474
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 27

The following remarks apply to the four principal boroughs only: The births in March were 249, against 217 in February, an increase of 32. The deaths amounted to 104, against 108 in February, a decrease of 4. There were 15 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards: 2 males of 68 and 71, and 3 females of 67, 76, and 81, died at Auckland; 2 males of 65 and 69 at Wellington; 1 male of 70, and 1 female of 69, at Christchurch; 4 males of 74, 78, 82, and 89, and 2 females of 65 and 72, at Dunedin.

Birth-rates.—Comparing the birth-rates for the month of March in the four chief towns, it is found that Wellington, with a total of 92 births, equivalent to a rate of 2·72 per 1,000 of the population, takes first place, Auckland coming next with 75 births—rate, 2·40; then Christchurch, 37 births—rate, 2·22; and Dunedin last with 45 births, the rate being only 1·98 per 1,000 persons living. These rates would be equal to an annual birth-rate of—
In Wellington, 32·68 per 1,000,
In Auckland, 28·78 per 1,000,
In Christchurch, 26·58 per 1,000, and
In Dunedin, 23·17 per 1,000.

Death-rates.—The highest death-rate for March was at Christchurch, 1·20 per 1,000 of population; Dunedin followed with a rate of 1·03; then Auckland, 0·99; and Wellington last, 0·86 per 1,000 persons living. This order in magnitude of death-rate is exactly the reverse of that observed in the month of February, when Wellington headed the list with a rate of 1·27, Auckland coming second with 1·02, Dunedin third with 0·86, and Christchurch last, the rate having been only 0·78 per 1,000 of population.

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Of the total number of deaths recorded in March, 20, or 19·23 per cent. of the whole, are attributed to diseases in this class; the number and proportion to all deaths having been in February 17 and 15·74. Typhoid fever is responsible for 7 of this number, 5 deaths from this disease having occurred at Wellington and 2 at Auckland. In the previous month (February) the number of deaths from this disease amounted to 5. Simple cholera and diarrhœa claimed 8 victims (the same number as in February)—4 at Auckland, 1 at Wellington, 2 at Christchurch, and 1 at Dunedin; 7 of the 8 were children under 5 years of age. One case of influenza and 1 of diphtheria were recorded as fatal, both at Christchurch.

Parasitic Diseases.—One death from hydatid disease was recorded at Auckland.

Constitutional Diseases.—The deaths in this class numbered 16, against 25 in February; the proportion to the total number of deaths having fallen from 23·15 per cent. in the previous month to 15·38. Of the 16 deaths in March, phthisis contributed 8 and cancer 4.

Local Diseases.—Forty-six deaths in March are classed as from local diseases, against 47 in February. Of this number, diseases of the nervous system contributed 18, apoplexy being accountable for 8; diseases of the circulatory system 8, as against 14 in February; diseases of the respiratory system 11, an increase of 5 on the number recorded in the previous month; diseases of the digestive system 6; and diseases of the urinary system 3 (1 acute nephritis and 2 Bright's disease).

Violent Deaths.—Five deaths in March were registered as belonging to this class: 3 of these were accidental and 2 suicidal. Of the 3 accidental deaths, 2 were from drowning—1 at Wellington and 1 at Christchurch.

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: Mar. Feb.
Scarlet Fever: Mar. Feb.
Typhoid and other Fever: Mar. Feb.
Diphtheria: Mar. Feb.
Whooping-cough: Mar. Feb.
Diarrhœal Diseases: Mar. Feb.

Principal Lung Diseases.
Bronchitis: Mar. Feb.
Pleurisy: Mar. Feb.
Pneumonia: Mar. Feb.
Congestion of Lungs: Mar. Feb.

Auckland .. .. .. .. 2 1 .. 1 .. .. 4 4 .1 1 1 1 .. .. ..
Wellington .. .. .. .. 5 1 .. .. .. .. 1 3 1 1 .. .. 2 .. .. ..
Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. 2 1 1 .. .. 2 .. 2 .. .. .. 1 .. .. ..
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 .. .. 1 .. .. ..
Totals .. .. .. .. 7 5 1 2 .. .. 8 8 4 3 1 1 2 2 .. ..

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 11th April, 1893.

Geo. DRURY,
Deputy Registrar-General.

Provisional Meteorological Return for March, 1893.

AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON. LINCOLN, CANTERBURY. DUNEDIN.

Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 62·3 57·6 55·8 52·1
Average same month previous years ... 66·2 62·1 57·9 55·3
Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 78·0 on 1st 71·0 on 23rd 82·2 on 9th 73·0 on 9th
Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 44·0 on 28th 44·0 on 19th 32·1 on 18th 37·0 on 14th
Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 136·0 on 31st 136·0 on 7th 144·4 on 10th 120·0 on 3rd
Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date 40·0 on 28th 35·0 on 6th and 15th 23·8 on 30th 33·0 on 12th
Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) .. 77 70 67 74
Average same month previous years ... 73 74 73 72
Total Rainfall in inches .. .. 2·270 7·215 2·097 3·286
Average same month previous years ... 2·632 2·945 1·804 2·724
Number of Days of Rain .. .. 9 13 8 16
Average same month previous years ... 10 10 8 12

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, April, 1893.

JAMES HECTOR,
Director.