THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 73

CLASS I.-ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Miasmatic Diseases. Scarlatina, 11; Diphtheria, 6; Whooping Cough, 5; Enteric Fever, 1; Puerperal
Peritonitis, 1; Dysentery, 1; Diarrhœa, 18.
ORDER 2.-Enthetic Diseases. Syphilis, 1.
ORDER 3.-Dietic Diseases. Want of Breast Milk, 4.
ORDER 4.-Parasitic Diseases. Thrush, 2.

CLASS II.-CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.
ORDER 2.-Tubercular Diseases. Strumous Abscess, 1; Tabes Mesenterica, 1; Phthisis, 11; Serous Apoplexy, 1; Tubercular
Meningitis, 3.

CLASS III.-LOCAL DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Diseases of Nervous System. Meningitis, 4; Apoplexy, 1; Paralysis, 2; Convulsions, 2; Brain Disease, 2;
Tetanus, 1.
ORDER 2.-Diseases of Organs of Circulation.-Pericarditis, 1; Aneurism 4; Heart Disease, 6.
ORDER 3.-Diseases of Respiratory Organs. Bronchitis, 8; Pneumonia, 6; Congestion of Lungs, 1.
ORDER 4.-Diseases of Digestive Organs. Enteritis, 2; Peritonitis, 2; Disease of Liver, 2.
ORDER 5.-Diseases of Urinary Organs. Bright's Disease, 1; Cystitis, 2; Kidney Disease, 1.

CLASS IV.-DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES.
ORDER 1.-Developmental Diseases of Children.-Premature Birth, 4; Teething, 1.
ORDER 2.-Developmental Diseases of Adults.-Childbirth, 2.
ORDER 3.-Developmental Diseases of Old People.-Old Age, 4.
ORDER 4.-Diseases of Nutrition. Atrophy and Debility, 4.

CLASS V.-VIOLENT DEATHS.
ORDER 1.-Accident or Negligence. Killed by fall of earth, 1; by fall of shears on head, 1; Fracture of leg, 1; Sunstroke, 1;
Accidentally drowned, 2.
ORDER 3.-Homicide. Child found dead, with marks of violence on throat, 1.
ORDER 4.-Suicide. Suicide by strychnine (temporary insanity), 1.

The total of deaths in December exceeded the number for November by 32.
Zymotic Diseases. These increased from 19 in November to 50 in December. Deaths from Scarlatina increased from 3 in
November to 11 in December, of which 1 occurred at Christchurch and 10 at Dunedin. There were no deaths from Diphtheria
in November, but 6 last month: 1 at Auckland, 4 at Wellington, 1 at Dunedin. Whooping-cough caused 5 deaths in December:
3 at Auckland, and 2 at Dunedin. There were none from this cause in the previous month. Dysentery and Diarrhœa were fatal
in 6 cases during November, against 19 in December. These last occurred as follows:-2 at Auckland, 2 at Thames, 9 at Wel-
lington, 5 at Christchurch, and 1 at Hokitika.

Diseases of the Respiratory System. December shows a total of 15, being 2 less than the number for the previous month.
There were 2 deaths at Auckland, 3 at Nelson, 1 at Christchurch, 7 at Dunedin, and 2 at Hokitika.

Violent Deaths. The accidental deaths were 6 in number. Two persons were accidentally drowned, one man was killed by
a sunstroke at Christchurch, one by fall of earth, and another by fall of a pair of shears. The remaining death was from
Erysipelas, consequent on a fractured leg. There was 1 suicide by poison, and a child was found dead with marks of violence.

Comparison with December, 1875, shows a great increase in the mortality from Zymotic disease, there being only 29 deaths
for that month against 50 in December, 1876. This is caused by the increased number of deaths from Scarlatina, Diphtheria,
Whooping-cough, and Diarrhœa. The deaths from Fever decreased in number. Diseases of the respiratory system were fewer
than in December of 1875. The mortality from all causes shows an increase for last month of 14 deaths.

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 17th January, 1877.

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

PROVISIONAL METEOROLOGICAL REPORT FOR DECEMBER, 1876.

| | AUCKLAND. | WELLINGTON. | NELSON. | CHRIST-
CHURCH. | HOKITIKA. | DUNEDIN. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Temperature in Shade | ... | 63.0 | 62.0 | 62.0 | 60.4 | 61.4 | 58.4 |
| Ditto for same month previous years | ... | 65.6 | 61.0 | 62.1 | 61.1 | 58.4 | 56.5 |
| Maximum Temperature in Shade, and date | ... | 77.0 on 23rd | 79.0 on 28th | 79.0 on 30th | 79.4 on 5th | 77.0 on 30th | 78.0 on 1st |
| Minimum Temperature in Shade, and date | ... | 48.8 on 12th | 46.0 on 26th | 44.0 on 12th | 39.2 on 6th and 17th | 45.9 on 17th and 25th | 42.0 on 7th |
| Maximum Temperature in Sun, and date | ... | ... | 147.0 on 31st | ... | 151.6 on 6th | 153.5 on 9th | 122.0 on 1st |
| Minimum Temperature on Grass, and date | ... | 44.0 on 19th | 40.0 on 26th | 20.0 on 18th | 28.1 on 6th | 41.0 on 25th | 37.0 on 7th |
| Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) | ... | 76 | 70 | 68 | 76 | 77 | 71 |
| Ditto for same month previous years | ... | 75 | 73 | 74 | 73 | 84 | 72 |
| Total Rainfall | ... | 4.510 | 2.350 | 5.220 | 2.300 | 10.050 | 5.726 |
| Ditto for same month previous years | ... | 2.898 | 3.513 | 4.079 | 1.518 | 10.852 | 2.836 |
| Number of Days of Rain | ... | 20 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 17 |
| Ditto for same month previous years | ... | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 13 |

NOTE. This table is prepared from unchecked averages, transmitted by telegraph in anticipation of the full Returns, and must not be entirely
relied on for compiling Meteorological Statistics.

January, 1877.

JAMES HECTOR, Inspector.