Dec. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1913

CLASS VII.—VIOLENCE.
ORDER 1:—
Accident or Negligence,—
Fell and hurt his side .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Fell from horse .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Poisoned .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Drowned .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 .. .. 1 .. .. .. 3
Difficult birth .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1

ORDER 3:—
Suicide,—
By Hanging (temporary insanity) .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1

CLASS VIII.—ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-
SPECIFIED CAUSES.
Marasmus, &c. .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 4

Totals .. .. .. 11 24 13 26 8 24 7 17 130

It has been remarked that the vital statistics of the four chief centres of population as given in the monthly reports prior to March last were deficient in a most important particular—i.e., that in striking the death-rates the suburbs were not represented and dealt with in the same way as the cities. It is, no doubt, important to show the mortality in the suburbs, and a suburban death-rate may vary considerably from that of the centre in any case. For, in the first place, the centre and the suburbs may differ in the matter of sanitation, &c.; and, moreover, when the area occupied by a city is largely taken up with shops and warehouses, the population will, as time advances, include more and more caretakers, and fewer families with young children. The suburbs, on the other hand, will include many of these last. The death-rates will vary accordingly, apart from matters relating to sanitary condition, but perhaps not so much so as might at first be thought likely, because with a high birth-rate in the suburbs there are sure to be many deaths of infants and very young children to raise the death-rate; and in a centre occupied by a population including many persons at the higher ages the death-rate may be also disproportionately increased.

In the first table the deaths and death-rates are given for each city, for its suburban boroughs, and for the city including the suburban towns. With regard to Auckland and Christchurch, the whole of what are usually considered the suburbs has not yet municipal government, and the vital statistics do not deal with the portions which still remain in the road districts. But the omission is not very important, for there are quite enough suburbs included in borough boundaries in either case to give a fair idea of the death-rate of Greater Auckland and Greater Christchurch. As further boroughs are formed the vital statistics will be made to include them.

It will be seen that by including the suburban boroughs the death-rate for last month is lowered at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, while it remains the same at Dunedin. The rates for November are,—

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·96
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·82
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·03
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·02
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·86
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·77
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·50
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·50

Including suburbs, the rate at Wellington is the highest and that of Dunedin the lowest.

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—The number of deaths at the four chief cities with their suburbs during November was 15, against 13 in October, 18 in September, and 25 in August. Whooping-cough was again the most fatal complaint, the total deaths being 5 (4 at Auckland and 1 at Christchurch). The mortality from influenza in the four centres—which included 10 deaths in August, 5 in September, and 2 in October—ceased altogether in November. Diphtheria is observed as the cause of 2 deaths last month—1 at Auckland and 1 at Wellington. The deaths from diarrhœal complaints are only 3—1 at Auckland and 2 at Dunedin. The remaining deaths comprise 2 venereal—a child under five years from congenital syphilis, and one adult from stricture of the urethra; besides 3 septic—from erysipelas, pyæmia, and puerperal fever.

Constitutional Diseases.—The very heavy mortality found in October (49 deaths) is not repeated in November, during which month the deaths numbered 26 only. Deaths by phthisis fell last month from 23 to 14, and deaths from cancer from 15 to 6. The locality of the cancer was specified in every case. In 3 the seat of cancer was the liver, in 1 the stomach, and in 2 cases the womb.

Local Diseases.—The total number of deaths was 68, of which 19 were from diseases of the respiratory system; pneumonia, 8; bronchitis, 4; croup, 2; pleurisy, 2; congestion of the lungs, 2; and laryngitis, 1. Deaths from diseases of the circulatory system numbered 18; of nervous system, 13; of digestive system, 12; urinary system, 5 (4 Bright's disease); and of reproductive system, 1.

Violent Deaths.—There were 8 altogether. Of 7 accidental, 3 were by drowning, 2 by fall, 1 from poison, and 1 a difficult birth. There was 1 suicide, by hanging.

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