Jan. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 167

ORDER 8:—
Diseases of Reproductive System,—
Disease of Uterus .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1

ORDER 9:—
Diseases of Organs of Locomotion,—
Necrosis of Femur .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Caries of Spine .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1

CLASS VII.—VIOLENCE.
ORDER 1:—
Accident or Negligence,—
Horse falling on him .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Fall from Ladder .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Fall of Earth .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1
Drowned .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. 2
Difficult Birth .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1

CLASS VIII.—ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-
SPECIFIED CAUSES.
Marasmus, &c. .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. 4

Totals .. .. .. 13 26 9 42 3 17 6 30 146

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, Wellington, and Christchurch, but raises it at Dunedin. The rates for December are,—

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·02
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·89
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·28
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 1·22
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·71
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·49
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·61
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·76

Including the suburbs, the rate at Wellington is the highest, and at Christchurch the lowest. Compared with December, 1895, the results are,—

December, 1895. December, 1896.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. 0·75 0·89
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. 0·77 1·22
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. 0·66 0·49
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. 0·76 0·76

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—There were 17 deaths at the four chief towns, with their suburbs, in December, against 5 in the previous month. Diarrhoeal diseases caused 6 deaths in December, all at Auckland. Influenza was fatal in 4 cases, 1 death being at Wellington, 2 at Christchurch, and 1 at Dunedin. Three deaths resulted from typhoid fever—1 at Auckland and 2 at Dunedin. There were besides 1 death (at Wellington) from diphtheria, and 3 deaths from syphilis and stricture.

Parasitic Diseases.—One death from hydatids is observed, against 1 in November.

Constitutional Diseases.—The mortality for December (47 deaths) was much higher than in November, when the deaths were only 30. From cancer there were no fewer than 24 deaths—7 at Auckland, 9 at Wellington, 4 at Christchurch, and 4 at Dunedin. Phthisis contributed 15 deaths; other tubercular diseases, 3; diabetes, 2; and rheumatism, with rheumatic gout, 3.

Local Diseases.—These numbered 59 altogether: 18 being from diseases of the nervous system (5 apoplexy, 4 meningitis); of the circulatory system, 12 (heart-disease and allied complaints); diseases of the respiratory system, 10 (pneumonia, pleurisy, and empyema); of the digestive system, 13; urinary system, 3; reproductive system, 1; and of organs of locomotion, 2.

Violent Deaths.—These were 6, all the result of accidents. A carter was killed by his horse falling on him, a labourer by falling from a ladder, and another by a fall of earth; a butcher and an adult female were drowned; and an infant died from difficult birth.

The subjoined table shows the mortality for the last two months at each of the four centres 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.

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 16th January, 1897.

E. J. VON DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.