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20
It is somewhat remarkable that the tables of the present
and past years should show so great a difference in the proportion
of the sexes. In the year 1864 there were more
deaths registered of females than of males, in the proportion
of 108 of the latter to 228 of the former. During the past
year the sexes have succumbed nearly in equal proportions,
the males being in a small majority of seven. The
difference referred to can only be accounted for by the
greater activity of male emigration in the one year, and of
female emigration in the other, and this I believe has really
been the case.
ages at death.
I regret to say a very heavy infant mortality is shewn to
have taken place in the past year. Of infants there died
from all causes as many as 114 in the first year of their
existence, 49 from 1 to 5, and 16 from 5 to 10 years of
age, making a total, between birth and 10 years of age, of
179 deaths; but it is some consolation to find that even
this large number was less by 10 than occurred in 1864
between the same ages.
Of persons registered as having died of infirmity of age
or natural decay, without mention of any other important
cause, there were 34, viz., 15 between the ages of 70 and 80,
and 19 at 80 years and upwards. If we add 52 other deaths,
between 60 and 80, registered as being due to actual
disease, it will give the rather large number of 86 persons
in advanced life. This, however, is a less number by 23
than were registered as having died at the same ages in
1864.
SOCIAL POSITIONS OF THE DECEASED.
As is usually the case, the mortality amongst the industrial
or labouring classes is much the heaviest.
In the past year the number of this class dying of
various diseases, accidents, &c., just doubled that of all
the other classes combined. This is much to be deplored.