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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5197, 17 November 1877, Page 2

The Eegistrar-General’s report of the vital statistics of the colony for October last says:— “At the five most populous boroughs tire deathrates for October were higher than those for September—Thames and Hokitika are the exceptions. From zymotic diseases there were 28 deaths, or 25 92 per cent, of the whole number. Four deaths occurred from scarlatina at Dunedin ; but it is important to notice that there were no deaths from the same cause at Hokitika, as nearly 50 per cent, of the total mortality at the latter town for eight previous months was the result of scarlatina. One death from diphtheria took place at Wellington, and one at Christchurch. There was one death from typhoid fever at Wellington, a.nd another at Nelson. From diseases of the rqgpiratory system the deaths consisted of 12 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia, 3 of which occurred at Auckland, 2 at the Thames, 2 at Wellington, 1 at Christchurch, and 4 at Dunedin. In the previous month there were 19 deaths from similar causes, of which 7 took place at Dunedin. The total number of deaths tor October, 1877 (108), is 5 in excess of the number for October, 1876. Of zymotic diseases, scarlatina was not so prevalent in October last as in October of tbe previous year. Diphtheria caused two deaths in October 1877, but none in October 1876. There were 35 deaths in the borough of Wellington during October 1877, against only 24 from all causes in October 1876 ; but the number for last month is swelled by 7 accidental deaths from fire.” The returns from the chief boroughs are as follows:

We reprint in our columns to-day a letter addressed to the New Zealand Herald by Mr. Hugh Garleton, which appeared in that journal on the 12th inst. It adds another to the many testimonies from all parts of the colony in favor of the constitutional action of the Governor in declining to act on the advice of his Ministers in the matter of the proposed appointment of Mr. Wilson, of Hawke’s Bay, to a seat in the Legislative Council. It is also in accord with the general sentiment in condemning the treatment to which her Majesty’s Representative has been subjected by the action of his responsible advisers. Sir George Grey is much too great a man to allow himself to be bound by the canons of Parliamentary government, or to permit his free action against '.those with whom it is his pleasure to quarrel to be trammelled by rules of courtesy, which most men agree to respect, and he cares but little really for the popular opinion which nevertheless he is always ready to evoke. But it must be a source of satisfaction to his Excellency the Governor to find that the people of this colony sustains his action on the point in question, and sympathise with him because of the position of embarrassment in which the Premier had placed him with the House of Representatives. Mr. Joseph Bhrne, we hear, will be nominated for the office of Mayor of Wellington to-day. He is a man eminently qualified for the post, and if ho consent to stand is almost certain to be returned. Mr. Burne carried on a very large business successfully here for some years, and has now retired, and is in a perfectly independent position. He has ample time at his disposal to devote to the service of the burgesses, and his shrewd and practical business habits, combined with his thorough knowledge of local wants, are calculated to be of great service to the community.

Boroughs. Total Births. Total Deaths. Proportion of Deaths to the 1000 of Population. Auckland .. 52 13 ros Thames 30 4 0*00 Wellington .. 88 35 217 Nelson 23 9 102 Christchurch Cl 1C 1-25 Dunedin 87 30 1‘2S Hokitika 14 1 0-34 Total .. 355 108 _