H.—3l

24

Again, the percentage of deaths of children under 5 ,to the total number of deaths is— Auckland 3283; in Christchurch, 32-71; in Wellington, 35"98; in Dunedin, 24"65. MORTALITY AT POUR CENTRES, EXCLUDING SUBURBS. Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for 1907 are found to be higher than in the previous year. The figures for five years are given : — , Deaths per 1,000 of Population. , 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. Auckland (excluding suburbs) 12-97 11-11 12-15 12-51 13-38 Wellington „ 11-30 10-75 10-55 9-45 11-45 Christchurch „ 11-39 10-50 10-76 11-12 14-72 Dunedin „ 14-77 13-59 11-13 12-70 12-98 Omitting the deaths of infants under one year, and calculating the rate on the population of one year of age and upwards, an increase on the previous year is shown at three of the four centres. Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants (under One Year of Age). 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1.907. Auckland (excluding suburbs) 9-45 9-24 9-39 984 10 57 Wellington „ 8-84 8-42 7-80. 7-68 8-43 Christchurch „ 8-83 787 8-46 934 11-10 Dunedin „ 13-61 11-90 9-64 10-76 10-74 Subjoined is a table showing the rates of infant mortality in the four cities for each of the past five years, together with the mean rates for the period. Deaths of Children under One Year to every 100 Births. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. j^y^s Auckland (excluding suburbs) 12-08 6-93 10-13 V-92 10-55 9-92 Wellington „ 9-28 9-55 10-02 7-11 11-85 9-56 Christchurch „ 10-49 10-36 860 724 12-99 9-94 Dunedin „ 7-27 8-74 7-21 7-76 9-77 8-15 CAUSES OF DEATH AT THE POUR CENTRES, INCLUDING SUBURBS. While treating of the death-rates at the chief cities and surroundings, it is desirable to refer to the causes of mortality, which is done in the remarks that follow. The deaths for the whole Dominion, classified according to their cause, are treated of at length a little further on. Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). The mortality from these diseases was much higher at each of the four centres in 1907 than in the previous year. The total deaths in this class were 133 for 1906 and 395 for 1907. Deaths from Febrile and Zymotic Diseases. 1906. 1907. Auckland and suburbs ... ... ... ... ... 42 103 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... ... 22 110 Christchurch „ ... ... ... ... ... 23 110 Dunedin „ ... ... ... ... ... 46 72 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 133 395 Of the above, diarrhceal diseases caused most deaths in 1907 at the four centres taken together, the total number being 111. Whooping-cough came next with 104 deaths, influenza 64, measles 36, diphtheria 23, scarlet fever 11, typhoid fever 9, bubonic plague 1, and other zymotic complaints 36. Comparison of the deaths for eachr city, including suburbs, shows, — Zvmotio &c Disposes Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. Zymotic, &c, Diseases. 19Q6 _ lgQ7 lgQ6 | gQ7 lgog _ lm _ lg0( , lgo7 _ Diarrhceal diseases ... 16 19 2 23 8 47 3 22 Influenza ... ... 11 10 6 17 9 13 7 24 Typhoid fever ... 5 6 4 ... ... 5 1 Measles ... 17 ... 15 ... *4 10 Scarlet fever ... 2 1 19 1 ... ... 1 Diphtheria ... ... 2 8 5 9 2 5 4 1 Whooping-cough 36 ... 28 ... 29 12 11 Bubonic plague ... ... 1 Other zymotic diseases 6 5 4 9 3 10 5 12 Parasitic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). Hydatids were fatal at Auckland (1 death), Wellington (2 deaths), Christchurch (1 death), and Dunedin (I death). Dietetic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). These numbered 15, 3 being due to want of breast-milk, 8 to alcoholism, and 4 to delirium tremens.