IRISH STATISTICS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 147, 25 February 1876, Page 16

IRISH STATISTICS.

Accobdixo to the last quart eily returns of births, marriages, and deaths in Ireland, furnished by the Irish Registrar-General, during the quarter ended with September, there were registered in the 791 registration districts of Ireland 32 555 births. rr l his number is equal to an annual birth-rate of 2-1 \ in every 1000 of the estimated populalation. The deaths resistered were 19,289, representing an annual mortality of 14£ per 1000. In the same period 13,033 persons emigrated. An increase of 263 would, therefore, appear to have taken place in the popu'ation of Ireland, which is e&tin ated to have been 5,309494 in the middle of this year. This is, perhaps, the first qi arter ior over a quarter of a century in which the population returns of the country showed an increase, and petty though the figure of the increase may be, it will be memorable as what «c hope will be the turning point m the long and exhausting process ot depopulation to which the country has been subjected. 'J he Irish birth-nte was somewhat under, and the death-rate slightly over the aye age for the corresponding quarter of the prewous five t >ears. The deaths from scarlet fever, though etill very numerous, continue to decrease, and tboie has been a gratifying decline in i lie mortality from Miiall-pox. The number of marriages registered in Ireland during the quarter ended 3uth June last wa55,172 against an average ot 5.3 10 for the corresponding; quarters of the previous three years. Of the total marriages registered, 3,402 ■were between Roman Catholics, and 1,770 between Protestants. Ot the births registered during the third quarter of this year, 16,506 were

boys, and 15,989 girls. The average number of births registered during the corresponding quarter of the previous five yi ars was 33,998. The average price of a 41b loaf, during the third quarter of 1875 was 7d, being a halfpenny cheaper than in the corresponding quarter of 1874. In the third quarter of 1564 the average price was only 10s 8d per cwt. The average prices per cwt for potatoes in Dublin were 2s lOd to 4s sd, against 4s to 5s lOd iv the same quarter of 1874. Beef was 58s Gd to 79s 6d per cwt., against 52s 6d to 77s 6d in 1874. The average number of persons receiving in-door relief during the same quarter was 41,342 against 43,78 1 for the corresponding period of last year, while the numbers on out-door relief were 28,467 against 28,613.