SEPT. 22.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2281

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 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·98
and five suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·89
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·96
and two suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·93
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·07
and one suburban borough .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·06
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·06
and eight suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88

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

Compared with August, 1903, the results are,—

1903. 1904. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·90 0·89
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·80 0·93
            Christchurch and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·99 1·06
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·88 0·88

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—The deaths from diseases in this class at the four centres and suburbs during August numbered 9, against 20 in the preceding month. Influenza caused 4 deaths in August—1 at Wellington, 1 at Christchurch, and 2 at Dunedin. There were 2 deaths from diphtheria—1 at Auckland and 1 at Wellington. Only 1 death was registered from diarrhœal disease, which occurred at Auckland. The remaining 2 deaths were from erysipelas and septicæmia.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of a total amounting to 35 deaths, 18 were from phthisis and 12 from cancer.

Local Diseases.—The mortality was 125 deaths at the four centres, being 60·98 per cent. of the total from all causes. There were 32 deaths from diseases of the nervous system, 26 of the circulatory, 38 of the respiratory, 16 of the digestive, 8 of the urinary, and 5 of the reproductive systems.

Violent Deaths.—Of 12 deaths, 10 were accidental and 2 suicidal. One accidental death resulted from a fall, another from fall of tree. There was 1 death from being run over by cart, 1 from scalding, another from drowning, and 2 from suffocation, besides 2 deaths from injury to skull, and a birth accident. The suicides were by shooting and strangulation.

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.