Oct. 24.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2053

CAUSES OF DEATH.

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 Dunedin, but raises it at Christchurch.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·14
and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·02
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·44
and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·42
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·37
and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·54
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·49
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·39

Including the suburbs, the rate at Christchurch is the highest and at Auckland the lowest.

Compared with September, 1900, the results are,—

1900. 1901. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·67 1·02
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·63 1·42
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88 1·54
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·92 1·39

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—There were 34 deaths from this class of disease occurring at the four centres, with their suburbs, in September, against 27 in August and 18 in July. The increase is caused by the mortality from influenza, which has been felt at each of the four centres, the number of deaths having been 26 for last month—2 at Auckland, 8 at Wellington, 9 at Christchurch, and 7 at Dunedin. Against 26 deaths from influenza at the four centres in September, there were 18 in August and 5 in July. One death from scarlet fever occurred at Auckland last month, and 1 from typhoid fever at Wellington. The remaining deaths were from septic and other diseases not of the miasmatic order.

Constitutional Diseases.—The mortality for September at the chief cities was very high, amounting to 65 deaths—11 at Auckland, 20 at Wellington, 11 at Christchurch, and 23 at Dunedin. Phthisis caused the large number of 37 of the above-mentioned deaths, against 19 in August. Other tubercular diseases contributed 5, and cancer 17 deaths. There were 3 deaths from rheumatism and rheumatic arthritis, 2 from diabetes, and 1 from anaemia.

Local Diseases.—There were 121 deaths from these diseases—24 of the nervous system, 32 of the circulatory, 38 of the respiratory, 15 of the digestive, 1 of the lymphatic, 7 of the urinary, and 3 of the reproductive systems, with 1 of the organs of locomotion.

Violent Deaths.—There were 3 deaths from accidental drowning, 2 from fall, and 1 from fracture, making 6 altogether.

The subjoined table shows the mortality for the last two months at each of the four centres from six principal specific febrile or zymotic diseases, and also the deaths from certain inflammatory diseases of the lungs. These causes of death have been distinguished from the others of the classes to which they belong as being the most important special diseases which give rise to sudden increases in the death-rates of towns, and the prevalence of which is closely connected with sanitary condition and climatic influence of the season on health.