H.—3l

12

Seven children out of every hundred born in 1906 are shown to have been successfully vaccinated in that year. This is a falling-back to a position even lower than that which obtained in 1901 as regards vaccination of infants. Thirteen thousand eight hundred and forty-six exemption certificates were issued from the 13th October, 1900, when the Act came into force, to the end of the year 1906. Of these 2,667 belong to the year 1906, when, as before stated, the successful vaccination of children under one year of age amounted to 1,810, or 7-47 per cent, of births. Only eight children out of every hundred born in 1907 would appear to have been successfully vaccinated. Soon New Zealand will have the unenviable distinction of being the least protected of all countries. PHTHISIS. The death-rates from this disease increased slightly last year —from 621 to 666 per 10,000. This increase is, I think, of little significance. Provision is gradually being made for sufferers from this disease, and when we can say to every indigent sufferer, " Here is a shelter, come in," as much will have been effected in this direction as can be expected of a State. ADMISSIONS REFUSED. During the past year twelve persons were refused admission to the Dominion on account of either mental defects, tuberculosis, or syphilis. OANOER. Once again the Registrar-General records an increase in the death-rate from this disease. In 1906, with a mean population of 895,594, there were 623 deaths; in 1907, with a mean population of 919,105, there were 674 —an increase of 037 per 10,000 persons living. births . The number of births registered during 1907 was 25,094, or 2730 in every 1,000 persons living. The number of births is 842 in excess of that for the year 1906, an increase of 347 per cent. From 1882 until the year 1899 there was a regular fall in the birth-rate. The number of births registered in a year reached 19,846 in 1884, and, after falling to 17,876 in 1892, has risen to 25,094 in 1907 as stated above. The number of male children born during 1907 was 12,835, and of female children 12,259. The figures for each year from 1882 are worthy of notice, especially in connection with the subsequent particulars given as to marriages solemnised and the growth of population:-— v Number of Kate per 1,000 v Number of Rate per 1,000 xear ' Births. of Population. xear- Births. of Population. 1882 ... ... 19,009 37-32 1895 ... ... 18,546 26-78 1883 ... ... 19,202 36-28 1896 ... ... 18,612 26-33 1884 ... ... 19,846 35-91 1897 ... ... 18,737 25-96 1885 ... ... 19,693 34-35 1898 .. ... 18,955 25-74 1886 :.. ... 19,299 33-15 1899 .. ... 18,835 25-12 1887 ... ... 19,135 32-09 1900 ... ... 19,546 25-60 1888 ... ... 18,902 31-22 1901 ... ... 20,491 26-34 1889 ... ... 18,457 3007 1902 ... ... 20,655 25-89 1890 ... ... 18,278 29-44 1903 ... ... 21,829 26-61 1891 ... ... 18,273 29-01 1904 ... ... 22,766 26-94 1892 ... ... 17,876 27-83 1905 ... ... 23,682 27-22 1893 ... ... 18,187 27-50 1906 ... ... 24,252 27-08 1894 ... ... 18,528 27-28 1907 ... ... 25,094 27-30 The marriages have increased numerically, and the population of the Dominion also. Number of Mean Popula- Number of + PopulaMarriage, *™£ga-g "' ""fiStf" 1882 ... ... 3,600 509,309 1895 ... ... 4,110 692,417 1883 ... ... 3,612 529,292 1896 ... ... 4,843 706,846 1884 ... ... 3,800 552,590 1897 ... ... 4,928 721,609 1885 ... ... 3,813 573,362 1898 ... ... 5,091 736,260 1886 ... ... 3,488 582,117 1899 ... ... 5,461 749,984 1887 ... ... 3,563 596,374 1900 ... ... 5,860 763,594 1888 ... ... 3,617 605,371 1901 ... ... 6,095 777,968 1889 ... .. 3,632 612,716 1902 ... ... 6,394 797,793 1890 ... ... 3,797 620,780 1903 ... ... 6,748 820,217 1891 ... ... 3,805 629,783 1904 ... ... 6,983 845,022 1892 ... ... 4,002 642,245 1905 ... ... 7,200 870,000 1893 ... ... 4,115 661,349 1906 ... ... 7,592 895,594 1894 ... ... 4,178 679,196 1907 ... ... 8,192 919,105 The average number of children to a marriage may be ascertained by comparing the number of legitimate births for a series of years with the marriages, but commencing with the marriages in the year preceding that for which the first number of births is taken.