1486 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 68

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

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·15
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·98
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·34
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·29
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·16
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·19
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·29
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·21

Including the suburbs, the rate at Wellington is the highest and at Auckland the lowest.

Compared with August, 1897, the results are,—

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The mortality at the four centres, with their suburbs, for August was low, being 10 deaths, or 4·72 in every 100 from all causes. Measles was prevalent at Auckland, where it caused 5 deaths, and at Christchurch, where 1 death is observed. Influenza is found at Christchurch; fatal in one case. There were two deaths of children from syphilis—1 at Auckland and 1 at Wellington. Deaths from diarrhoeal diseases were limited to 1 at Wellington.

Constitutional Diseases.—There were 36 deaths in August, against 28 in July. Cancer contributed 13 deaths, actinomycosis 1 death, phthisis 16, and diabetes 1. Since the beginning of this year (a period of eight months) the deaths from cancer at the four chief towns and suburbs have amounted to 112, as follows: Deaths from cancer, eight months, January to August—Greater Auckland, 18; Greater Wellington, 24; Greater Christchurch, 31; Greater Dunedin, 39. From phthisis the mortality for the same period, January to August, inclusive, was 127 deaths—viz., deaths from phthisis, eight months, January to August—Greater Auckland, 31; Greater Wellington, 33; Greater Christchurch, 26; Greater Dunedin, 37.

Local Diseases.—Deaths in this class at the four centres rose from 76 in June and 90 in July to 120 in August. Of the deaths last month, 28 were from diseases of the nervous system, 32 from diseases of the circulatory system, 28 of the respiratory system (including 19 deaths from bronchitis and pneumonia, 10 of which were at Wellington), 18 of the digestive system, 9 of the urinary system, 3 of the reproductive system, and 2 of the organs of locomotion.

Violent Deaths.—These numbered 8—7 accidental and 1 suicidal. A salesman was killed by collision of bicycle with a cart, at Christchurch; a labourer by falling into the hold of a hulk, a woman from injury to spine, and a child from burns, at Wellington; a schoolmaster was found drowned, and an infant was suffocated, at Auckland; another infant died from accident at birth, at Dunedin.

The suicide was that of an accountant, by means of gunshot wounds, at Dunedin.