268
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 13

BIRTHS AND BIRTH-RATES.

The number of births in the four principal boroughs for the year 1892 was 2,600, a decrease of 157 on the number for
the previous year, notwithstanding the fact that the Richmond Ward of Christchurch, containing a population of 1,421
persons, was not included for purposes of the vital statistics in the numbers for 1891. At Auckland the decrease for 1892
amounted to 70 births. At Wellington, with a larger population, the decrease was 83. The births at Christchurch and
Dunedin for 1891 and 1892 were practically stationary, the decrease in the latter year being only 3 for Christchurch and 1
for Dunedin. The numbers for five years are given below:—

Births.

Auckland .. .. 1,021 .. 907 .. 849 .. 861 .. 791
Wellington .. .. 989 .. 910 .. 772 .. 1,005 .. 922
Christchurch (including
Richmond in 1892) .. 393 .. 366 .. 360 .. 354 .. 351
Dunedin .. .. 548 .. 563 .. 535 .. 537 .. 536

The birth-rates per 1,000 of population for the years 1886, 1888, 1891, and 1892 show a gradual decline at Auckland,
Wellington, and Christchurch; but in the case of Dunedin the rate for 1892, though less than that for 1886 and 1891, is
higher than in 1888.

Births per 1,000 of Mean Population.

Auckland .. .. .. 34·80 .. 28·65 .. 30·09 .. 25·93
Wellington .. .. .. 37·52 .. 34·51 .. 32·40 .. 27·94
Christchurch (including Richmond
in 1892) .. .. .. 29·95 .. 23·99 .. 21·82 .. 21·19
Dunedin .. .. .. 27·82 .. 22·89 .. 24·00 .. 23·27

The highest birth-rate of those at the four centres in 1892 is found to be that of Wellington, 27·94 per 1,000 persons.
Auckland comes next with a rate of 25·93. At Christchurch the rate was lowest, 21·19; Dunedin taking third place with a
rate of 23·27 per 1,000.

BIRTH-RATES COMPARED WITH THOSE OF AUSTRALIAN CHIEF CITIES.

The birth-rates for the capital cities of Australia and Tasmania are higher than the rates for the principal towns of
New Zealand, as will be seen by the following comparison. The figures for 1891 have been used, as the Australian infor-
mation for 1892 is not yet to hand:—

Births per 1,000 of Population.

Principal Cities. 1891. 1892.
Perth .. .. .. .. .. .. 41·54 .. ..
Hobart .. .. .. .. .. .. 32·54 .. ..
Melbourne .. .. .. .. .. 36·64 .. ..
Adelaide .. .. .. .. .. 34·65 .. ..
Sydney .. .. .. .. .. .. 35·69 .. ..
Brisbane .. .. .. .. .. 42·68 .. ..
Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 30·09 .. 25·93
Wellington.. .. .. .. .. 32·40 .. 27·94
Christchurch .. .. .. .. 21·82 .. 21·19
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 24·00 .. 23·27

DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES.

The deaths in the four boroughs in 1892 numbered 1,251, against 1,331 in 1891, although Richmond is not included as
part of Christchurch for the earlier year. The number of deaths for 1892 is thus shown to be 80 less than the number for
1891, but it is greater than the number for 1890 by 51. At Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin the deaths were fewer last
year than in 1891; at Christchurch slightly more numerous, but, if Richmond were excluded, might be less. The deaths
and death-rates per 1,000 of population for the last three years are shown:—

Deaths, 1890. Deaths, 1891. Deaths, 1892.
Number. Per 1,000 Number. Per 1,000 Number. Per 1,000
of Population. of Population. of Population.
Auckland .. 336 11·34 .. 390 13·63 .. 382 12·52
Wellington .. 386 12·64 .. 453 14·60 .. 405 12·27
Christchurch .. 163 11·04 .. 185 11·40 .. 197 11·89
Dunedin .. .. 315 14·20 .. 303 13·54 .. 267 11·59

From the above it will be seen that the death-rates in Auckland and Wellington for 1892, although lower than the
rates shown for the previous year, are higher than in Christchurch and Dunedin. One reason for this is that in the two
North Island cities the birth-rates are highest, the mortality among infants being always very great compared with that of
persons at the more advanced ages. At Dunedin, where the death-rate was 11·59, the birth-rate was 23·27 per 1,000 persons;
and at Christchurch the death-rate was 11·89, and birth-rate 21·19.

The death-rates of the towns, after eliminating the element of infantile mortality, compare as follows:—

Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding infants
(under 1 year of age).
1891. 1892.
Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 9·91 .. 9·05
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. 11·02 .. 9·32
Christchurch .. .. .. .. 8·83 .. 8·51
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 11·45 .. 9·60

Dunedin now stands first, having a higher death-rate than Wellington, which comes next.

DEATH-RATES COMPARED WITH THOSE OF AUSTRALIAN AND OTHER CITIES.

As in the case of the birth-rates, the death-rates for the capital cities of Australia are higher than the rates for the
principal towns in New Zealand. A comparison is given below, in which the figures for 1891 are given, those for 1892 not
being to hand for Australian towns:—

Deaths per 1,000 of Population.
Principal Cities. 1891. 1892.
Perth .. .. .. .. .. 26·95 .. ..
Hobart .. .. .. .. .. 24·15 .. ..
Melbourne .. .. .. .. 19·05 .. ..
Adelaide .. .. .. .. 16·96 .. ..
Sydney .. .. .. .. .. 16·36 .. ..
Brisbane.. .. .. .. .. 13·97 .. ..
Auckland .. .. .. .. 13·63 .. 12·52
Wellington .. .. .. .. 14·60 .. 12·27
Christchurch .. .. .. 11·40 .. 11·89
Dunedin .. .. .. .. 13·54 .. 11·59