396 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 19

The following remarks apply to the four principal boroughs only: The births in February were 215, against 237 in
January—a decrease of 22. The deaths amounted to 126, against 119 in January—an increase of 7. There were fifteen
deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards: Four men of 73, 81, 82, and 83, and two women of 75 and 76,
died at Auckland; one men of 75, and one woman of 76, at Wellington; three men of 67 (two), and 71, and one
women of 71, at Christchurch; two men of 65 and 82, and one women of 79 at Dunedin.

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Of every 100 deaths at the four chief cities in February, 24 were from this class
of disease. The number of deaths at these towns was 31, against 20 in January last, and 17 in February of 1893. Of
31 deaths last month 13 were at Auckland, 12 at Wellington, 3 at Christchurch, and 3 at Dunedin. Influenza caused
1 death at Wellington and 1 at Christchurch; whooping-cough, 2 deaths at Wellington and 2 at Dunedin. Diphtheria is
noticed at Wellington only, having proved fatal to a child under five years of age. Typhoid-fever also caused 1 death at
Wellington. From diarrheal diseases the deaths numbered 21, against 10 in January. These complaints were most fatal
in February at Auckland, where 12 deaths occurred; next at Wellington (6 deaths), while at Christchurch the deaths were
2, and at Dunedin only 1. A death from ague at Wellington, and 1 from syphilitic lepra (in a child) at Auckland, complete
the total for the class.

Parasitic Diseases.—A death from hydatids in the spleen is found to have taken place at Dunedin.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 19 deaths, 12 were from phthisis and 2 from cancer.

Local Diseases.—The total of deaths was 47, the same number as in January. There were 13 deaths from diseases of
the nervous system, 10 from diseases of the circulatory system, 6 from diseases of the respiratory system, 13 from diseases
of the digestive system, 1 from disease of the lymphatic system, 3 from diseases of the urinary system, and 1 from disease of
the reproductive system.

Violent Deaths.—Five of these were accidental, and 5 were suicidal. A youth of 17 years died by misadventure from
an overdose of chlorodyne, 2 adult males were found drowned in Wellington Harbour, a child of eighteen months was acci-
identally suffocated in a water-closet, and an infant died from hæmorrhage at birth. A clerk died from a cut inflicted by
himself while temporarily insane, a woman killed herself by swallowing phosphor matches, a builder drowned himself, a
settler hung himself, and a woman strangled herself.

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.

Six Principal Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases

• Measles (Feb, Jan)
• Scarlet Fever (Feb, Jan)
• Typhoid and Other Fever (Feb, Jan)
• Diphtheria (Feb, Jan)
• Whooping-cough (Feb, Jan)
• Diarrheal Diseases (Feb, Jan)

Principal Lung-Diseases

• Bronchitis (Feb, Jan)
• Pleurisy (Feb, Jan)
• Pneumonia (Feb, Jan)
• Congestion of Lungs (Feb, Jan)

Towns

• Auckland
• Wellington
• Christchurch
• Dunedin
• Totals

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 6th March, 1894.

E. J. von DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.

Provisional Meteorological Return for February, 1894.

• Mean Temperature in shade for month
• Average same month previous years
• Maximum Temperature in shade, and date
• Minimum Temperature in shade, and date
• Maximum Solar Radiation, and date
• Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date
• Mean Humidity (Saturation=100)
• Average same month previous years
• Total Rainfall, in inches
• Average same month previous years
• Number of Days of Rain
• Average same month previous years

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, March, 1894.

JAMES HECTOR,
Director.