Mar. 9.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 609

NUMBER of Deaths of Persons of Sixty-five Years and upwards registered in the Four Chief Towns of New Zealand during the Year 1898.

BIRTHS AND BIRTH-RATES.*

The total number of births registered as occurring in the four chief centres and suburbs in 1898 was 4,629, as against 4,408 for the previous year.

The births in the four cities rose from 2,847 in 1897 to 2,878 in 1898, and in the suburban boroughs from 1,561 to 1,751. The birth-rates for last year were,—

Thus, by the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at each of the four centres. It will be observed that Auckland has the highest rate, Wellington next highest, Christchurch and Dunedin following with intervals. The difference between the Auckland rate (27·53) and the Dunedin rate (21·88) is very marked. The birth-rate for the whole colony for last year was 25·74 per thousand. Auckland and Wellington are thus over the average, Christchurch and Dunedin below it.

Taking the births in the four central boroughs without their suburbs, and comparing the numbers for 1898 and 1897, an increase is observed—at Auckland 10, at Christchurch 14, and at Dunedin 9; and a decrease at Wellington of 2. The figures for the last five years are,—

The birth-rates recorded for the four central boroughs last year show a rise at Christchurch—22·07, as against 21·88 for 1897—and at Dunedin, from 21·54 in 1897 to 21·61 in 1898; but a fall at Auckland, from 28·29 to 26·96; and at Wellington, from 27·71 to 25·75. The rates for the years 1894–98 are as follows:—

DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES.*

The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1898 was 2,203—viz., 1,489 in the cities, and 714 in the suburbs. In 1897 the number was 2,013—1,378 in the cities, and 635 in the suburbs.

By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at each of the four centres, the difference being most noticeable in Auckland and Dunedin. The rates for the year are,—

If the suburbs are included the death-rate is found to be highest in Auckland and lowest in Christchurch; Wellington and Dunedin taking second and third places respectively. The death-rate for the colony was 9·84 per 1,000 of mean population. The four centres, as might be expected, each show a higher average than this.

If the number of deaths of infants under 1 year be excluded, the mortality among the rest of the population is found to have been for 1897 and 1898 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:—

The degree of infantile mortality is perhaps best shown in the proportion of deaths of children under 1 year of age to every 100 births. For 1897 and 1898 the proportions at the chief centres are,—

Thus the proportion at Dunedin is little more than half that found at Auckland. Again, the percentage of deaths of children under 5 to the total number of deaths is—in Auckland, 36·99; in Wellington, 34·61; in Christchurch, 25·05; in Dunedin, only 18·71. The total of deaths under 5 is 642, or 29·14 per cent. of all deaths, as against 541 and 26·88 for 1897. The deaths of persons of 65 and upwards numbered 506 last year; in 1897 they were 442.

• NOTE.—The population of Auckland has not been arrived at by a calculation similar to that adopted in case of the other towns, as the necessary data were not supplied.