JAN. 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 79

Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·96 .. 0·86 .. 1·05
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·01 .. 1·24 .. 0·87
Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·78 .. 0·84 .. 0·68
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·16 .. 0·86 .. 1·03

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The deaths belonging to this class at the four cities were 11 in December, against 15 in the previous month. The proportion per cent. of deaths from all causes fell from 14·42 in November to 10·68 in December. Influenza caused 2 deaths, both at Dunedin. Whooping-cough is found at Wellington, where it was fatal in 2 cases. There were 6 deaths from diarrhœa—2 at Auckland, 1 at Wellington, and 3 at Christchurch.

Constitutional Diseases.—Out of a total of 25 deaths, against 27 in November, 5 were from cancer and 18 from tubercular diseases, including 14 by phthisis, 2 by tabes mesenterica, and 2 by tubercular meningitis. There were 2 deaths from diabetes.

Local Diseases.—Of 44 deaths, 12 were from diseases of the respiratory system—croup, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Diseases of the nervous system—apoplexy, meningitis, &c.—contributed 10, and diseases of the circulatory system 8 deaths. From diseases of the digestive system the deaths were 5, which, with 9 others from diseases of the urinary organs, &c., complete the total for the class.

Violent Deaths.—Accidental deaths numbered 5. A child six weeks old was found dead in bed, having been overlaid. A farmer died from the effects of a compound fracture of the leg, and a youth of fourteen was accidentally drowned. A man of fifty years was killed by a railway-engine, and a child of four months by falling downstairs with the mother. One suicide was recorded—that of a woman who poisoned herself with "Rough on Rats."

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.
Diarrhœal Diseases.

PRINCIPAL LUNG-DISEASES.

Bronchitis.
Pleurisy.
Pneumonia.
Congestion of Lungs.

Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov.

Auckland .. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. 1 .. .. 1 .. 2 .. 1 1 2 1 1 .. .. 1 1 .. ..
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 1 1 4 .. .. .. 1 1 .. ..
Christchurch .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 1 3 .. 2 1 .. .. 1 1 .. ..
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. 1

Totals .. .. .. 2 .. 1 .. 2 .. 1 2 3 6 3 7 3 .. .. 3 3 .. 1

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 9th January, 1894.

E. J. VON DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.

PROVISIONAL METEOROLOGICAL RETURN FOR DECEMBER, 1893.

AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON. LINCOLN, CANTERBURY. DUNEDIN.

Mean Temperature in shade for month .. 64·2 59·7 56·9 54·6
Average same month previous years ... 65·2 60·8 60·7 56·0
Maximum Temperature in shade, and date 76·0 on 23rd 77·5 on 31st 81·2 on 14th 71·0 on 31st
Minimum Temperature in shade, and date 52·0 on 16th 43·0 on 7th 34·8 on 6th 38·0 on 10th
Maximum Solar Radiation, and date .. 146·0 on 4th 147·0 on 4th .. 135·0 on 2nd
Minimum Terrestrial Radiation, and date 50·0 on 16th & 17th 30·0 on 6th .. 34·0 on 10th
Mean Humidity (Saturation=100) .. 76 73 76 74
Average same month previous years ... 72 73 71 72
Total Rainfall, in inches .. 4·650 2·899 1·985 4·832
Average same month previous years ... 3·225 3·935 1·640 3·156
Number of Days of Rain .. 17 18 11 17
Average same month previous years ... 10 10 8 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.

JAMES HECTOR,
Director.

Meteorological Office, Wellington, 9th January, 1894.