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by the large number of deaths from infantile convulsions,
the latter by the usual dangers of a riverside locality, viz:—
drowning. Cancer was fatal in eight cases and appears to be
increasing, a fact which has been noticed in other districts.
The number of diseases classified under the name Premature
birth, &c., was rather in excess during the past year as likewise
those placed under the other sub-class of the same
group, viz :—Old age.
Ages of the Deceased. During 1883, 43 children under
one year died yielding a per centag-e of 17.8 of the total deaths;
this shows a still further decline on the rates of the past
three years which were 19.2, 28.7 and 30.0, respectively.
This is the more remarkable when we consider the large
number of deaths from premature birth and infantile convulsions
previously referred to and is due to the very slight
fatality from Zymotic diseases amongst children under that
age. The deaths of young persons from 5 to 20 were unusually
numerous, and a slight increase took place amongst
those from 20 to 60. The mortality of persons upwards of 60
was very heavy. No less than 53 deaths occurred above
that age, of which twenty were between 70 and 80, fourteen between
80 and 90, and three upwards of 90. The oldest was
that of a man within a year of being a centenarian. As
regards sex those aged persons are more equally divided than
we usually find. Of those above 70, 17 were of males and 20
of females. This mortality among the aged was hardly to
be expected during a year in which extremes of temperature
were conspicuously absent.
Social Position. The proportion of the different classes of
the community is represented in the following table.
Nobility and Gentry 4.5
Professional and Merchant Classes 17.0
Middle, Tradesman, Clerks, &c. 22.0
Industrial 56.5
100.0