Feb. 26.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. . 297

The following remarks apply only to the four principal boroughs:—
The births in January were 211, against 205 in December, an increase of 6.
The deaths amounted to 147, against 98 in December.
There were 16 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards: Two males of 93 and 78, and four females, of 72 (two), 71,
and 66, died at Auckland; six males, of 73, 73, 72, 71, 70, and 68, at Wellington; a male of 81 and three females, of 84, 76,
and 70, at Dunedin.

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The deaths from these diseases increased in number from 15 in December last
to 41 in January. Of these deaths during the past month, 36 occurred from diarrhœal diseases of very young children, an
increase of 27 on the number of similar deaths in December. The diarrhœal deaths were most numerous in January in
Christchurch (17), and next so in Wellington (13); 5 occurred in Auckland, and only 1 in Dunedin. It is noticeable that,
although deaths from diarrhœal diseases were more numerous by 29 than in January, 1890, the mean temperature at each
station for the last-named period was higher than that for the last month.

Of the 2 deaths from diphtheria, 1 occurred in Wellington, and 1 in Christchurch; and of the 2 from typhoid fever,
1 was in Auckland, and the other in Wellington.

Constitutional Diseases.—There were 26 deaths in this class in January, being 2 more than in December. Cancer,
which caused 10 deaths in December, claimed 7 victims in January; but the death-toll from phthisis increased from 8
in December to 14 in January.

Local Diseases.—There was a considerable increase in the number of deaths from these diseases, 40 having occurred
in December, and 54 in January. The chief differences are an increase in January in the number of deaths from diseases
of the circulatory system (heart-disease, &c.) from 7 to 15, a decrease of 6 in the number of deaths from diseases of the
respiratory system, but an increase in the number from diseases of the digestive system from 4 to 14.

Violent Deaths.—Of the 5 deaths in this class, 4 were accidental, including 2 of infants injured at birth. One death
was attributed to murder.

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
• Diarrhœal Diseases

PRINCIPAL LUNG DISEASES.

• Bronchitis
• Pleurisy
• Pneumonia
• Congestion of Lungs

Auckland ..
Wellington ..
Christchurch ..
Dunedin ..
Totals ..

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 23rd February, 1891.

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

PROVISIONAL METEOROLOGICAL RETURN FOR JANUARY, 1891.

AUCKLAND.

• Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 65·8
• Average same month previous years ... 67·4
• Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 79·0 on 23rd
• Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 50·0 on 17th
• Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 142·0 on 30th
• Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date ·40·0 on 17th
• Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) .. 64
• Average same month previous years ... 71
• Total Rainfall in inches .. 2·160
• Average same month previous years ... 2·802
• Number of Days of Rain .. 11
• Average same month previous years ... 10

WELLINGTON.

• Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 60·5
• Average same month previous years ... 62·6
• Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 71·0 on 5th & 31st
• Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 44·0 on 13th
• Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 139·0 on 5th
• Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date 35·0 on 13th
• Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) .. 82
• Average same month previous years ... 70
• Total Rainfall in inches .. 4·770
• Average same month previous years ... 3·506
• Number of Days of Rain .. 16
• Average same month previous years ... 9

LINCOLN, CANTERBURY.

• Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 62·4
• Average same month previous years ... 61·9
• Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 94·2 on 7th
• Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 43·2 on 4th
• Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 157·4 on 11th
• Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date 36·8 on 11th
• Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) .. 61
• Average same month previous years ... ...
• Total Rainfall in inches .. 2·099
• Average same month previous years ... 2·278
• Number of Days of Rain .. 9
• Average same month previous years ... 5

DUNEDIN.

• Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 56·9
• Average same month previous years ... 57·1
• Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 81·0 on 7th
• Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 42·0 on 12th
• Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 135·0 on 25th
• Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date 37·0 on 12th
• Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) .. 70
• Average same month previous years ... 74
• Total Rainfall in inches .. 2·546
• Average same month previous years ... 3·915
• Number of Days of Rain .. 16
• Average same month previous years ... 14

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.

JAMES HECTOR,
Director.

Meteorological Office, Wellington, February, 1891.