Sept. 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1359

The following remarks apply to the four principal boroughs only: The births in August were 253, against 223 in July,
an increase of 30. The deaths amounted to 141, against 124 in July, an increase of 17. There were 14 deaths of persons
of 65 years and upwards: 3 men of 68, 72, and 86, and 3 women of 70, 76, and 78, died at Auckland; 1 man of 72, and
2 women of 69 and 74, at Wellington; 1 man of 74, and 1 woman of 86, at Christchurch; 2 men of 67 and 68, and 1 woman
of 81, at Dunedin.

The death-rates per 1,000 persons living at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch for August were higher than those
for the preceding month, but at Dunedin the rate was lower. Comparing with August, 1892, similar results are found:—

Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·93 .. 1·18 .. 0·94
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·27 .. 1·60 .. 1·03
Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. 1·08 .. 1·74 .. 1·11
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·46 .. 0·90 .. 1·03

From the above figures it will be seen that the death-rate at Christchurch was the highest of those for the four cities
in August last. Wellington takes the second place, followed by Auckland, and lastly by Dunedin.

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The total number of deaths at the four towns in August was 33, being the same
number as in July; but the proportion per cent. of deaths from all causes fell from 26·61 in July to 23·40 in August. The
mortality was greatest at Wellington, where there were 17 deaths, of which 14 were from measles. The deaths at Christ-
church were 11, all from measles. At Auckland there were 5 deaths, including 1 from measles. At Dunedin there were
no deaths from zymotic diseases during the month, a remarkable circumstance.

Parasitic Diseases.—A death from hydatid disease is observed at Wellington.

Constitutional Diseases.—The deaths in August numbered 29, against 15 in July. Tubercular complaints contributed
no less than 21 deaths to the total for last month, while 6 deaths are recorded from cancer.

Local Diseases.—From this class of disease the deaths were 59, against 62 in July. Diseases of the respiratory organs
caused 24 deaths, including 21 from pneumonia and bronchitis, nine of which were at Wellington. Deaths from diseases
of the nervous system amounted to 16, including 6 of children from convulsions. There were 8 deaths from heart-disease,
and 8 from diseases of the digestive system.

Violent Deaths.—The accidental deaths included 2 of adult males by fracture (one being from a fall out of a window),
1 caused by the fall of a tree, 1 by drowning, and 1 from tetanus, being the result of wounds received in a carriage accident.
There was 1 case of suicide—by poison.

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.
Diarrhoeal Diseases.

Principal Lung-diseases.
Bronchitis.
Pleurisy.
Pneumonia.
Congestion of Lungs.

Auckland .. .. 1 4 .. .. 1 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 2 2 .. .. 3 .. .. ..
Wellington .. .. 14 14 .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. 1 6 7 .. .. 3 3 .. ..
Christchurch .. .. 11 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. 3 2 1 ..
Dunedin .. .. .. 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 7 1 .. .. 3 6 .. ..

Totals .. .. 26 26 .. .. 1 .. 1 1 .. 1 2 9 17 1 .. 12 11 1 ..

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

E. J. VON DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.

Provisional Meteorological Return for August, 1893.

Auckland.
Wellington.
Lincoln, Canterbury.
Dunedin.

Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 55·2 52·2 48·9 46·5
Average same month previous years .. 52·1 48·0 44·1 43·2
Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 64·0 on 24th, 27th 62·3 on 14th 72·0 on 26th 65·0 on 17th
Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 38·5 on 12th 35·0 on 12th 30·0 on 28th 34·0 on 2nd
Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 132·0 on 30th 119·0 on 27th 112·2 on 26th 93·0 on 17th
Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date 34·0 on 12th 24·0 on 12th, 18th 25·6 on 28th 29·0 on 22nd
Mean Humidity (Saturation = 100) .. 79 75 73 73
Average same month previous years .. 78 79 77 75
Total Rainfall, in inches .. .. 5·040 8·234 0·935 1·970
Average same month previous years .. 4·637 5·204 2·265 2·824
Number of Days of Rain .. .. 21 16 8 15
Average same month previous years .. 19 17 9 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.

Meteorological Office, Wellington, September, 1893.

JAMES HECTOR,
Director.