60
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 4

In the first table are given the deaths and death-rates for each of the four cities, for the suburban boroughs severally,
and for each city with its suburban towns. As regards Auckland and Christchurch, the whole of the area usually
recognised as suburban has not yet been brought under municipal government, and the vital statistics do not deal with
such portions as still remain in road districts. But the omission is not very important, for there are in either case
quite enough suburbs included within borough boundaries 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.

The inclusion of the suburban boroughs tends to lower the death-rate for last month at Auckland and Wellington, but
raises it at Christchurch and leaves it unchanged at Dunedin. The rates for December are,—

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·76
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·75
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·83
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·77
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·51
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·66
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·76
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·76

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—The number of deaths from diseases of this class was 11, as against 5 in
November and 9 in October. Whooping-cough caused 1 death (at Wellington), and diphtheria 3 (1 at Auckland and 2 at
Wellington). Four persons died from diarrhœal complaints: 2 at Auckland, 1 at Wellington, and 1 at Dunedin: 3 were
children and 1 an old man. A man of 68 died from stricture of the urethra, and two women (aged 26 and 28) of septicaemia,
consequent, in one case, on childbirth.

Parasitic Diseases.—A child 2 years old died from worm-fever at Auckland.

Constitutional Diseases.—The deaths in this class at the four centres during December were 37, as against 33 in
November. Tubercular diseases accounted for 23 deaths (phthisis 12), and cancer for 11. Of those who died from phthisis,
7 were under and 5 over 30 years of age. The cases of cancer were as follow: Men, 9—of tongue, 1; of stomach, 3; of
bowels, 1; of liver, 2; undescribed, 2: Women, 2—of stomach, 1; undescribed, 1.

Local Diseases.—The deaths fell from 67 in November to 46 in December. The mortality from diseases of the
respiratory organs continues low, comprising only 12 deaths, 6 of which were due to pneumonia. Eleven deaths were
attributed to affections of the nervous system, 13 to diseases of the heart and aorta, 7 to diseases of the digestive organs,
2 to Bright's disease, and 1 to disease of the ovaries.

Violent Deaths.—Of these, 10 were accidental and 5 suicidal. A girl of 19 was killed through falling from a railway-
carriage, and a boy of 9 by falling out of a swing; a child of 8 fell through a skylight and injured her head, a Kanaka
sailor aged 26 had his skull fractured by a blow, a boy of 16 succumbed to tetanus following a wound in the leg, a groom
(29) and a blacksmith (52) died of sunstroke, two young men were drowned in Dunedin Harbour, and an infant was
smothered in bed. Four persons committed suicide by shooting: a bank clerk aged 29, a laundryman (51), a bricklayer
(55), "while temporarily insane"; and a boy of 14 "while in a state of mental excitement." The remaining suicide was
the case of a cabdriver aged 67, who cut his throat while temporarily insane.