2286
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 104

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 rate at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, but raises it at Christchurch.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·89
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·81
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·89
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·87
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·66
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·70
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·36
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·21

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the lowest, and at Dunedin the highest.

Compared with November, 1898, the results are,—

Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 1898. 1899.
1·20 0·81
Wellington and suburbs.. .. .. .. .. 0·76 0·87
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. 0·89 0·70
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. 0·68 1·21

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—The deaths at the four centres in this class were more than twice as numerous in November (28) as in the previous month, when the number was only 12. Dunedin and suburbs shows the most mortality—whooping-cough causing 5 and influenza 6 deaths, which, with 2 from diarrhoea, makes the total of 13. At Wellington whooping-cough is very noticeable, causing 6 deaths, influenza showing 2, and measles 1. At the other centres the mortality from zymotic diseases during November was less than the above, being confined to 1 death from measles, 2 from typhoid fever, and 1 from diarrhoea, at Auckland; with 2 deaths from diarrhoeal diseases at Christchurch.

Constitutional Diseases.—These deaths numbered 46, or the large proportion of 26 per cent. of the whole mortality from all causes at the cities. Cancer contributed 17 deaths, or 10 per cent. of the total deaths in the four towns; and tubercular diseases were still more fatal, showing 24 deaths, or 14 per cent. of the whole in all classes.

Local Diseases.—Of 80 deaths at the four centres, the large number of 22 were caused by diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumonia, congestion of lungs, and croup), forming 13 per cent. of the total mortality. There were 18 deaths from diseases of the nervous system (including apoplexy, meningitis, paralysis, convulsions, &c.); 16 of the circulatory system (heart-disease, &c.); 8 of the digestive system; 14 of the urinary system (8 Bright’s); 1 of the reproductive, and 1 of the integumentary systems.

Violent Deaths.—These were all accidental. An undertaker died from a fracture of thigh at Auckland; the three other deaths occurred at Dunedin, where a child was run over by a railway-truck, a wharf labourer was killed by a ship’s derrick falling on him, and a yarn-trundler by injuries received at a football match.