Sept. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1715

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 raise the rate at Christchurch, but lower it at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·99
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·80
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·77
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·73
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·86
" and four suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. 1·10
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·10
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 0·98

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the highest, and at Wellington the lowest. Compared with August, 1899, the results are,—

August, 1899. August, 1900.
Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·98 0·80
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·89 0·73
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·33 1·10
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·27 0·98

Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases.—In this class, the deaths at the four chief cities during August were only 7 in number. Influenza was fatal at Auckland, where the death of 1 child took place, and also at Dunedin, where there was 1 death of an adult. Diphtheria is found at Wellington and at Christchurch, at each of which towns a child died last month. The mortality from enteric fever was exceptionally low, being limited to 1 death, which occurred at Wellington. As with enteric fever, so with diarrhœa, the deaths were most unusually few, consisting of 2 (1 at Auckland, and 1 at Wellington).

Parasitic Diseases.—An adult male died of hydatid disease of the kidney at Dunedin.

Constitutional Diseases.—Phthisis caused 10 deaths at the chief towns in August, other tubercular disease 3, and cancer 16. Deaths from diabetes numbered 5, from rheumatism 4, and others in the class 2: making a total of 40 deaths.

Local Diseases.—Of 99 deaths for the month, 82 were from diseases of the nervous system, including 14 apoplexy, 4 epilepsy, 4 convulsions, and 4 from paralysis. There were 30 deaths from diseases of the circulatory system (heart-disease, &c.), and 21 from diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumonia, and others). These, with 9 deaths from disease of the digestive system, 4 of the urinary, and 3 of the reproductive systems, complete the total.

Violent Deaths.—These comprised 6 deaths, all the result of accident. A labourer had his skull fractured by a fall, and a boy was run over by a coach at Christchurch; a child was also run over by a tram-car at Dunedin. An adult male was poisoned by misadventure at Auckland, and another found drowned. At Wellington an infant died from being overlain.

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