Aug. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1749

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 each of the four centres.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·30
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·18
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·10
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·09
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·43
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1·39
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·11
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. 0·99

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

Compared with July, 1901, the results are,—

1901. 1902. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. 1·06 1·18
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. 0·93 1·09
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. 1·54 1·39
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. 1·07 0·99

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The deaths at the four chief centres (with their suburbs) from diseases belonging to this class numbered 15 in July, against 9 in the previous month. Of these deaths in July 4 were from whooping-cough (1 at Wellington and 3 at Dunedin), 4 were due to diphtheria (3 at Auckland and 1 at Christchurch). The death of a labourer (aged 48) was registered at Auckland as from bubonic plague. Two deaths (1 at Auckland and 1 at Wellington) were caused by influenza, while diarrhœa caused 1 death at Wellington, dysentery 1 at Christchurch, congenital syphilis 1 at Wellington, and puerperal septicaemia 1 at Dunedin.

Dietetic Diseases.—Of the 5 deaths in this class, 4 (1 at Auckland, 2 at Wellington, and 1 at Dunedin) were caused by alcoholism, and 1 death at Christchurch by defective nutrition.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 46 deaths at the four centres, 18 were caused by phthisis, 11 by cancer. Of the 17 remaining deaths in this class, 6 were from diabetes.

Local Diseases.—These totalled 126 in July, an increase of 25 on the number for June. Twenty-two of the deaths in July were from diseases of the nervous system, 34 from diseases of the circulatory system, 40 from diseases of the respiratory organs, 16 from diseases of the digestive system, and 9 from diseases of the urinary system. Of the remaining 5 deaths in this class, 2 were due to childbirth, and 1 each to caries, and curvature of the spine, and eczema.

Violent Deaths.—There were 11 deaths in this class, and of these 5 were accidental and 6 suicidal. Of the accidental deaths, 1 was caused by the breaking of a derrick, 1 by falling down a ship’s hold, 2 by suffocation, and 1 by accident at birth. Two of the suicidal deaths were by shooting, 1 was by cutting of throat, 1 by drowning, 1 by hanging, and 1 by jumping from a window.