H.~31

3

The 115 deaths from zymotic diseases may be analysed as follows : — Deaths in Auckland Aucld(md the Four and Proportion . Centres. Suburbs. F Per Cent. Diarrhoea) diseases .. .. . . 44 21 48 Influenza .. .. .. .. ..13 ,3 23 Typhoid .. .. .. .. ..10 7 70 Scarlet fever .. .. .. .. .. 5 2 40 Diphtheria .. .. .. .. .. 8 3 38 Whooping-cough .. .. .. .. .. 2 0 .. Other zymotic diseases .. .. .. 33 9 27 115 45 39 Thus Auckland centre had far more than its share in deaths from zymotic disease as compared with the other centres, and especially so in the case of diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid, scarlet fever, and diphtheria. Still the actual number of deaths from these causes compares favourably with that of previous years, and maintains the improvement commented upon in last year's report as having characterized 1904. The atmospheric conditions then alluded to as probably being largely responsible for the smaller number of cases and lower death-rate in zymotic cases have continued with remarkable uniformity, as the following meteorological table exhibits : — This table gives the rainfall and mean temperature as recorded in Auckland for the year ending the 31st March last : — Rainfall. Mean Temperature. 1905. Average. 1905. Average. April .. .. .. .. .. 3-20 3-15 594 61-4 May .. .. .. .. .. 2-29 4-21 56-3 57-1 June .. .. .. .. ..6-00 4-79 53-2 538 July .. .. .. .. .. 3-88 4-86 501 52-0 August .. .. .. .. .. 3-05 4-22 51-6 524 September 448 3-39 540 54-8 October 5-87 334 55-3 57-0 November .. .. .. .. 220 3-23 593 60-4 December .. .. .. .. 2-96 2-64 619 624 1906. 1906. If* January M 7 269 62-7 671 February .. .. .. .. 2-25 350 630 674 March .. .. .. .. .. l'Bo 236 621 643 39-15 42-37 57-4 59-2 It is noticeable that only in June and October was there anything like excess of rain, and upon the whole year some 322 in. less than the average. The lower mean temperature is observable in every month of the past year. The previous year (1904-5) presented the same feature, every month except March, 1905, when the temperature was O'l above the average, showing a lower mean temperature than the average for the corresponding month during the past thirty-five years. Deaths from Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases. The total deaths are as follows : — Auckland Total in , ~ , and the Four Auckland Suburbs. Centres. Proportion. Percent, 1905 49 211 23 Auckland has fewer deaths by 9 than in the previous year, and the four centres 48 fewer. Deaths from Cancer. The total deaths are :— Auckland Total in Auckland and the Four Auckland Suburbs. Centres. Per Cent. 1905 35 191 18 Deaths from cancer show a steady increase during the past five years, when the totals for the four centres are taken, though the figures for Auckland and its suburbs in 1905 are below the average for the five years. Plague. Bubonic plague has not made its appearance in 1905-6. ™.B. From this point the statistics are those covering the Department's year—lst April, 1905, to 31st March, 1906.]