VITAL STATISTICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5503, 20 November 1929, Page 2

VITAL STATISTICS.

FIGURES FOR OCTOBER. INCREASE IN DEATH RATE. In the Government report for October on vital statistics for the urban areas of the Dominion Hastings showed the highest ratio of deaths with 1.24 per 1000 of population; and Napier the lowest with .53. The North Island showed .85 and the South Island .87. The total number of deaths for October was 643, an increase of 27 when compared with the previous month’s figures. Live births registered totalled 1031, as against 1056 in September, a decrease of 25. Of births Nelson headed the list with 1.96 per 1000, and at the bottom of the table came Dunedin, with 1.04. The North Island returned 1.49, and the South Island 1.47. Of deaths in all age groups the most took place among males between 75 and 80—42 in all—and among females between 70 and 75—36 in all. No centenarian deaths were recorded, but three men and one woman died between 95 and 100 years. Diseases of the heart, with 155, an increase of 20 over September, again came first on the list of causes of death, followed by cancer, with 80. Diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 70, apoplexy 34, and tuberculosis in its various forms 32.

Deaths by suicide through various causes totalled 8, and fatal accidents numbered 23, including 11 by motor vehicles and six by drowning. One death was caused by starvation. Premature birth, with eight, caused the largest number of deaths out of 40 recorded in infant mortality.