HH62/45/369

Transcription

[Note] 368

Central District.

The population of the Central District, estimated to the middle of 1897, was
11,024. During the year there were 279 Births (139 males and 140 females), and
211 Deaths registered, giving a Birth-Rate of 25.30 and a Death-Rate of 19.14, as
compared with a Birth-Rate of 26.06 and a Death-Rate of 15.22 in 1896. The
Natural Increase of the population during the year was 68, as compared with 131
in 1896. During the year there were 102 deaths in persons over 60 years of age,
and there were 16 deaths of children under 1 year, of which 7 were due to Develop-
mental Causes, giving an Infant Mortality of 57.3, as compared with 73.0 in 1896.
There were 16 deaths from Zymotic Diseases during the year, as compared with 11
in 1896.
Judged by the gross death-rate, the health of the Central District has not been
so good during the past year as in 1896, as there were 41 more deaths, raising the
rate from 15.2 to 19.1 - the latter figure being somewhat higher than the average
during the past five years. There was a considerable reduction in the number of
deaths under one year, which is always a good sign of the health of a community;
and the number of cases of Infectious Disease notified was 45 fewer than in 1896.
Measles and Whooping-Cough were very prevalent, and there were 6 deaths
recorded as due to the latter, as compared with none in 1896, thus swelling the
deaths attributed to the Zymotic group of diseases.
Although no large water schemes were under consideration during the past
year, much good work has been done quietly. In the Madderty District water has
been provided for all of the localities requiring a new supply, excepting the Village
of St. David's, and there is a small part including Tomacknock, Kincardine, and
Pittentian Farms, which are still without a proper supply of water. In many places
outside of the Madderty District polluted wells have been replaced by gravitation
water supplies, or safe wells.
The most important drainage scheme under the consideration of the District
Committee during the past year was that proposed for Comrie. In former years, when
a drainage scheme was proposed for this place it was met by a statement on the part
of objectors that, from its peculiar situation, the proper drainage of Comrie would be
a very expensive matter. To settle this point once and for all, Mr. Copland, C.E.,
was requested by the District Committee to make a survey, and give a plan and
estimated cost of what, in his opinion, would meet the requirements of the village.
The first plan given showed a complete scheme for draining the entire village, but
this being objected to by some of the inhabitants as too expensive, a second
plan was lodged providing for the drainage of the most important parts of the village,
as well as for that of places likely to be built on in the immediate future. This latter
scheme was amply sufficient for the village, and as it seems to have met with the
approval of the inhabitants, and its estimated cost is low and well within the means
of the village, it is hoped that it may be adopted without delay. As there seems to
be some unnecessary delay in sending in the requisition to the District Committee
for the formation of the Village of Comrie into a Special Drainage District, it will

[Note] 369