The New York herald., 1874-12-31
Work Of the Observers at The Sand
Wich Islands.
Success at Some Points ana
Failure at Others.
Captain Tupnan's Report Of the
Phenomena.
The Time Of Internal Contact Later Than the
Almanac Calculations

Almanac Calculations.
HONOLULU, Dec. IL, 1874.
The agony Is overi Venus mas transit
OF the sun, and seems none the worse Tor her
temerlIy. She was a little tardy. Sex may ac-
count for this; that is, II accept the British
Nautical Almanacn as authority.
TIME OF INTERNAL CONTACT.
The time OF internal contact two minutes
gty-our seconds later than the almanac maker
hath it.
CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
We had cloudy. dull days for two months before
the 9Th, and many OF us had mlsQlvngs as 20 the
likelihood OF the success OF our observers; but
when the day dawned all DOUBTS were
dispelled, for we had day made for
The occasion. Telescopes, opera glasses,
bits OF window gass-in fact, anything that was
transparent-had been prepared over smoky
lamps; and long before the hour for the phe-
nomenon thousands OF persons young and old,
were on the LOOKOUT for something 10 happen.
THE FIRST CONTACT.
When the first contact was detected feeling OF
DISAPPOINTMENT came over the masses. for they
had expected something more pronounced. 1G
them It was tame AFFAIR.
WORK OF THE BRITISH OBSERVERS.
To the observers stationed here by the British
government the sensation was quite dinerent; for
them 1t was . full reward for years Of patient
study and preparation. local writer gives the
following graphic account OF the scene within
the enclosure erected by the British Observers
WHAT q moment, and what sense OF RESPONSE
bilty Tor three thoughtful, studious men, VINO
nave to deal. with great crisis IN o traction OF
second, while the audience OF IN enlightened,
expectant world Is sympatneticaily present.
Faithfully the heavenly traveller comes, as first
foretoid oy Kepler, and the cnleI observes the
first external act OF disk ana disk al sh. I'm. ls,
and Lieutenant NOBLE 1T 3h 7m. 3s., according TO
local mean solar time. The agreement slngu.
lar, but must be regarded as purely accidental
ment; 1t is when the perfect rounded
orb OF the planet Is wltnin the sun,
the lnuer circle of the lumnar, lnd Gates tue in
ternal contact, tue most interesting point TO be
body OF tne planet WAS indentlng tue SUMS rim,
aud advancing on toward immersion within It's
body. the cnlef who was now w.tcn.ng through
THE COMPLETE DISK OF VENUS
oeined about thirty seconds be ore the actual in.
imagined he had missed the critical phase OF the
phenomenon; but this revelation oi the complete
had taken place, was owing to the enulgence OF
the corona or outer hame waves or the
Venus some time before complete lmmersion-
q phase OF the phenomenon never observed before,
opt,caI perfect,on OF the telescope instruments
employed. Lieutenant Noble could distinguish the
compete ds5 OF Venus NJ iuly i've minutes % before
Walmea on the Island OF Kauai saw this complete
disk no less than twelve minutes before the COM
piete entrance OF tue planet This luminous pre-
sentation Of the iul round body OF Venus, wnen
still only partially across the SUMS circle was CAL
culsted to dazzle and deceive our astronomers;
but Ike faithful watchers, they neglected not one
moments observation, and as they scrutinlzed the
advancing planet they discerned approximately
the phase OF internal contact, Which the chief
corded At sh. som. dS.7s., and Lieutenant Noble at
AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS.
We had several parties OF amateur astronomers
who made observations which, Tor accuracy,
astonished the professionals. Mr.. c. J. Lyons OF
our Coast Survey. with surveyors tneodolite
and q friend to record the time by cnrouometer,
gave the time OF internal contact at 3h. 35m. $685.,
while Captain Daniel Smith and our Chronometer
Doctor ID. N. Flitner) with better instruments nit
quite near; in fact, captain smith noted his time
Oh 35n. "a. 4.8s.-wthln four tenthS OF seCOnO OF
the time OF Lieutenant Noble.
or the success OF the more juvenile observers
must say 1t was OF o different Klnd pc. haps now
ever quite as satisfactory W them; certainly to
the smoked glass was placed to their eyes SMOKED
side in. Eyes would water from steadlness OF gaze
and naturally fingers would ruD regardless Of
smut, the grand result being lualcrously begrimed
taCeS.
CAPTAIN TUPHAN's REPORT.
The result OF the observations to the profess
sional observers, may be summed up In the lam
guage OF Captain Tupman. Is iollows:-
..rhe atmospheric conditions were favorable
exceedingly so at times. One hundred ana fifty
measures Of cusps and limbs were obtained and
sixty photographs. A totally unexpected appear
ance presented itself at internal contact. Tne
disk OF the planet became visible an entire
circle minutes before contact. From then TO ynB
complete establishment definite sudden
phase was observed. No black drop after inter-
nal contact.n
This much was known to favored few the
day after the transit. On the l0tn the following
facts were given from the same sou ce:-
Twenty out OF the sixty photographs have been
developed. All are blurred by the phenomenon
known as ''b0iling' or .uanclng" caused by the
SUMS heat, possibly within the instrument; some
are better than others; valuable results are to be
obtained, however.
The Jansen apparatus failed totally.
THE WATCH AT KAlLUA.
At Katlua Professor Forbes anu party were sadly
disappointed as the day was cloudy aud no obser-
walton OF the contact was possible. The Professor
obtained valuable measures with the micrometer
so that mis- time was not lost.
GREAT SUCCESS OF THE OBSERVATIONS IN NEW
ZEALAND
WASHINGTON, Dec. 80, 1874
The Smithsonian Institution received a tele.
gram to-day from Professor Airy, astronomer OF
the Royal Greenwicn observatory, stating that
the observations OF Professor Peters one of tho
New Zealand, were q great success, and that %.
photographs were made OF the first contact.
COMPLIMENT TO GOVERNOR DIX.
The Shipowners' Association OF the State OF New
York have sent to Governor DIX the lollow wing ad.
dress:-
tn HE A nrv