April 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 535

The following remarks apply only to the four principal boroughs:—
The births in March were 312 against 246 in February, an increase of 6. The deaths in March were 190 against 129 in February, an increase of 61.
There were 11 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards: a male of 72, and 3 females of 92, 87, and 74, died at Auckland; 2 males of 77 and 65, and a female of 73, at Wellington; 3 males of 88, 70, and 69, and a female of 66, at Dunedin.
Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—These diseases caused a greatly-increased mortality in March on that in February, the number of deaths having been 76 and 49 respectively. Whooping-cough caused 6 deaths against 3 in February; of these, 5 occurred in Auckland. There were 9 deaths from typhoid fever (6 having been in Wellington) against 4 in the previous month. The principal increase is caused by the prevalence of infantile diarrhœa. Of the 56 deaths from diarrhœal diseases (an increase of 19 on the number in February), 51 were of children under 1 year of age. Of the diarrhœal deaths, 13 occurred in Dunedin in March, while not one from that cause occurred there in the previous month.
Constitutional Diseases.—In this class also there was a considerable increase in the mortality, viz., from 16 to 25. Phthisis caused nearly the whole of the increase, the deaths from that disease having risen from 4 in February to 12 in March.
Local Diseases.—The deaths in this class increased in number from 36 in February to 45 in March. Deaths from diseases of the nervous and circulatory systems remained the same, and those from diseases of the respiratory system were fewer in number, but there was an increase in deaths from diseases of the digestive system from 12 to 16, enteritis alone having caused 9 deaths; and an increase in deaths from diseases of the urinary system from 3 to 7.
Violence.—There were 8 deaths in this class against 6 in the previous month. In each month 1 of the deaths was suicidal.
The subjoined table shows the mortality for the last two months at each of these four boroughs from six principal specific febrile or zymotic diseases, and also the deaths from certain inflammatory diseases of the lungs. These causes of death have been distinguished from the others of the classes to which they belong, as being the most important special diseases which give rise to sudden increases in the death-rates of towns, and the prevalence of which is closely connected with sanitary condition and climatic influence of the season on health.

Towns.
Six Principal Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.
Measles.
Scarlet Fever.
Typhoid and other Fever.
Diphtheria.
Whooping-cough.
Dysentery and Diarrhœa.
Principal Lung Diseases.
Bronchitis.
Pleurisy.
Pneumonia.
Congestion of Lungs.
Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. Feb.
Auckland .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 3 .. .. 5 3 24 15 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. ..
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 1 1 .. .. 12 14 2 .. .. .. 1 .. .. ..
Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. 1 .. 7 8 .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 1 .. .. .. 13 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Totals .. .. .. 1 1 .. 10 6 1 .. 6 3 56 37 3 2 .. .. 1 1 .. 2

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 19th April, 1887.

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

Provisional Meteorological Return for March, 1887.

Mean Temperature in shade for month ..
Average same month previous years ..
Maximum Temperature in shade, and date
Minimum Temperature in shade, and date
Maximum Solar Radiation, and date ..
Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date
Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) ..
Average same month previous years ..
Total Rainfall in inches ..
Average same month previous years ..
Number of Days of Rain ..
Average same month previous years ..
Auckland.
67·2
66·2
78·5 on 25th
50·0 on 29th
143·0 on 21st
40·0 on 29th
89
73
8·00
2·632
7
10
Wellington.
61·9
62·1
75·0 on 4th
45·0 on 29th
140·0 on 1st
40·0 on 29th, 31st
79
74
1·902
2·819
14
10
Lincoln, Canterbury.
61·7
57·9
85·6 on 27th
35·8 on 18th
147·0 on 14th
30·5 on 18th
62
..
1·021
1·804
6
8
Dunedin.*
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

• Returns not reliable for statistical purposes, as the Observatory has been dismantled, and the observations are now taken in the North-east Valley, where the climate is exceptional.

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.

Meteorological Office, Wellington, 19th April, 1887.

JAMES HECTOR,
Inspector.