The Sun. — 1864-10-05 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON.  (From the .Registrar-General's Report.) The deaths registered in London in the week that ended on Saturday were 1,284, showing a slight increase on the number in the previous week, which was 1,229. If the deaths from epidemic cholera in the 39th week of 1854 are excluded, it will be found that the average number of deaths in corresponding weeks of tea years, 1854-63, was 1,138, and if this result be corrected for increase of population, it becomes 1,252. Therefore the deaths registered last week exceeded the estimated number by 32.  Zymotic diseases were fatal in 404 cases, the corrected average being 438. The most fatal disease in this class is scarlatina, which caused 95 deaths, being an increase of 23 on the number in the previous week. Seven deaths from this disease occurred in the sub-district of St. Paul, Deptford, 4 in that of Lambeth Church first, 4 in that of Mileend Old-town eastern, 4 in that of Haggerstone East, and 4 in that of South Hackney. Ten children died from diphtheria. Typhus caused 70 deaths. Smallpox was fatal to 11 persons, 2 of whom were adults. The mortality from diarrheol is decreasing under the influence of lower temperature ; last week 65 persons died from this disease. Three children died from cholera.  Phthisis was fatal in 151 cases, 76persona died from bronchitis, 57 from pneumonia, and 26 from other-diseases of the respiratory organs. ' One hundred and thirty-four persons died from diseases of the brain and nervous system, 46 from diseases of the heart. Seven deaths were caused from delirium tremens, and 4 by carbuncle. Forty-three deaths were caused by accidents. Seven persons were killed by vehicles in the streets, 8 infants were suffocated, 5 children were burnt, and 7 persons drowned. Eight persons committed suicide. A carman, aged 53, died from taking an overdose of Epsom salts.  Four nonagenarians and one centenarian died during the week ; the latter, who was formerly a carman, died in St. Pancras Workhouse at the age (as stated) of 100 years. Last week the births of 1,062 boys and 931 girls, in all 2,032 children, were registered in London. In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1854-63 the average number (corrected) was 1,900.  At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 30.078 in. The barome,  trical reading was 30.24 in. on Monday, and decreased to 29.94 in. on Thursday. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 54.5 deg., which is 0.2 deg, above the average of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr Glashier). The highest day temperature was 68.8 deg. on Sunday, The lowest night temperature was 42.0 deg. on Thursday. The entire range of temperature in the week was, therefore, 26.8 deg. The mean of the highest temperatures of the water of the Thames was 61.5 deg; that of the lowest was 59.2 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point temperature and air temperature was 6.0 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 80, complete saturation being represented by 100. The direction of the wind was variable. The births registered in Dublin during the week ending the Ist of October were 161, and the deaths were 100, in a population of 254,808 (in 1861), spread over an area of 3,808 statute acres.  The Wreck of the Brig Arthur M'Kenzie.  The following is the report of Mr R. 0. Stewart, resident magistrate, principal officer of Customs at Port Waikato, who was assisted by Mr D. Simpson, marine surveyor, and Mr G. R. Breton, superintendent of water transport, and formerly a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, as nautical assessors, to inquire into the cause of the wreck of the brig Arthur Maenzie, at the mouth of the 'Waikato River on the Ist June, IS6I : To the Honourable the Commissioners of Customs for the Coleny of New Zealand.  We, the undersigned, having met and carefully inquired inta the circumstances attending the loss of the brig Arthur 11I'Iienzie, have the honour to report as follows :—ln our opinion the loss of the vessel may be attributed to the following circumstances :-1, That the beacons of the port as at present erected are not of sufficient dimensions to ensure their being seen from the offing. 2. So the fact that, at the time of the brig rupning in, the schooner Daring happened to be ashore on the South Bank, with all sail set, and her head pointing towards the harbour, in such a position as to lead to the impression that she was a vessel entering the port. Such appears to have been the opinion of the Master of.the Arthur M`Kenzie. 3. To the want of judgment on the part of the Master of the brig in using Drury's chart of 1867 in preference to Boulton's of 1863, both of which charts were on board at the time of the wreck, and to the apparent want of attention in neglecting to keep the proper bearings on after making one of the beacons, and further to a want of discretion on his part in taking the bar (to which he was a total st ranger) with the last of the ebb tide, no sufficient reason having been shown for his anxiety to get into port. We respectfully recommend the Colonial Govern. went forthwith to carry into effect the suggestions of Capt. Fisher and Mr Todd relative to the buoys, <5.7.c., for showing the channel and anchorage, as fully detailed in the evidence. From the evidence of Mr Marshall, it would appear that the bar is liable to shift, but for the last 27 years (since 1837) the change has been so trifling that, if the outer of the large beacons now in course of preparation were erected on a slide such alterations might at all times be indicated. We have the honour to annex hereto the depositions taken before us yesterday, and to recommend the valuable infor. matien therein contained regarding this port to the atten tion of the proper authorities. Dated at Port Waikato this 9th day of Tune, in the year 1864.  R. 0.