314 [No. 14
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Number of Deaths of Persons of Sixty-five Years and upwards registered in the Four Chief Boroughs of New Zealand during the Year 1893.

• Boroughs
• Total Deaths of Persons over 65
• 65 to 70: M., F.
• 70 to 75: M., F.
• 75 to 80: M., F.
• 80 to 85: M., F.
• 85 to 90: M., F.
• 90 and upwards: M., F.

BIRTHS AND BIRTH-RATES.

There were 2,669 births registered in the four principal boroughs during the year 1893, an increase of 69 on the number for 1892. At Auckland the increase was 79, at Wellington 49: the population of the latter being nevertheless greater than that of Auckland City. At Christchurch the births decreased by 7, and at Dunedin by the large number of 52. The numbers for the last five years are given :—

Auckland .. .. .. 907 .. 849 .. 861 .. 791 .. 870
Wellington .. .. .. 910 .. 772 .. 1,005 .. 922 .. 971
Christchurch .. .. .. 366 .. 360 .. 354 .. 351 .. 344
Dunedin .. .. .. 563 .. 535 .. 537 .. 536 .. 484

The birth-rates per 1,000 of population show a rise in 1893 over those of 1892 at Auckland and Wellington, in consequence of the numerical increases referred to above; but these rates have not recovered to the rates of 1891. In Christchurch and Dunedin the rates are still declining, as will be seen by the following figures:—

Births per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland .. .. .. .. 30·09 .. 25·93 .. 27·79
Wellington .. .. .. .. 32·40 .. 27·94 .. 28·23
Christchurch .. .. .. .. 21·82 .. 21·19 .. 20·10
Dunedin .. .. .. .. 24·00 .. 23·27 .. 20·54

It will be observed that Wellington has the highest rate throughout, and Auckland follows. At Christchurch the rate is lowest of all, Dunedin taking the third place. The birth-rate of Wellington in 1893, 28·23 per 1,000 persons, is a little lower than that of Hobart (a city of about the same size) in 1892, where the rate was 31·46 per 1,000. It is probable that, if for the purposes of vital statistics the suburbs of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin were included with the central borough, the birth-rates for the larger areas would be somewhat higher than the rates now given for the central boroughs. An attempt to do this was made some time ago, but without effect, owing to difficulties with some of the local bodies as to furnishing the data necessary for computing the populations annually.

DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES.

The total number of deaths registered at the four towns in 1893 was 1,374, or an increase of 123 on the number registered in the previous year, and of 43 on the number registered in 1891. A numerical increase of deaths in 1893 over 1892 is noticed at each city, but is greatest in Wellington. The deaths and death-rates for the last three years are stated:—

Deaths, 1891. Deaths, 1892. Deaths, 1893.
No. Per 1,000 No. Per 1,000 No. Per 1,000
of Population. of Population. of Population.
Auckland .. .. 390 13·63 .. 382 12·52 .. 404 12·90
Wellington .. .. 453 14·60 .. 405 12·27 .. 462 13·43
Christchurch .. .. 185 11·40 .. 197 11·69 .. 219 12·80
Dunedin .. .. 303 13·54 .. 267 11·59 .. 289 12·26

Here the rates are all higher for 1893 than for 1892, and in the case of Christchurch higher than in 1891. Of the rates for 1893 that of Wellington is the highest, Auckland coming next.

If the infantile mortality be excluded, the death-rate of Wellington in 1893 still stands as the highest, but Dunedin takes second, Auckland third, and Christchurch the last place.

Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants (under One Year of Age).

Auckland .. .. .. .. 9·91 .. 9·05 .. 9·66
Wellington .. .. .. .. 11·02 .. 9·32 .. 10·26
Christchurch .. .. .. .. 8·83 .. 8·51 .. 9·24
Dunedin .. .. .. .. 11·45 .. 9·51 .. 10·18

A comparison of the death-rates of the chief towns of New Zealand for 1893 with those of Australia shows the rates of this colony to be lower. The figures for 1892 are given for Australian cities, those for 1893 not being yet available:—

Principal Cities.
Perth (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. .. 27·23 .. ..
Hobart " .. .. .. .. .. 21·80 .. ..
Melbourne " .. .. .. .. .. 15·98 .. ..
Adelaide " .. .. .. .. .. 14·11 .. ..
Sydney " .. .. .. .. .. 13·59 .. ..
Brisbane (1891) " .. .. .. .. .. 13·97 .. ..
Auckland (excluding suburbs) .. .. .. .. .. 12·52 .. 12·90
Wellington " .. .. .. .. .. 12·27 .. 13·43
Christchurch " .. .. .. .. .. 11·89 .. 12·80
Dunedin " .. .. .. .. .. 11·59 .. 12·26

The rate for Wellington in 1893 is found to be 0·16 per 1,000 less than that for Sydney in 1892, but the rate for Sydney is the lowest of those quoted for Australian cities, while that of Wellington is the highest given for New Zealand.

INFANTILE MORTALITY.

The degree of infantile mortality is exhibited in the proportion of deaths of children under one year of age to every 100 births. The results for five years are given, showing that the mean is highest at Christchurch, next at Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin following. The same order prevails in the proportions for the year 1893.

Deaths of Children under One Year to every 100 Births.

Auckland .. .. 10·80 .. 9·89 .. 13·36 .. 14·28 .. 12·64 .. 12·19
Wellington .. .. 12·42 .. 9·77 .. 12·14 .. 11·50 .. 12·26 .. 11·62
Christchurch .. .. 13·11 .. 11·94 .. 12·71 .. 16·81 .. 18·60 .. 14·63
Dunedin .. .. 9·59 .. 8·22 .. 9·87 .. 9·51 .. 11·16 .. 9·67