The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-24

ELABORATE PREPARATIONS WITH DISHEARTENING
REsULTs-MR. EDWIN SMITHS ACCOUNT.
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP SwATARA,)
POET CHALMERS, New Zealand, !
Jan. Is, 1875.
DEAR SIR-I regret that my report from
Chatham Island must give some disappointment.
The Swatsra anchored in the barber OF Whan.
garoa, Chatham Island, on the evening of o.
tober 10, 1874 The next day every one went to
work with a will to succeed that was very com.
mendable, and before the Swatara left on October
&C. our camp was settled and observations FOR
lime obtained. Much bad weather followed, bur
by watching our chances and often hav.
ing only ten minutes clear sun or stars
at time, the whole apparatus was we'll
adjusted and the party well drilled before the LIST
OF December. The 4th, 5th and 9th OF December
were fne DAYS, but on the 7tn one or those storms
began to which there seems there will be no end.
About eleven A. NJ. on the Sth tie clouds began to
break and the sun TO come out at intervals AZ
halt'past one P. NJ. every man was at his station.
The first contact was lost In Clouds but, shortly
after, was able to make few measures of the
cusps, though the sun aud Venus were so faint
through clouds as to be scarcely visible with
out shade glass. The second contact was also
lost. At intervals the sun came out family, and
the equatorial. Abou. five p NJ. 1t began to rain,
and nothing more was seen OF the sun till about
ten minutes after the transit was over. 1t then
came out for a moment only. At no time during
the transit was the sun perfectly clear OF Clouds
and, though no opportunity was LOST, only twenty
plates were exposed. or these only thirteen show
any image, anu only eight worth any thing. All
these have clouds on them, asthe print send
Will snow. Fourteen days or bad aud cloudy
weather followed without observations, except q
set OF reversed photographs on one day.
Our dlsappoin tment has been great, but
earnestly hope the little we have obtained will DO
OF value. BY the same mail that l write send
package OF four bOOkS-Onc quartO, containing o
duplicate record OF all the Photographic and equa-
torlal work; one octave, containing duplicate OF
latitude observations; one octave, containing
duplicate OF time observations. and one octave,
containing duplicate or weather record.
These records contain everything necessary to
20 on with the reductions except the comparison
VI chroDOmeters for longitude. This Will DE fOr-
warded by next mall No occultatlons could be
observed ut Chatham on account OF clouds.
POSITION OF THE STATION.
The longitude deduced from the first comparison
Is west IL hrs 46 min. 1913 sec and the latitude from
preliminary reduction is s3 deg 80 min. OF sec.
Magnetic observations were also made at Chatham
aud Will be forwarded at q later date. After the
was made rough tracing OF which send with this
letter. While at Chatham Island every MEMBER OF
the party enjoyed good health. Instead OF finding
canniba!s we met with some very pleasant
people, who gave us every assistance they
could. l cannot close this letter without
expressing my thanks TO the Commission Tor the
loerality with which everything was furnished
jor our comfort and success, and saying that the
only thing that prevented the latter was the
weather Very respectfully, your onedient SER
want, EDWIN SMITH,
Chief OF Party, Chatham Island.
Rear Admiral G. Ii. DAVIS U. S. N, President OF
Commission.