Mar. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 761

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, Christchurch next highest, Wellington and Dunedin following with intervals. The difference between the Auckland rate (29·64) and the Dunedin rate (23·08) is considerable. The birth-rate for the whole colony last year was 25·89 per thousand. Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington are thus over the average, and Dunedin below it.

Taking the births in the four central boroughs without their suburbs, and comparing the numbers for 1902 and 1901, an increase is observed at Auckland of 60, at Christchurch of 50, but a decrease of 24 at Wellington and 51 at Dunedin. The figures for the last five years are,—

Births.

Auckland (without suburbs) .. .. 916 .. 988 .. 1,028 .. 1,037 .. 1,097
Wellington " .. .. 1,065 .. 1,036 .. 1,127 .. 1,150 .. 1,126
Christchurch " .. .. 390 .. 340 .. 417 .. 423 .. 473
Dunedin " .. .. 507 .. 490 .. 526 .. 551 .. 500

The birth-rates for two of the central boroughs last year show a rise when compared with 1901. In Auckland the rate rose from 30·00 to 30·80, in Christchurch from 24·12 to 25·84; but in Wellington it fell from 26·35 to 25·29, and in Dunedin from 22·04 to 19·96. The rates for five years, 1898 to 1902, are,—

Births per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland (without suburbs) .. 26·96 .. 25·77 .. 29·31 .. 30·00 .. 30·80
Wellington " .. 25·75 .. 24·24 .. 25·76 .. 26·35 .. 25·29
Christchurch " .. 22·07 .. 18·74 .. 21·51 .. 24·12 .. 25·84
Dunedin " .. 21·61 .. 20·82 .. 22·07 .. 22·04 .. 19·96

DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES.

The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1902 was 2,598—viz., 1,694 in the cities, and 904 in the suburbs. In 1901 the number was 2,275—1,465 in the cities, and 810 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,—

Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17·21
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 15·27
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12·58
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 12·24
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12·24
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 12·14
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11·86
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 11·29

The death-rate is found to be highest in Auckland and lowest in Dunedin; Wellington and Christchurch taking second and third places respectively. The death-rate for the colony in 1902 was 10·50 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 1902 and 1901 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:—

1901. 1902. Auckland (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. .. .. 8·65 .. 11·10
            Wellington " .. .. .. .. .. .. 7·60 .. 8·87
            Christchurch " .. .. .. .. .. .. 9·89 .. 9·04
            Dunedin " .. .. .. .. .. .. 9·70 .. 9·23

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 1902 the proportions at the chief centres are,—

1901. 1902. Auckland (including suburbs) .. .. .. .. .. .. 9·88 .. 14·07
            Wellington " .. .. .. .. .. .. 10·03 .. 13·02
            Christchurch " .. .. .. .. .. .. 11·02 .. 11·76
            Dunedin " .. .. .. .. .. .. 7·89 .. 8·91

Thus in 1902 the proportions for Dunedin and Christchurch 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, 38·47; in Christchurch, 31·29; in Wellington, 37·98; in Dunedin, only 21·85. The total of deaths under 5 is 855, or 32·91 per cent. of all deaths, as against 618 and 27·16 for 1901. The deaths of persons of 65 and upwards numbered 599 last year; in 1901 they were 586.

Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for 1902 are found to be higher in Auckland and Wellington, but lower in Christchurch and Dunedin, than in the previous year. The total number of deaths and the death-rates for four years are given:—

Deaths, 1899. Deaths, 1900. Deaths, 1901. Deaths, 1902.
No. Per 1,000 of Population. No. Per 1,000 of Population. No. Per 1,000 of Population. No. Per 1,000 of Population.
Auckland (excluding suburbs) 499 13·02 .. 480 13·69 .. 453 13·10 .. 613 17·21
Wellington " 477 11·16 .. 401 9·17 .. 465 10·66 .. 560 12·58
Christchurch " 230 12·68 .. 206 10·62 .. 231 13·11 .. 224 12·24
Dunedin " 317 13·47 .. 292 12·25 .. 316 12·64 .. 297 11·86

By omitting the deaths of infants under one year, and calculating the rate on the population of one year of age and upwards, the death-rates for the two North Island cities are found to be higher in 1902 than in the previous year, but they are lower at Christchurch and Dunedin, in the South Island.

Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants (under One Year of Age).

1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Auckland (excluding suburbs) .. 9·86 .. 9·53 .. 9·72 .. 9·93 .. 12·86
                              Wellington " .. 9·18 .. 8·39 .. 7·65 .. 8·12 .. 9·54
                              Christchurch " .. 8·85 .. 9·16 .. 8·22 .. 10·69 .. 9·03
                              Dunedin " .. 10·87 .. 11·59 .. 10·64 .. 10·88 .. 10·35

Subjoined is a table showing the rates of infant mortality in the four cities for each of the past five years, together with the mean rates for the period.

Deaths of Children under One Year to every 100 Births.

1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Mean of Five Years.
                              Auckland (excluding suburbs) .. 17·14 .. 14·47 .. 14·49 .. 11·57 .. 14·07 .. 14·35
                              Wellington " .. 13·71 .. 12·26 .. 6·65 .. 10·43 .. 13·02 .. 11·21
                              Christchurch " .. 10·00 .. 19·71 .. 11·99 .. 11·35 .. 11·76 .. 12·96
                              Dunedin " .. 9·66 .. 10·20 .. 8·37 .. 9·07 .. 8·91 .. 9·24