JAN. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 227

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 Dunedin, but raises it at Christchurch.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·86 0·73
and five suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·99 0·99
and two suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88 0·93
and one suburban borough .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·15 0·79
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

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

Compared with December, 1902, the results are,—

1902. 1903. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·87 0·73
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·40 0·99
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·89 0·93
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·92 0·79

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Of 13 deaths in this class, at the four chief towns with suburbs, which happened in December, 8 were from diarrhœa—2 at Auckland and 6 at Wellington. Influenza was fatal at Christchurch, 1 death; whooping-cough at Wellington, 2 deaths; and enteric fever at Auckland, 2 deaths.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 41 deaths at the chief centres, 19 were caused by cancer and 12 by phthisis. There were also 6 deaths from other tubercular diseases—2 from diabetes, and 2 others.

Local Diseases.—Deaths in this class for December numbered 91—from diseases of the nervous system, 24; of circulatory, 22; respiratory, 9; digestive, 18; lymphatic, 3; urinary, 4; reproductive, 7; locomotive, 3; and integumentary, 1.

Violent Deaths.—There were 8—7 accidental, 1 suicidal. The former included a death by fall from tram, and another “run over by tram.” There was 1 death by drowning, another caused by blow from ship’s hawser, another by fracture, which, with 1 from fall, and 1 from asphyxia, not further described, make up the total of accidental mortality. The suicide was by drowning.

The subjoined table shows the mortality for the last two months at each of the four centres from six principal specific febrile or zymotic diseases, and also the deaths from certain inflammatory diseases of the lungs. These causes of death have been distinguished from the others of the classes to which they belong as being the most important special diseases which give rise to sudden increases in the death-rates of towns, and the prevalence of which is closely connected with sanitary condition and climatic influence of the season on health.