost importance that the cable between Hongkong and Gap Rock should be always in working order.

6. During 1905 in addition to meteorological registers kept at about 40 stations on shore, 2,074 ship logs have been copied on board or forwarded by the captains. The total number of vessels, whose log-books have been made use of, was 259. The total number of days' observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 14,705.