The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-20 00:00:00

The Irish Registrar-General's Return.

The number of deaths registered in Ireland in the
fourth quarter of the year 1866 was 22,260, and,
assuming that all the deaths were registered, the
proportional number would be 16 per 1,000 of popu-
lation per annum—a proportion slightly in excess
of that of the corresponding quarter of the previous
year. Cholera and diarrhoea were the prevailing
epidemic. At Skull the deaths of four young fe-
males are recorded from low continued fever (three
in one family). These deaths occurred where pure
air was inaccessible, and where filth abounded, in-
ternally and externally. Cookstown was visited
with a severe epidemic of fever ; 15 cases were en-
tered in the Dispensary relief register alone. The
majority of these patients resided in a block of houses
described as filthy, wretchedly ventilated, and badly
sewered, with manure heaps and a large cesspool
in the immediate vicinity. The registrar of Tar-
taraghan complains that floodings were frequent,
and uterine diseases prevailed to a large extent,
owing to the brutal manner in which females were
treated by the women attending as midwives, and
the quantity of whisky consumed during parturi-
tion. An accurate return of the number of deaths,
or cause of death (especially infantile), was quite im-
possible, as a medical and registrar's certificate of
the cause of death is not required in Ireland before
interment. The sanitary state of Arklow was most
unsatisfactory ; the same state of overcrowded habi-
tations, deficient sewerage, and want of pure water
has existed in this district for the past 13 years ; the
deaths,l3l,greatly exceeded the births, 51. In many
nstances deaths from cholera were ascribed to other
diseases ; the lower classes, having a horror of
speedy burials and the consequent loss of " wakes,"
assigned the cause of death to anything save
cholera. The report testifies to the benefits re-
sulting from the compulsory Vaccination Act, very
few deaths from smallpox being recorded. The
death of a man is recorded from hydrophobia,
caused by the bite of a cat. The births registered
the quarter were 33,753, representing an
proportion of 24.2 per 1,000 of population.
Tadnuhnreiunabglirths registered in the corresponding quarter
of 1865 were 33,581. The number of marriages
registered in Ireland, in the third quarter of
the year 1866, was 5,578, being in the annual
proportion of 4.0 per 1,000 of population. The
number registered in the corresponding quarter of
the previous year was 5,797. Of the total marriages
of the September quarter of 1866 3,513 were be-
tween Roman Catholics, and 2,065 between Pro-
testants. The emigration return records the num-
ber of emigrants, who left the ports of Ireland in the
fourth quarter of 1866, at 12,894, being 7,506 less
than the number who emigrated during the corre-
sponding quarter of 1865. The mean temperature of
the air in the last quarter of 1866 was 464 deg. The
rainfall was unusually light, having measured only
4.897 inch, while it was 10.112 inch. and 12.040 inch.
respectively in the corresponding quarters of 1865
and 1864. In the year 1866 the deaths registered
in Ireland were 93,598, yielding a ratio of 16.8
per 1,000 of population. The number of births
registered in the year was 146,237, affording a
ratio of 26.2 per 1,000 of population. The de-
crease of population in Ireland in the year 1866 is
estimated at 46,828.

TIIE NEW PALACE OF WESTMINSTER.—TWO more
frescoes by Mr. C. W. Cope, RA., are now being placed in
the peers' corridor. The subjects are—" The setting out
of train bands from London to raise the siege of Glo'stor,"
and " Speaker Lenthal asserting the privileges of the Com-
mons against Charles the First when the attempt was made
to seize the five members." These two complete the series
of frescoes for the peers' corridor.

A STRANGE STRIKE.—A turn-out worthy the at-
tention of the Trades' Union Commission has lately
taken place at the Roundwood Colliery of Messrs. Terry,
Greaves, and Co., Ossett, near Wakefield. The dispute is
peculiar as having arisen amqng tho men themselves, and
not out of any disagreement with the masters. It seems
that it is the custom of the colliers at this pit to get only a
certain number of corves of coal a day, and also not to
have the pit until after 1 o'clock. A few days ago one of
the men filled a core more than the stipulated quantity,
and another man, having got the required number, went
away an hour before the recognised time. A deputation
from the men waited upon the masters, and demanded the
instant dismissal of the two recalcitrants; and upon re-
ceiving a refusal, the whole of the colliers employed at the
pit turned out, The matter is to be made the subject of
magisterial investigation. A number of bricklayers in
Wakefield are now on strike because the masters will not
allow them 20 minutes in which to go to work in a morn-
ing. It is understood thar the last affair is not sanctioned
by the General Brickmakers' Society.

FALIS ou r a NEW LIFEBOAT.—The National Life-
boat Institution has just sent to Falmouth a new
lifeboat mounted on its transporting carriage. The cost of
the boat, which is named the Gloucester, was defrayed by
the city and county of Gloucester. She is 33 feet long, 8
feet 6 in width, and rows ten oars double banked, and
possesses the usual characteristics of the lifeboats of the
institution in the way of stability, self-righting, and self-
ejecting of water. On her way to her station the lifeboat
was exhibited in Gloucester, when a procession, consisting
of the R.S.G. Militia Staff, the Artillery, Engineers, Dock,
and City Volunteer Companies, the Mayor and Corpora-
tion, the lifeboat on her transporting carriage—drawn by
a fine team of horses—fire brigades, benefit societies, &c.,
attended by bands of music, proceeded through the prin-
cipal parts of the city to the docks, where the lifeboat was
named by the Lady Mayoress, launched, and capsized, in
order to show the important self-righting principle of the
boat,