Oct. 16.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2299

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 each of the four centres.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·25
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 1·10
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·33
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 1·32
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·37
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 1·20
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·23
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. 1·22

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

Compared with September, 1901, the results are,—

1901. 1902. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·02 1·10
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·42 1·32
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·54 1·20
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·39 1·22

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Twenty-five deaths from diseases of this class were registered during September—the same number as in August—as occurring at the four chief cities and suburban boroughs. Of these, 7 were credited to Auckland, 12 to Wellington, 4 to Christchurch, and 2 to Dunedin. Of the total number recorded in September, 2 deaths were from measles, 2 from scarlet fever, 3 from influenza, and 8 from whooping-cough. Diphtheria caused 1 death at Christchurch and 1 at Dunedin, and typhoid fever 1 at Auckland. From diarrhoea, a gentleman seventy-five years old died at Auckland, a child of eight months at Wellington, and a baby aged fourteen weeks at Christchurch. Septicæmia was accountable for 1 death at Christchurch; and puerperal septicæmia for 3 deaths—2 at Wellington and 1 at Dunedin.

Constitutional Diseases.—Deaths from these diseases totalled 48 in September. No less than 24 of these were due to cancer, and 16 to phthisis. Of the 8 remaining deaths in this class, 2 were caused by rheumatism, 3 by tubercular meningitis, and 1 each by diabetes, Hodgkin’s disease, and tubercular glands in the neck.

Developmental Diseases.—There were 26 deaths in this class, 15 of which were caused by premature birth and atelectasis, and 11 by old age.

Local Diseases.—These numbered 126 in September, a decrease of 15 on the number recorded in August—28 being from diseases of the nervous system, 23 from diseases of the circulatory system, heart-disease, &c., 41 from pneumonia, bronchitis, and congestion of the lungs, 19 from enteritis and other diseases of the digestive system, 9 from diseases of the urinary system, 3 from diseases of the reproductive system, and 1 each from caries of the spine, psoas abscess, and periostitis.

Violence.—Eight deaths in this class were registered during September, and of these 7 were accidental and 1 suicidal. A lad of fifteen years old had his skull fractured by the wheel of a 'bus at Auckland; an inmate of an old man’s home, aged 74, died from rupture of the urethra at Wellington; a lad of eighteen had his spine fractured, and a child was accidentally smothered at birth, at Christchurch; while at Dunedin, a boy of eleven years was crushed between two railway-trucks, a woman of sixty-nine years was found drowned, and a baby died from injuries accidentally received at birth. The suicide was that of a publican aged 45 years, who cut his throat while temporarily insane.

Ill-defined and Not-specified Causes.—In this class there were 6 deaths from marasmus, and 2 from atheroma.