VITAL STATISTICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 364, 14 March 1902, Page 2

VITAL STATISTICS.

FELL TUBERCULOUS DISEASES,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night. In the Gazette issued this evening the Registrar-General publishes a report on the vital statistics returns from the four chief towns of the colony. During the last year in Auckland there were 1448 births and 577|deaths, in'Wellington 1326 and 508, in Christchurch 1180 and 577, in Dunodin 1280 and 013, the totals being 5284 births and 2276 deaths. From the table showing the different causes of these deaths it appears that tuberculous disease still forms the. greatest scourge in the colony ; 207 persons died from phthisis, and 56 from other allied diseases, this being 11 point 56 of tho total deaths from all causes. Heart diseaso claimed 172 victims during tho year ; cancer 155, pneumonia 135, and bronchitis 111. Influenza led to the death of 74 persons, apoplexy of 79, scarlet fever of 74. Ninety-four persons died of violent deaths during the year, 24 by drowing, 13 by burns, and 10 by being run over, tho remainder by all sorts of accidents. There were 23 cases of suicido. Cutting throat and shooting were rivals in the popular methods of self-destruction, 6 having taken lives by the former method, and five by the last named. The percentage of deaths of children under 5 to the total number of deaths was : In Auckland 30.15, in Christchurch 27.04, in Wellington 82.28, in Dunedin only 20.23. Tho total of deaths under 5 is 618, or 27.16 per cent, of ah the deaths, as against 574 and 27.28 for 1900. The deaths of persons of 65 and upwards were 586 last year j in 1900 they were 505.