778
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 32

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 Christchurch, but raises it at Dunedin. The rates for March are,—

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·46
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·20
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·85
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·76
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·60
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·42
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·68
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·77

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the highest, and at Wellington the lowest. Compared with March, 1898, the results are,—

March, 1898. March, 1899.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·53 1·20
Wellington and suburbs.. .. .. .. .. .. 1·07 0·76
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·73 1·42
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·21 0·77

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—The total of deaths at the four centres and suburbs in this class for March was 44, being 11 fewer than the number for February (55), and 4 in excess of the number for January (40). Again the mortality is greatest at Christchurch, where the deaths from zymotic diseases numbered 20, which is, however, not so great as the mortality at that city in February (30 deaths), but the same as in January.

Of these 20 deaths at Christchurch last month, 13 were from diarrhoeal diseases, 4 from measles, 2 from diphtheria, and 1 from typhoid fever. There were at Auckland 7 deaths from diarrhoeal complaints, 1 from measles, 1 from whooping-cough, and 4 from typhoid fever. Wellington shows only 3 deaths from diarrhoea; typhoid was, however, fatal in 2 cases. Of 6 deaths at Dunedin, 4 were diarrhoeal, 1 from measles, and 1 from diphtheria.

Parasitic Diseases.—A death from hydatids at Christchurch is remarked.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 38 deaths in March at the four cities, 13 were attributed to cancer and 13 to phthisis. From other tubercular diseases there were 5 deaths, and from tabes mesenterica 6.

Local Diseases.—Of 75 deaths in this class, 16 were from diseases of the nervous system, 23 of the circulatory, 14 of the respiratory, 13 of the digestive, 7 of the urinary, and 2 of the reproductive systems.

Violent Deaths.—The accidental deaths were 6, and suicidal 1. At Auckland a cab-driver fractured his spine; at Christchurch an engineer broke his skull; and at Dunedin a labourer was killed: all by falls—in two cases out of the three from off a horse, the third from a cab. A child was accidentally burned at Dunedin, and a lumper drowned by falling into the harbour. At Christchurch an aged miner was choked by a piece of meat, and at Auckland an accountant committed suicide by shooting himself.