THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S REPORT on the Vital Statistics of the Boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, for the Month of March, 1874.

DEATHS IN THE BOROUGHS REGISTERED IN MARCH, 1874.

N.B. The Auckland Hospital is outside the boundary of the borough.

63 of the deaths were of males; 52 were of females. 73 deaths, or 63.47 per cent., were of children under 5 years of age.
Although the actual number of deaths is less than it was in February, yet the proportion of deaths of children in March is
much higher, the number being in February 77, or 55 per cent. of the total deaths. The number of children under 1 year that
died was 57, or 49.56 per cent. of the whole deaths, against 63, or 45 per cent., in February. There has been no very noticeable
alteration in the total death rate since last month, except in Wellington, in which the number of deaths has fallen from 41 in
February to 23 in March.

There were 3 deaths of persons over 70 years of age during the month: 1 person of 72 in the Thames borough; 1 of 76 in
Wellington; and 1 of 75 in Dunedin.

4 of the deaths are classed as accidental: 1 person at the Thames being drowned, 1 person at Nelson having committed
suicide by hanging while in an unsound state of mind, and 2 persons being drowned at Hokitika.

The accompanying Meteorological Report for March, when compared with the Report for February, shows a general
reduction in the average temperature in the shade, in the various boroughs, of from 2 to 3 degrees, with a less range between the
extremes of heat and cold; but still a generally higher temperature than in the month of March in previous years, except in the
case of Wellington, where the average temperature is the same.

THE following Table shows the Causes of the Deaths of Persons of both Sexes under 5 years of age and 5 years and upwards, and

the proportions per cent. of Deaths from each cause in the Boroughs named, and that were registered, during the month of
March, 1874.

CLASS I.-ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Miasmatic Diseases.--Diphtheria, 3; Croup, 2; Enteric or Typhoid Fever, 10; Erysipelas, 1; Dysentery, 3;
Diarrhea, 37.
ORDER 3.-Dietic.--Privation (exhaustion), 1; want of breast milk, 1; Purpura hæmorrhagia, 1.

CLASS II.-CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Diathetic Diseases.-
ORDER 2.-Tubercular Diseases.--Tabes Mesenterica, 2; Phthisis, 7; Hemoptysis, 1; Hydrocephalus, 1.

CLASS III.-LOCAL DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Diseases of the Nervous System.--Apoplexy, 2; Paralysis, 1; Convulsions, 3; Brain Disease, &c., 2.
ORDER 2.-Diseases of the Organs of Circulation.--Aneurism, 1; Heart Disease, 2.
ORDER 3.-Diseases of the Respiratory Organs.--Laryngitis, 1; Bronchitis, 1; Pneumonia, 4.
ORDER 4.-Diseases of the Digestive Organs.--Gastritis, 3; Enteritis, 3; Stricture of Intestines, 1; Stomach Disease, 1;
Hepatitis, 2; Liver Disease, &c., 2.
ORDER 6.-Diseases of the Organs of Generation.--Uterus Disease, 1.

CLASS IV.-DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Developmental Diseases of Children.--Premature Birth, 1; Teething, 2.
ORDER 2.-Developmental Diseases of Adults.--Childbirth (Puerperal Convulsions), 1.
ORDER 3.-Diseases of Nutrition.--Atrophy and Debility, 6.

CLASS V.-VIOLENT DISEASES OR DEATHS.
ORDER 1.-Accident or Negligence.--Drowned, 3.
ORDER 4.-Suicide.--Hanging, 1; Death not specified, 1.

The deaths from Zymotic diseases bear a somewhat higher proportion to the total deaths than in the preceding month,
being 47.14 per cent. of the deaths in February, and 51.30 per cent. in March. Deaths from fevers have increased from 4 in
February to 10 in March; while deaths from diarrhœa have decreased from 52 in February to 37 in March.

The deaths from phthisis are exactly one-half the number of deaths from the same cause in February.

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 9th April, 1874.

WM. R. E. BROWN,
Registrar-General.