Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 197, 25 August 1894 — INTERESTING REPORT. [ARTICLE]

INTERESTING REPORT.

We pab!t<*h from the Mīni»(er of hiennial report the foIlo«ring reportfrom the Sarrey-or-General on tbe astronomical and magnetic vork done by his department whieh will of general interest to our readere. Anybody who has made tbe ascent of Mauna Kei will know the difficalties ard bardships with whieh tbo expedition must have met. • Id my last hienoial report, 1 mentioned the doable series of latitade obseTTations carried on fromJune6th. 1891. until Jnne 2ōth, 1892. by Dr. A. Marcnse of the Berlin Observatory, and Mr. E. D. Preston cf the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey k at Waikiki. This work was a complete saccess. and in connection witb simnltaneous observations in America and Earope, it has de monstrated the fact tbat the po!es of the eartb are affected by a minnte periodical rotation. lt had also been arranged that this Bareau shonld assist Mr. Preston in carrying out three series of l>endoluin and latitude obseivations nt Kawaihae. Kalaieha and on the summit of Mauna Kea, as well as in making a magnetic survey of the gronp. To carry out the former plan, a party left for Hawaii on Jane 2Sth, 1892, consisting of Messrs. E. D. Preston, W. E. Wall, who nssist him as recorder, W. E. Chamberlain and tbe SurveyorGeueral. Tbe principal objects of this trip were to determiue ihe force of gravity nnd the deflection of the plum’o line at tho base and summit cf Mauna Kea, and the comparative density of tbe mountain as well as the declination, dip and intensity of tho magnetic ueeulo. A ststion was occupied for a week near tbe bsach at Kawaihae, whieh was connected by gurvey with the primary triangalation of the island. At Waimeamagnetic observations were mado, while preparations were making for tho asoent of Manna Ke«. The party then moved to Kalaieha, south of tbesumrait, at nn elovation of 6,700 feet above sea le>ol, whore it was joined by Mr. E. D. Baldwin aud Mr. J. M. Muir, a volunteer observer, who rendered important service. At this point botb latitude aml pcudulum ob* servutious were raade, and the station was counooted by hiangulation to the maiu framework of the Govcrnment Survey. The difficult asceut of tho mountain witb instri\iuents and tents-was made July20th, and a station oeeupieil for six days on the shore of lake Waian, at au elevation of over 13.0(K) feet. Tbe range of temperature waa frora 13 degreos Frthr. at nigbt to 108 degreos at noon. In conuection with the latitude, penduluur nnd magnetic o]>servations, a topo graphical survey was made of the poaks aud craters of the summit platean. The iustrumonts, teuts, <tc.; were safelv bronght dowu from the moaniaiu of Kalaieha. July *27th. to be carried from thence 47 miles to Kawaihae, where they were shipped to Honololn. Mr. l*reston continued the maguetio sorvey, making sets of «>bsorvations at Hilo, at Captain Cook's station in Kealakekon, at Freycinet's station at Lahaiua, at the Trausit of Vcnns station iu Waimea, Kauai, aad on tbe island of Niihau. Magnetioo obseiwations had been previonsly mado at aikiki, at Honolulo, and at Kahuku | Oahn. making in ali 12 magnetic ātations.’'