Mar. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 645

BIRTHS AND BIRTH-RATES.

The total number of births registered as occurring in the four chief centres and suburbs in 1901 was 5,234, as against 4,875 for the previous year.

The births in the four cities rose from 3,098 in 1900 to 3,161 in 1901, and in the suburban boroughs from 1,777 to 2,073. The birth-rates for last year were,—

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30·00
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 28·25
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26·35
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 26·87
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24·12
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 26·12
Dunedin City.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22·04
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 24·26

By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, but lowered at Auckland. 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 (28·25) and the Dunedin rate (24·26) is considerable. The birth-rate for the whole colony last year was 26·34 per thousand. Auckland and Wellington are thus over the average, Christchurch and Dunedin below it.

Taking the births in the four central boroughs without their suburbs, and comparing the numbers for 1901 and 1900, an increase is observed at Auckland of 9, at Wellington of 23, at Christchurch of 6, and at Dunedin of 25. The figures for the last five years are,—

Births.
1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901.
Auckland (without suburbs) .. .. 906 .. 916 .. 988 .. 1,028 .. 1,037
Wellington " .. .. 1,067 .. 1,065 .. 1,036 .. 1,127 .. 1,150
Christchurch " .. .. 376 .. 390 .. 340 .. 417 .. 423
Dunedin " .. .. 498 .. 507 .. 490 .. 526 .. 551

The birth-rates for three of the central boroughs last year show a rise (one a decrease) when compared with 1900. In Auckland the rate rose from 29·31 to 30, in Wellington from 25·76 to 26·35, in Christchurch from 21·51 to 24·12; but in Dunedin it fell from 22·07 to 22·04. The rates for five years, 1897 to 1901, are,—

Births per 1,000 of Population.
1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901.
Auckland (without suburbs) .. 28·29 .. 26·96 .. 25·77 .. 29·31 .. 30·00
Wellington " .. 27·71 .. 25·75 .. 24·24 .. 25·76 .. 26·35
Christchurch " .. 21·88 .. 22·07 .. 18·74 .. 21·51 .. 24·12
Dunedin " .. 21·54 .. 21·61 .. 20·82 .. 22·07 .. 22·04

DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES.

The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1901 was 2,275—viz., 1,465 in the cities, and 810 in the suburbs. In 1900 the number was 2,104—1,379 in the cities, and 725 in the suburbs.

By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at each of the four centres. The rates for the year are,—

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13·10
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 11·50
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10·66
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 10·29
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13·11
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 12·77
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12·64
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 11·62

If the suburbs are included the death-rate is found to be highest in Christchurch and lowest in Wellington; Dunedin and Auckland taking second and third places respectively. The death-rate for the colony in 1901 was 9·81 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 1901 and 1900 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:—

1900. 1901. Auckland (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. 8·26 .. 8·65
            Wellington " .. .. .. .. 7·05 .. 7·60
            Christchurch " .. .. .. .. 8·20 .. 9·89
            Dunedin " .. .. .. .. 9·58 .. 9·70

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 1901 and 1900 the proportions at the chief centres are,—

1900. 1901. Auckland (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. 12·78 .. 9·88
            Wellington " .. .. .. .. 7·32 .. 10·03
            Christchurch " .. .. .. .. 10·83 .. 11·02
            Dunedin " .. .. .. .. 7·95 .. 7·89

Thus the proportions for Auckland and Dunedin are 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, 30·15; in Christchurch, 27·04; in Wellington, 32·28; in Dunedin, only 20·23. The total of deaths under 5 is 618, or 27·16 per cent. of all deaths, as against 574 and 27·28 for 1900. The deaths of persons of 65 and upwards numbered 586 last year; in 1900 they were 505.

Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for 1901 are found to be lower in Auckland, but higher in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, than in the previous year. The total number of deaths and the death-rates for four years are given:—

Deaths, 1898. Deaths, 1899. Deaths, 1900. Deaths, 1901.
No. Per 1,000 of No. Per 1,000 of No. Per 1,000 of No. Per 1,000 of
Population. Population. Population. Population.
Auckland (excluding suburbs) 483 14·22 .. 499 13·02 .. 480 13·69 .. 453 13·10
Wellington " 516 12·47 .. 477 11·16 .. 401 9·17 .. 465 10·66
Christchurch " 192 10·87 .. 230 12·68 .. 206 10·62 .. 231 13·11
Dunedin " 298 12·73 .. 317 13·47 .. 292 12·25 .. 316 12·64