23

H.—3l

Index of Mortality in New Zealand for 1907.

A similar calculation for the States of the Australian Commonwealth has been made for 1905. The results, when compared with the actual rates, exhibit to what degree the age-constitution of the population affects the death-rate. The figures for New Zealand are also given. Year 1905. Index. Actual. Queensland... ... ... ... ... ... 1453 1047 New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... 1353 1013 Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... 1455 12-10 South Australia ... ... ... ... ... 1352 10-15 Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... 14-41 10-83 Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... 1336 TO'29 New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... 11-85 9-27 (1906) ... ... ... ... ... 11-55 9-31 DEATHS AND DEATH-RATES OF THE POUR PRINCIPAL CITIES AND THEIR SUBURBS. In the earlier annual reports on the vital statistics of the four chief towns the central boroughs alone were dealt with, particulars respecting the suburbs not having been obtained. But this omission was held to be a grave defect, as the suburban death-rate may differ much from the death-rate at the centre. Steps were therefore taken early in 1895 to collect statistics of the suburban boroughs as well as of the four chief cities. As regards Auckland and Christchurch, the whole of the area usually recognised as suburban has not yet been brought under municipal government, and the statistics given below do not deal with such portions as still remain in road districts. The omission, however, is not very important, for there are in either case quite enough suburbs included within borough boundaries to give a fair idea of the death-rate of greater Auckland and greater Christchurch. As further boroughs are formed the vital statistics will be made to include them. The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1907 was 3,095 — viz., 2,567 in the cities, and 528 in the suburbs. By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at all of the four centres. The rates for the year are : — Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City ... ... ... ... ... 1338 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... 11-43 Wellington City ... ... ... ... ... 1145 „ and three suburban boroughs ... ... 11-28 Christchurch City ... ... ... ... ... 14-72 „ and one suburban borough ... ... 14-37 Dunedin City ... ... ... ... ... 12-98 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... 12-02 If the number of deaths of infants under one year be excluded, the mortality among the rest of the population is found to have been for 1906 and 1907 in the following ratio to the 1,000 living : — 1906. 1907. Auckland (including suburbs) ... ... ...- ... 7-63 8-76 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... 7-23 8-06 Christchurch „ ... ... ... ... 9-15 10-52 Dunedin „ ... ... ... ... 9-39 9-60 The degree of infantile mortality is perhaps best shown in the proportion of deaths of children under one year of age to every 100 births. For 1906 and 1907 the proportions at the chief centres are, — 1906. 1907. Auckland (including suburbs) ... ... ... .:. 8-58 972 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... 719 11-78 Christchurch „ ... ... ... ... 7-44 12-62 Dunedin „ ... ... ... ... 726 9-54 The higher mortality for 1907 is very considerable.

Ages. Estimated Mean Population, 1907. Number of Deaths, 1907. I Death- j Percentage of Index of rate Population Mortality in per 1,000, i of Sweden, 1890 New Zealand 1907. (Standard). per 1,000. Under 1 year 1 and under 20 years ... 20 and under 40 years 40 and under 60 years 60 years and upwards... 23,070 338,047 347,513 145,586 64,889 2,228 1,281 1,528 1,502 3,527 I 96-57 3-78 -4-39 10-31 54-35 2-55 39-80 26-96 19-23 11-46 2-46 1-50 1-18 1-98 6-23 Totals 919,105 10,066 10-95 10000 13-35