Oct. 20. THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1701

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 September are,—

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·15
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·06
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·09
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·00
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·10
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·17
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·37
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·01

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the highest and at Wellington the lowest.
Compared with September, 1897, the results are,—

September, 1897. September, 1898.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·92 1·06
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·89 1·00
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·87 1·17
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·87 1·01

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—Deaths from measles occurred in September at Wellington (6), Christchurch (1), and Dunedin (1). Influenza was fatal at Christchurch—2 deaths. From diarrhoeal diseases there were only 2 deaths—1 at Auckland and 1 at Christchurch. The total deaths in this class at the four centres, with suburbs, numbered 14.

Parasitic Diseases.—There was one death from hydatids disease of abdomen at Dunedin.

Constitutional Diseases.—The mortality last month was considerable, comprising 40 deaths, of which 14 were from cancer and 15 from phthisis. Diabetes caused 4 deaths.

Local Diseases.—The total of deaths for the chief towns and suburbs in this class was 100, including 11 from diseases of the digestive system, 18 of the nervous system, 26 of the circulatory system, 37 of the respiratory system (13 bronchitis, 17 pneumonia), 1 of the lymphatic system (exophthalmic goitre), 5 of the urinary system (1 Bright’s), and 2 of the reproductive system.

Violence.—There were 4 accidental deaths in the four centres during September: a labourer died from wounds by a circular saw; a mariner was killed by falling from the mast of a steamer; a man fell from a railway-train; and an engine-driver died from injuries received to ribs and lungs. Of three suicides, one was that of a shirtmaker by cutting his throat, another of a miner by hanging, and the third of a woman, who also hanged herself.