HH62/45/269

Transcription

[Note] 268

The population of the Eastern District, estimated to the middle of 1895, was
9575. During the year 1895 there were registered 230 Births and 157 Deaths, giving
a Birth-rate of 24.02, and a Death-rate of 16.39, as compared with a Birth-rate of 21.4,
and a Death-rate of 15.2 in 1894. The Natural Increase of the population during
1895 was 73, as compared with 50 in 1894. Deaths in persons over 60 years of age
were 84, or 53.5 per cent. of the total; in 1894 the number was 66. In children
under 1 year there were 17 deaths, of which 6 were due to developmental causes,
giving an Infant Mortality of 73.9, as compared with 81.7 in 1894.
During the past year a decided improvement in the sanitary condition of the
District has taken place. Public and private water supplies and drainage have received
much attention, and, by the removal of insanitary conditions of dwelling-houses, much
has been done to prevent the outbreak of infectious disease. The Death-rate of the
Eastern District shows a slight increase during 1895 as compared with that of 1894,
but this is accounted for by the large number of deaths from Diseases of the
Circulatory System in persons over 60 years of age, which were due to the strain on
the vital energies caused by the severe storm at the beginning of the year. In
connection with water supplies, much attention was given to that derived from the
wells in Burrelton and Woodside, which were almost without exception found to be
polluted and dangerous. As a remedy, it was proposed that the villages should be
formed into a Special Water District, and a requisition to this effect was considered
by the District Committee. At the meeting, as no one proposed that the District should
be formed, and so much opposition was shown, the matter was allowed to drop,
and it was determined to insist on each proprietor procuring a pure and sufficient water
supply for his tenants. To those who opposed the gravitation supply this seemed to be
an easy matter, but when it was found that to protect the wells a considerable
expenditure would be necessary, a request was made that an experimental improvements
should be carried out on a few of the wells in order to see whether any good would
result. To this consent was given, and two wells were made, as far as possible, secure
against pollution. After a time, samples of the water from these wells were examined,
and showed that no good had been derived from the alterations. It is now hoped
that the formerly discarded supply by gravitation, which can be brought in at small
cost, will be taken up heartily by those interested.
The supply of water to the Rosemount Special District has not yet been
secured. Negotiations for securing this from Blairgowrie have been carried on during
the year. Should some agreement not be arrived at soon, the District Committee
ought to turn their attention to bringing in a supply from some other source.
The pollution of the Ericht by the sewage of Rattray has been a matter of con-
sideration to the Local Authority of that Burgh, and if consulting experts would
purify sewage, the result would have been perfect; however, as none of the proposed
schemes have been adopted, the infringement of the River Pollution Prevention Act
still goes on.
2. General enquiries have been made to ascertain the sanitary condition of the

[Note] 269