Aug. 16.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1551

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, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·81
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·74
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·81
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·81
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·03
" and four suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. 0·90
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·44
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 1·10

Including the suburbs, the rate at Dunedin is the highest, and at Auckland the lowest. Compared with July, 1899, the results are,—

July, 1899. July, 1900.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·91 0·74
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·66 0·81
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·97 0·90
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·97 1·10

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—Of 11 deaths during July at the four chief cities and suburbs, 1 at Auckland was attributed to the bubonic plague; but, although the cause was so certified, there remained difference of opinion among medical men. Whooping-cough was fatal in one case at Dunedin, and diphtheria similarly at Auckland and Christchurch. Typhoid fever destroyed 4 lives—2 at Auckland and 2 at Christchurch. One death from dysentery (chronic) took place at Wellington, and 2 deaths—1 at Auckland and 1 at Dunedin—from puerperal septicaemia.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 44 deaths, 25 were from phthisis and 14 from cancer. There were also 2 deaths from rheumatism, 1 from tubercular meningitis, 1 from anaemia, and 1 from diabetes.

Local Diseases.—Deaths in this class at the four boroughs numbered 78 in July. Seventeen deaths occurred from diseases of the nervous system, 1 of the organs of special sense, 24 of the circulatory system, 22 of the respiratory (11 bronchitis, 10 pneumonia, 1 congestion of the lungs), 9 of the digestive, 3 of the urinary, and 2 of the reproductive systems.

Violent Deaths.—These numbered 10 for last month in the four chief towns—7 were accidental and 3 suicides. A child was killed at Auckland by fracture of the skull, and a railway guard at Christchurch from the results of a fracture in the arm. At Wellington a labourer died from a blow received through falling timber. At Dunedin a child was run over by a cart. An infant was suffocated through misadventure at birth at Christchurch. Another child died of tetanus and a mariner was found drowned at Auckland. Of the suicides, a bootmaker cut his throat at Auckland, a carpenter shot himself at Wellington, and a man, apparently of no occupation, effected his death in a similar manner at Christchurch.