Jan. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 181

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 Auckland and Wellington, but raises it at Christchurch and Dunedin.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2·07
" and five suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·87
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·44
" and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 1·40
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·62
" and four suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·89
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·91
" and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. 0·92

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

Compared with December, 1901, the results are,—

Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1901. 1902.
Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·34 1·87
Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·81 1·40
Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·67 0·89
.. .. .. .. .. .. 1·18 0·92

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Forty-five deaths from diseases of this class were registered in December last as occurring at the four chief cities and their suburban boroughs; and of these 27 were recorded at Auckland, 10 at Wellington, 3 at Christchurch, and 5 at Dunedin. Of this total measles was accountable for 19, whooping-cough for 15, diarrhoea for 3, typhoid fever for 2, scarlatina for 2, and diphtheria, influenza, puerperal septicæmia, and erysipelas for 1 each.

Parasitic Diseases.—One death in this class, that of a man aged fifty-four, from hydatids, was recorded at Auckland last month.

Dietetic Diseases.—Only 1 death, that of a child, from malassimilation of food, was attributed to this class of disease in December last.

Constitutional Diseases.—In December these totalled 49, an increase of 9 on the number registered in November, 18 being caused by phthisis, 16 by cancer, 4 by tubercular meningitis, 3 by diabetes, 3 by tuberculosis, 2 by tabes mesenterica, and 1 each by rheumatism (acute), rickets, and anæmia.

Developmental Diseases.—There were 28 deaths in this class, 14 of which were due to old age, and 12 to premature birth; atelectasis and spina bifida accounting for the other two.

Local Diseases.—Of the 113 deaths registered as caused by diseases of this class, 20 were caused by diseases of the nervous system, 1 by disease of organs of special sense, 13 by diseases of the circulatory system, 40 by diseases of the respiratory system, 22 by diseases of the digestive system, 2 by diseases of the lymphatic system, 10 by diseases of the urinary system, 4 by diseases of the reproductive system, and 1 by disease of the organs of locomotion.

Violence.—Nine violent deaths were recorded in December, and of these 7 were accidental and 2 suicidal. Of the accidental deaths 2 occurred at Auckland, a child of two years being crushed by a tub, and another of three years run over by a tram-car; in Wellington a labourer was run over by a railway-train, and an infant died from injuries received at birth; at Christchurch a girl of five years was scalded and a tailoress accidentally suffocated; in Dunedin an insurance clerk was drowned while bathing. Of the two suicidal deaths, both of which occurred at Auckland, 1 was a case of atropine poisoning by a clerk, the other that of a labourer, who drowned himself: in each case a verdict of “Temporary insanity” was returned.

Ill-defined and Not-specified Causes.—Eight deaths from infantile debility were registered in December—1 at Auckland, 5 at Wellington, and 2 at Dunedin.