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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 29
BIRTHS AND BIRTH-RATES.
The total number of births registered as occurring in the four chief centres and suburbs in 1900 was 4,875, as against
4,563 for the previous year.
The births in the four cities rose from 2,854 in 1899 to 3,098 in 1900, and in the suburban boroughs from 1,709 to 1,777.
The birth-rates for last year were, -
Birth-rates per 1,000 of Mean
Population.
Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29·31
and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 27·83
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25'76
and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 25·33
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21·51
and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 24·06
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22·07
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 22·16
By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Christchurch and Dunedin, but lowered at Auckland and Welling-
ton. 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 (27·83) and the Dunedin rate (22·16) is considerable.
The birth-rate for the whole colony last year was 25·60 per thousand. Auckland is thus over the average, Wellington,
Christchurch, and Dunedin below it.
Taking the births in the four central boroughs without their suburbs, and comparing the numbers for 1900 and 1899,
an increase is observed at Auckland of 40, at Wellington of 91, at Christchurch of 77, and at Dunedin of 36. The figures
for the last five years are,-
Births.
1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900.
Auckland (without suburbs) .. .. 892 .. 906 .. 916 .. 988 .. 1,028
Wellington .. .. 1,005 .. 1,067 .. 1,065 .. 1,036 .. 1,127
Christchurch .. .. 870 .. 376 .. 890 .. 340 .. 417
Dunedin .. .. 498 .. 498 .. 507 .. 490 .. 526
The birth-rates for the four central boroughs last year show in each case a rise when compared with 1899. In
Auckland the rate rose from 25·77 to 29·31; in Wellington, from 24·24 to 25·76; in Christchurch, from 18·74 to 21·51; and
in Dunedin, from 20·82 to 22·07. The rates for five years, 1896 to 1900, are,-
Births per 1,000 of Population.
1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900.
Auckland (without suburbs) .. 28·39 .. 28·29 .. 26·96 .. 25·77 .. 29·31
Wellington .. 26·84 .. 27·71 .. 25·75 .. 24·24 .. 25·76
Christchurch .. 21·81 .. 21·88 .. 22·07 .. 18·74 .. 21·51
Dunedin .. 21·83 .. 21·54 .. 21·61 .. 20·82 .. 22·07
DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES.
The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1900 was 2,104-viz., 1,379 in the cities, and 725 in the
suburbs. In 1899 the number was 2,254-1,523 in the cities, and 731 in the suburbs.
By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, but raised at
Christchurch. The rates for the year are,-
Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean
Population.
Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13·69
and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 11·81
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. 9·17
and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 8·91
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. 10·62
and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 10·81
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. 12·25
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 11·34
If the suburbs are included the death-rate is found to be highest in Auckland and lowest in Wellington ; Dunedin and
Christchurch taking second and third places respectively. The death-rate for the colony in 1900 was 9·43 per 1,000 of
mean population.
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 1899 and 1900 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living :-
1899. 1900.
Auckland (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8·40 .. 8·26
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7·91 .. 7·05
Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8·43 .. 8·20
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9·99 .. 9·58
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 1899 and 1900 the proportions at the chief centres are,-
1899. 1900.
Auckland (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14·17 .. 12·78
Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11·79 .. 7·32
Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14·30 .. 10·83
Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9·25 .. 7·95
Thus the proportions for Wellington and Dunedin are considerably less than those found at the other two chief cities.
Again, the percentage of deaths of children under 5 to the total number of deaths is-Auckland, 36·22 ; in Christ-
church, 29·05 ; in Wellington, 23·80 ; in Dunedin, only 19·20. The total of deaths under 5 is 574, or 27·28 per cent. of all
deaths, as against 720 and 31·94 for 1899. The deaths of persons of 65 and upwards numbered 505 last year; in 1899 they
were the same number.
Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for
1900 are found to be lower in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, but higher in Auckland, than in the previous year.
The total number of deaths and the death-rates for four years are given :-
Deaths, 1897. Deaths, 1898. Deaths, 1899. Deaths, 1900.
Per 1,000 of Per 1,000 of Per 1,000 of Per 1,000 of
No. Population. No. Population. No. Population. No. Population.
Auckland (excluding suburbs) 416 12·99 .. 488 14·22 .. 499 13·02 .. 480 13·69
Wellington 463 12·03 .. 516 12·47 .. 477 11·16 .. 401 9·17
Christchurch 226 13·15 .. 192 10·87 .. 230 12·68 .. 206 10·62
Dunedin 273 11·81 .. 298 12·73 .. 317 13·47 .. 292 12·25

• NOTE.-The rates given must not be regarded as absolutely true. To correctly estimate the population of a town for any year at
  long distance from a census is a matter of extreme difficulty. The natural increase by excess of births over deaths is of course readily
  found, but the migration of people from one part of the colony to another cannot be determined with accuracy. When the census
  results are published these figures may require modification.