H—3l

18

Births and Birth-rates in the Four Chief Cities. The total number of births registered as occurring in the four chief centres and suburbs in 1907 was 7,018, as against 6,512 for the previous year. The birth-rates for 1907 were: — Birth-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City ... ... ... ... ... 29-63 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... ... 2746 Wellington City ... ... ... ... ... 27-53 „ and three suburban boroughs ... ... ... 2734 Christchurch City ... ... ... ... ... 30-47 „ and one suburban borough ... ... ... 3048 Dunedin City ... ... ... ... ... 2569 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... ... 25-36 By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Christchurch, but lowered at Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. It will be observed that Christchurch has the highest rate, Auckland next highest, Wellington and Dunedin following with intervals. The birth-rate for the Dominion last year was 2730 per thousand. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are thus over the average, and Dunedin below it. The birth-rates for three of the central boroughs last year show a fall when compared with 1906. In Auckland the rate fell from 2996 to 2963, in Wellington from 2785 to 2753, in Dunedin from 2896 to 25 - 69, but rose in Christchurch from 2819 to 3047. The rates for five years, 1903 to 1907, are: — , Births per 1,000 of Population. , 1903. 1904. 1905. ' 1906. 1907. Auckland (without suburbs) ... 31-67 3108 30-06 29-96 29-63 Wellington „ ... 29-22 2677 29-72 2785 27-53 Christchurch „ ... 26-59 27-53 29-70 28-19 30-47 Dunedin „ ... 19-54 22-40 2390 2896 2569 NATURALISATION. Aliens residing in New Zealand may, on taking the oath of allegiance to His Majesty, obtain letters of naturalisation entitling them to enjoy all the rights and privileges that a natural-born subject of the United Kingdom can enjoy or transmit within this Dominion. Two hundred and eighty-two (275 men and 7 women) were naturalised in 1907. The number belonging to each nationality was as under : — Number of Aliens naturalised in 1907. Natives of — m. p. Natives of— m. f. German Empire .. .. .. 27 2 Spain .. .. .. ..10 Norway .. .. .. 21 1 Portugal and possessions .. .. 10 Sweden .. .. .. .. 18 0 Austria-Hungary .. .. .. 100 0 Denmark.. .. .. .. 27 2 Greece .. .. .. ..40 Russia and Finland .. .. 23 0 China .. .. .. .. 12 0 France and possessions .. .. 4 0 Japan .. .. .. ..20 Belgium .. .. .. ..20 United States of America .. .. 50 Netherlands .. .. ..10 Syria .. .. .. .. 10 0 Switzerland .. .. ..8 1 Chili .. .. .. ..10 Italy .. .. .. ..8 1 The number of natives of each-'counti-y naturalised during the last twenty-five years is next shown. Natives of — Natives of— Germany .. .. .. 1,742 Portugal .. .. .. .. 67 Sweden and Norway .. .. 1,375 Austria-Hungary .. .. .. 778 Denmark.. .. .. .. 954 Greece .. .. .. .. 62 Russia in Europe .. .. .. 310 China .. .. .. .. 416 France .. .. .. .. 149 United States of America .. .. 108 Belgium .. .. .. .. 36 Other countries .. .. .. 183 Netherlands .. .. .. 70 Switzerland .. .. .. 202 Total .. .. .. 6,708 Italy and Sicily .. .. .. 256 By section 2 of "The Aliens Act Amendment Act, 1882," repealed and re-enacted by section 2 of " The Aliens Act Amendment Act, 1892," it is provided that when the father, or mother being a widow, has obtained naturalisation in the Dominion every child who during infancy has become resident with them in New Zealand shall be deemed to be naturalised, and shall have the rights and privileges of a natural-born subject.