MAR. 30. THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 833

CAUSES OF DEATH.

CLASS VII.—VIOLENCE.
ORDER 1:—
Accident or Negligence,—
Fracture of Skull .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1
Run over by Tram .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1
Crushed by Railway-truck .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1
Birth Accident .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1

ORDER 3:—
Suicide,—
By Poison (Phosphorus) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1
By Poison (“Rough on Rats”) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1
By Hanging .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1

CLASS VIII.—ILL-DEFINED AND NOT-SPECIFIED CAUSES.
Marasmus .. .. .. 1 .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. 3

Totals .. .. .. 8 27 11 28 15 21 2 35 147

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 Wellington.

Death-rates per 1,000 of Population.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·73 0·61
" and five suburban boroughs.. .. .. .. .. .. 0·67 0·68
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·70 0·70
" and two suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·66 0·63
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
" and one suburban borough . .. .. .. .. .. ..
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
" and seven suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. ..

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

Compared with February, 1904, the results are,—

1904. 1905.

      Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·66 0·61
      Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·25 0·68
      Christchurch and suburb .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·20 0·70
      Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·04 0·63

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—There were only 6 deaths at the four chief centres with their suburbs in February. From diarrhoea the deaths numbered 4, all of children at Christchurch. The other 2 were from septicæmia and specific disease.

Constitutional Diseases.—Of 35 deaths, 16 were caused by cancer, 13 by phthisis, 3 by other tubercular complaints, 2 by anæmia, and 1 by acute rheumatism.

Local Diseases.—The deaths at the chief towns were 82, or 55·78 of the total mortality for the month. Of these, 27 resulted from nervous diseases, and 27 also from diseases of the circulatory system, 11 of the respiratory and 12 of the digestive systems. There were also 4 deaths from diseases of the urinary, and 1 of the reproductive organs.

Violent Deaths.—Four were accidental and 3 suicidal. One death was caused by fracture of skull, 1 by tram, 1 by crushing (railway-truck), and 1 accident of birth. Two of the suicides were by poisoning, and 1 by hanging.

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.

Auckland and suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 2 .. 3 .. .. 2 3 .. ..
Wellington and suburban boroughs .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 2 .. .. 2 3 .. ..
Christchurch and suburban borough .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 2 .. .. .. 1 .. ..
Dunedin and suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 2 3 .. ..

Totals .. .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. 4 7 3 5 .. 1 6 10 .. ..