The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

INCREASE OF POPULATION.

The natural increase of population, as represented
by the excess of births over deaths, amounted to
81,793 in the quarter, or an average of 889 daily.
A considerable number of persons, however, left
these shores for various parts of the globe, and the
returns from all ports in the United Kingdom at
which there are Government emigration offie,:rs,
show that 45,278 (or an average of 492 daily) per-
sons of native origin emigrated during the three
months. Of these 31,853 went to the United States,
10 to British North America, 4,155 to the Aus-
tralian .
^nd p3o to all other places. 17,983
of the emigrants we e
Scotch, 22,810 of Irish. The number who left ports
of the United Kingdom in the summer of 1867 ex-
ceeds by 8,654 the number who emigrated in the
same period of 1866.
PRICES, PAUPERIS3f, AND THE WEATHER.
. _

A marked increase iu the price of wheat has taken
place during the three months, the average price
per quarter having been 655. 4d. as compared with
518. in the summer of 1866, and 435. 3d. in the
same season of 1865 ; this represents a rise of 28
per cent. and 51 per cent. respectively. Potatoes
are also 31 per cent. higher in price than in the
summer of 1866. Influenced by the cessation of
the cattle plague, and probably also by a smaller
consumption consequent on the diminished earnings
of the labouring classes, the wholesale price of meat,
at Leadenb all and Newgate market, has fallen since
the quarter ending Sept. 30, 1866 ; the average
price of beef has been 52d. per lb., and mutton 6d.
per lb. during the quarter just ended ; this is a de-
crease of 6 per cent. in beef and 11 per cent. in
mutton compared with the same period of 1866.
As some compensation for the higher price of bread
and potatoes, it may be hoped that consumers will
obtain the full benefit of the diminishedtcost of
meat.

Pauperism continues to show a considerable in-
crease in the number of persons receiving in-door
and out-door relief ; the average numbers relieved
on the last day of each week in three summer quar-
ters were—

In-door. Out-door.
Quarter onding Sept. 30, 18G5 ... 117,172 ... 719,589
1866 120,955 ... 717,553
1867 .. 129,838 ... 743,977

Many interesting facts on the meteorological
character of the past summer are related in detail
by Mr. Glaisher in his report, which is subjoined.
He states that "the cold period, which set in on
June 3, continued throughout July, and extended to
Aug. 7 ; the weather was changeable and very un-
settled, there was little sunshine, and during the
first week of August the temperature was unseason-
ably cold, and some of the nights frosty." The mean
temperature at Greenwich was 59.7 deg., or about
the average of the same season of 96 years. The
rainfall was 11.3 in. in the three months, which is
3.9 in. above the average of 52 summer quarters.

DEATHS AND THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
The number of deaths registered in the three
months ended Sept. 30 was 108,462 ; and the an-
nual rate of mortality was 20.06 in 1,000 ; the ave-
rage rate of the season is 20.31, and in the same
three months of 1866, when cholera was epidemic in
London and other places, the rate was 21.82 per
1,000. Fewer deaths have been registered, and the
rate of mortality has been lower than in any corre-
sponding quarter since 1862.
The summer has been favourable to health, and
there has been no recurrence of epidemic cholera,
although its prevalence has been remarked in some
continental cities.

The death rate experienced by about 11 millions
of people inhabiting the chief towns was 22 per 1000,
while rather more than 9 million persons residing in
the small towns and country parishes had a morta-
lity of somewhat less than 17 per 1,000 ; it is far
from being the case that this latter population lives
under conditions so favourable to health as not to be
capable of i►uprovement, hut the higher mortality in
tcw s shows that much sanitary work remains there
i I be performed before a satisfactory state of public
health can be attained.

In London and 12 other great towns in the United
Kingdom the annual death-rate during the quarter
was 23.7 per 1,000 ; it was highest in Manchester,
32, and lowest in Bristol, 19 per 1,000 ; in London
it was 21, Birmingham, 26, Liverpool 29, Salford
28, Sheffield 21, Leeds 29, Hull 26, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne 30, Edinburgh 23, Glasgow 24, and Dublin
23. The registrars in many of these towns allude
to the prevalence of diarrhoea, measles, scarlatina,
typhus, and whooping-cough.
The unhealthy condition of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
with its numerous unraved streets, its cellars and j

underground kitchens standing seven or eight inches
under water and liquid filth, has been referred to
in previous reports, and, notwithstanding the sani-
tary improvements instituted by the newly ap-
pointed health committee, zymotic diseases have
been fatally prevalent ; in the All Saints' sub-dis-
trict, out of 229 deaths registered during the quar-
ter, no less than 147 were those of children not
exceeding five years of age ; the hard-working
poor are described as crowding together, and
in want of proper house accommodation ;
diseased generated in these localities spread among
all classes of the population. The local authorities
of this important town will probably see the neces-
sity of appointing a permanent medical officer of
health.

Salisbury continues to furnish an instance of the
advantages resulting front good hygienic arrange-
ments ; it is more than six years since the census was
taken, and the present population of towns can only
be approximately estimated, but, assuming that
Salisbury has increased in population since 1861 in
the same annual ratio as in the previous 10 years,
then the mortality during the quarter has been at the
low rate of 10 per 1,000 annually, a result as credit-
able to the authorities as it is satisfactory to the
citizens,whose years of life are prolonged ; that the
healthiness of this city is mainly owing to the sani-
tary system now in operation, and not chiefly to
a dvantages of situation, is proved by the fact that
during the 10 years 1841-50 the average annual
number of deaths was 28 per 1,000 living, and in
the following 10 years it was 24 per 1,000 ; it also
suffered severely from epidemic cholera in 1849.

The registrar of the Lockwood sub-district of
Huddersfield states that " The health of the inha•
bitants is very much improved by the local govern-
ment boards of Lockwood and Linthwaite partially
carrying out the beneficial provisions of the Local
Government Act, 1858, and other acts incorporated
therewith. This quarter there have been no cases
of smallpox, measles, scarlatina,or whooping-cough."
This gratifying result should incite the authorities
of other towns to endeavour to place the inhabitants
beyond the reach of epidemic diseases.
Of the 11 great divisions of England the rate of
mortality during the latter quarer was lowest
(15.9 per 1,00 A) in the south-western counties, and
highest (23.8 per 1,000) in Cheshire and Lancashire.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SMYRNA AND CASSABA.

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the offices, Old Jewry—Mr.
J. W. Larking, the chairman, presided.
Mr. G. A. CAPE, the secretary read the report,
which stated that the railway was at present in a
perfectly satisfactory condition, and in the future
that its prospects were highly encouraging. The
entire railway comprised in the concession had been
made and equipped for the estimated capital, to the
satisfaction not only of the directors, but also of the
Turkish Government, who had passed the accounts,
and signified their formal approval of the line. The
traffic manager reported " that the permanent way
and rolling stock were in good working order, and
the trade of the line was carried on with regularity,
and gave general satisfaction to the Government
and the public." The receipts, which at first, from
the unwillingness of the camel-carriers to part with
their trade, were somewhat restricted, had
gradually and continuously, as the facilities
and convenience of the railway had become mani-
fest, increased, until they had reached a point which
afforded every assurance that the line would be self-
supporting and altogether independent of the Go-
vernment guarantee, and the railway would at an
earlier date than perhaps could reasonably have been
anticipated realise the large expectations upon
which it was established. The receipts on the line
for the 13 weeks ending the 6th inst. amounted to
£21,417, against £11,252 for the corresponding 13
weeks last year, showing, with the same mileage, an
increase of £10,164, or about 90 per cent. ; and
the last week's receipts, ending the 6th of October
inst., which were the largest, amounted to £2,167,
or £35 18s. 6d. per mile per week—a large figure
for a line which had cost for construction and
equipment £14,000 per mile. There was reason to
anticipate that these receipts would be augmented.
The rates for merchandise, which, to meet competi-
tion, were necessarily low on the opening of the
line, had been considerably increased ; the new tariff
leneeeffe reach Traliglenith Von
the director of the Smyrna branch of the Imperial
Ottoman Bank (with the sanction of the directors
of that establishment) to represent the company in
Smyrna, to take part in auditing the accounts, and
generally to supervise the company's affairs for a
moderate consideration. The accounts showed that
the net earnings of the line for the half-year were
£10,904, and that £9,096 was due from the Ottoman
Government under the guarantee. The interest of
the debenture debt had absorbed £8,050, leaving
£11,950. The Imperial commissioner having certi-
fied the accuracy of the company's claim, the amount
which would be available for interest and preference
dividend would admit of a distribution among the
ordinary shareholders for the half-year at the rate
of 3 per cent. per annum. The directors could not
conclude without expressing their sense of the readi-
ness and fairness with which the Government had
received and adjusted the claim of the company
under the guarantee.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said the traffic receipts were increasing
steadily, in spite of the competition of the camel-
drivers. This increase had taken place during a
period of great commercial depression, and he there-
fore thought there were hopes that the traffic would
continue to increase until it realised all the expec-
tations of those interested in its success. The in-
crease of traffic had been chiefly derived from agri-
cultural development, which had been heretofore
retarded, owing to the difficulty of transport. The
establishment of the railway would cause a greater
breadth of land to be cultivated. It traversed one of
the richest provinces of Asia Minor, teeming with
wealth, but capital was required to develope it, and
above all a good government. He thought that great
progress had been made by the present Turkish
Government, in spite of delays and prejudices. He
had known Turkey for 35 years, and on looking
back he saw that great improvements had been in-
troduced, and he believed that the aspiration of the
Government was directed to the removal of all re-
strictions on trade and commerce. He felt that the
time was not far distant when Turkey would have
a strong and good Government. The Turkish Go-

vernment now knew that there was nothing like
railways for developing the resources of the country.
He had been informed that Fuad Pasha had said
that it was quite a consolation to think that the
concession granted to their company had been car-
ried out for the Government without any difficulty
whatever, and that he considered the Cassaba Com-

pany were entitled to great consideration for so
doing. The appointment of M. La Fontaine, of
Smyrna, to represent the company there, he thought,
would result in great advantage to the company.
Another favourable matter was that the Government
had allowed the company the privilege of building a
custom-house at their station, and thus save the
cartage of goods to the Custom-house in Smyrna.
This would be of great importance to the company
in respect of goods traffic. (Hear.)
Mr. Gurfx, ➢I.P., seconded the motion, and it
was carried unanimously.

Mr. ASIIIILTS said it was a great source of satis-
faction that the contractor had so far carried out the
undertaking satisfactorily. Ile believed that when
the traffi was developed on the line it would become
one of the best railway investments.

Mr. BuficuELL said he was well satisfied with the
progress of the traffic ; and considering the moderate
cost of construction, the line could not fail before
long to yield them remunerative dividends on the
ordinary shares. He hoped it would be the begin-
ning of such useful undertakings in Asia Minor,
that would not only develone the resources of that
country, but tend to increase their trade with
England.

The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the chairman and directors.

D UNA BERG AND WITEPSK (LIMITED).
The traffic receipts on this company's line for the
month of September amounted to 102,601 roubles,
making the total receipts from the Ist of January to
the end of September 611,961 roubles.