Nov. 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3427

The inclusion of the suburban boroughs tends to lower the rate at each of the four centres.

Auckland City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·16
and six suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·97
Wellington City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·82
and three suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·80
Christchurch City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·62
and one suburban borough .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·54
Dunedin City .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·22
and six suburban boroughs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·10

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

Compared with October, 1906, the results are,—

1906. 1907. Auckland and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·02 0·97
            Wellington and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·81 0·80
            Christchurch and suburb .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0·97 1·54
            Dunedin and suburbs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1·11 1·10

Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases.—Of 270 deaths in October at the four chief centres with suburbs, 30 belonged to this class, or 11 per cent. of the whole. Of these, 9 were at Auckland, 10 at Wellington, 6 at Christchurch, and 5 at Dunedin. Influenza was very fatal, causing 20 deaths in the month—5 at Auckland, 6 at Wellington, 4 at Christchurch, and 5 at Dunedin. Whooping-cough caused 4 deaths at Auckland, and 1 at Wellington. Diphtheria was fatal at Wellington and Christchurch, 1 death at each town. Scarlet fever is also observed at Wellington (1 death). The remaining 2 deaths were from septicaemia and specific disease (in a child).

Constitutional Diseases.—Out of 51 deaths, 20 resulted from cancer, 13 from phthisis, and 8 from other forms of tubercle. There were 2 deaths from diabetes, and 3 others.

Local Diseases.—The mortality includes 153 deaths, or 58·52 per cent. of those from all causes. Diseases of the nervous system show 27 deaths; of the circulatory, 39. But diseases of the respiratory organs contributed most to the mortality (51 deaths from bronchitis, pneumonia, congestion of the lungs, &c.), and were almost evenly distributed among the four towns. There were also 23 deaths from diseases of the digestive system, 12 of the urinary, 4 of the reproductive, 1 of the locomotive, and one of the integumentary systems.

Violent Deaths.—Of 9 deaths, 7 were accidental and 2 suicidal. Of the former, 2 were caused by asphyxia, 1 by drowning, 1 by fall from a dray, and 1 by dragging from a railway-engine. There was also 1 death by misadventure with chloroform, and 1 from want of attention at birth. The suicides were caused by shooting and poison.

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.

RETURN of the Number of Births, with the Actual Mortality of Males and Females, and the Proportion of Deaths to Population, in the undermentioned Boroughs, during the Month of October, 1907.

• Includes suburban boroughs—Invercargill East, North, and South, with Avenal and Gladstone.

Registrar-General's Office,
Wellington, 21st November, 1907.

E. J. von DADELSZEN,
Registrar-General.