Nov. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2483

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 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·67
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·37
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·47
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·40
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·74
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·78
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·07
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·82

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

Compared with October, 1901, the results are,—

1901. 1902. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·02 1·37
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·73 1·40
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·78 0·78
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·20 0·82

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—No less than fifty deaths from diseases of this class were registered in October—exactly twice as many as in the previous month—as occurring at the four chief cities and their suburban boroughs. Fifteen of these were recorded at Auckland, 30 at Wellington, only 1 at Christchurch, and 4 at Dunedin. Of the total number registered in October, as many as 33—24 at Wellington—were caused by measles, 6 by influenza, 4 by whooping-cough, 1 by diphtheria, and 1 by enteric fever. Two old people died at Auckland from diarrhoea, and an infant from hereditary syphilis at Wellington. Erysipelas caused 1 death at Christchurch, and septicaemia 1 at Auckland.

Dietetic Diseases.—There were 2 deaths from delirium tremens, both in Wellington.

Constitutional Diseases.—These totalled 32 in October, 14 being due to cancer and 13 to phthisis; rheumatic fever, tubercular peritonitis and meningitis, tuberculosis, and diabetes being accountable for the remaining 5.

Developmental Diseases.—There were 17 deaths in this class, and of these 10 were from premature birth or malformation, and 7 from old age.

Local Diseases.—In this class 104 deaths were registered, against 126 in September, a decrease of 22. Of the total number, 23 were from diseases of the nervous system, 19 from diseases of the circulatory system, 33 from diseases of the respiratory system (of which 21 were due to pneumonia, 10 to bronchitis, and 1 each to asthma and croup), 18 to diseases of the digestive system, 9 to diseases of the urinary system, and 1 each to gangrene of leg and pelvic cellulitis.

Violence.—Eight violent deaths were recorded in October, 7 of which were accidental and 1 suicidal. Of the accidental deaths, 4 were at Auckland, and 1 each at Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. At Auckland a boy of twelve years died from injury to his spine, a girl of eleven years was accidentally burned, a labourer was suffocated, and an infant succumbed to injuries received at birth; a child of three years was accidentally poisoned at Wellington; a boy three years of age died from shock the result of burns at Christchurch; and a painter, aged forty-five years, was run over by a tramcar at Dunedin. The suicide was that of a woman aged 41 years, who cut her throat whilst mentally deranged.

Ill-defined and Not-specified Causes.—In this class there were 6 deaths from marasmus or infantile debility.
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