VITAL STATISTICS.

The Rcgistrar-Gonerars return of vital statistics for the month of Fobrnary shows that the number of births and deaths, and proportion of deaths to 1000 of population, wore as follows in tho boroughs named : —

The total; births in the above boroughs amounted to 389, against 463 in January, a decrease of 7 1. Tho deaths in February were 211, an increase of 2 on the number in January. Of the total deaths, males contributed 117 ; females, 91. Ninety-two of tho deaths wero of children under 5 years of age, being 43'b" per cent, of the whole number : 78 of thoso woro under 1 year of age. In the four principal boroughs, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dnnedin, tho births in February were 215, against 237 in January —an decrease of 22. The deaths amounted to 126, against 119 in January — an increase of 7. There were 15 deaths of persons of 65 years and upwards— four men of 73, 81, 82, and 83, and two women of 75 and 76 died at Auckland ; one man of 75 and one woman of 76 at Wellington ; three men of 67 (two) and 71, and one woman of 71 at Christchurch ; two men of 65 and 82, and one woman of 79 at Dunedin. Of every 100' deaths at the four chief cities in February 24 were from specific febrile and zymotic diseases. The number of deaths at these towns was 31, against 20 in January last and 17 in February of 1893. Of 31 deaths last month 13 weroat Auokland. 12 at Wellington, 3 at Christchuroh, aud 3 at Dunedin. Influenza caused 1 death at Wellington and 1 at Christchurch j whooping cough, 2 deaths at Wellington and 2 at Dunedin. Diphtheria is noticed at Wellington only, having proved fatal to a child under five j ears of age. Typhoid fever also caused 1 death at Wellington. From diarrhoeal diseases tho deaths numbered 21, against 10 in January. Theso complaints wero most falal in Fobruary at Auokland, whore 12 deaths occurred; next at Wellington (6 deaths), while at Christohurch the deaths were 2, and at Dunedin only 1. A death from agne at Wellington and one from syphilitic lepra (in n. child) nt Auckland, complete the total for the class. A death from hydatids in the spleen is found to have taken placo at Dunedin. Of 19 deaths from constitutional disoasea 12 were from phthisis and 2 from canoor. From local diseases the total of deaths was 47, the same number as in January. There were 13 deaths from diseases of the nervous system, 10 from diseases of the circulatory system, 6 from diseases of the respiratory system, 13 from diseases of the digestive system, 1 from disease of the lymphatic system, 3 from diseases of the urinary system, and 1 from disease of the reproductive system. Of violent deaths 5 were accidental and 5 were suicidal. A youth of 17 years died by misadventure from an overdose of chlorodyne, 2 adnlt males were found drowned in Wellington Harbour, a child of 18 months was aocidentally suffocated in a water-closet, and an infant died from hieniorrhage at birth. A clerk died from a ont inflicted by himself while temporary insano, a woman killed herself by swallowing phosphor matches, a builder drowned himself, a settler hung himself, and a woman strangled herself.

Mr. Ward is to bo congratulated upon the useful work done by the Postal Conference held under his presidency. By the time it has finished its labours it will have established an excellent record of useful work. The resolution arrived at on his motion in regard to a Pacific cable is extremely satisfactory, and will, we hopS, lead to practical results at no distant date. The value of establishing cable communication with the world by a line touching only on British territory cannot be overrated. Mr. Ward has presided over the Conference with dignity and conspicuous ability, and the people of the colony are especially indebted to him for the courtesy and attention he has shown to the visitors from Australia. Under his guidance they will ere they leave have seen a great deal of New Zealand, and he has spared, and is sparing, no trouble to make their visit to the colony a pleasant and enjoyable one. We have no doubt that he will sucoeed in this, and that the official visitors, as well as the ladies accompanying thorn, will return to Australia well satisfied with thoir New Zealand experiences.

Sporting news, a Woodville news-letter, our report of the Athletic Football Club's annual meeting, and letters to the Editor, will be found on the fourth page.

Amongst the contents of tho Supplenu-ni, to to-morrow's issue will bo some interesting extiacts from tho diary of a visitor to Wellington in 1842, and othi-r articles Leaded as follows : - Jem's Joke, Horrible (. rime in Russia, A Good Heart and Good Works, Chloroform, Minutes of Terror, An Inland Love btory, A Curious Railway, No Bride groom, Lace, A Wonderful Operation, Sixty Years in a Cage, News in Brief, Tit-Bits, Wit and Humour, Ladies' Column, Puzzle Column, Temperance Column, &c, &o. There were 68 passengers from Austra 15 ™, by tho Wakatipu last evening. Of these, 50 landed at Wellington. A small English mail also came to hand. Tho delegates to the Postal Conference left for Wanganui by special train at 9 o'clock this morning, en route for Auckland. Such of the party as did not go to Sir Patriok Buckley's residence yesterday afternoon were entertained at Island Bay by Messrs. Grubb and Rose, of the Postal Department. Captain Edward Hay Mackenzie Elliot, ot the South Lancashire Regiment, is gazetted Private Secretary and A.D.C. to His Excellenpy the Govornor, vice Colonel Pat Boyle, resigned. llr. James Heron is gazetted DeputyRegistrar of Births and Deaths for the Carterton district. Mrs. Grace Neill is appointed an Inspector of Factories for the Wellington, Wanganui, and Palmerston North districts. Mrs. L. Cottorill, of Christchuroh, is appointed one ef the Honorary Visitors of the School for Deaf Mutes at Sumner. Tho Under-Secretary for Publio Works (Mr. Blow) is to leave by tho Wairarapa for Auckland, to meet the-Premier and transect departmental business. He will be away for threo weeks. Wo understand that Mr. Hannay, late Railway Commissioner, intends to take np pastoral pursuits, Ho will have the good wishes of many thousands of New Zealanders, wherever he may decide to settle. It is probable that tho Government will re-introduce next session a Bill to adopt tho American theory as to tho rotations between judges and juries, and to establish the position that the Judgo is judge of tho law, and the jury of tho facts, and that in setting out the law to tho jury, the Judge's duty ends until tho 12 good men and true have decided whether the prisoner is Guilty or Not Guilty upon the faots of the cate. It has often beon denied that capital is d°terred from investment in this colony by the political conditions now existing here. A somewhat striking proot of the correctness of tho assertion that capital i« thus driven away has been afforded us. A gentleman from Victoria with £9000 to invest recently visited Wellington, and in conjunction with a resident friend sought and found a promising -investment. The capitalist determined to think the matter over on his return to Victoria. Ho did so, and his friend has just been apprised of the result in a communication declining: to invest hero, bocause, ho says inter alia :— "I havo such a great antipathy to Such class Government as New Zealand seems likely to be cursed with for some timo, and also to such unjust representation of capital under tbo existing franchise, that I think it is best to keep clear of such a place. It is no doubt a fine country for tho working classes to emigrate to, where they can make the laws to suit themselves, and themselves only, and then clear out when they havo starved themselves out. I would rather bo roasted hero, where tho bottom has been knocked out of the place by gambling speculations, and whoro we still have our safeguards against Labour Government, in an elective Upper House elected only by property owners." Letters of naturalisation have been issued to Oscar Johanson, blacksmith, Wellington. We regret to record tho death of another of Wellington's pioneers, Mrs. Joseph Dixon, known to old residents in the city as Mrs. Dixon of Te Aro Brewery, which oc- ! currcd at 5 o'clock this morning. Mrs. Dixon arrived in Wellington with hor husband in the ship London in 1842, and passed through tho vicissitudes experienced by the early gottlers. She was known to all around her as a good citizen — from her kindliness of disposition she was generally called in tho early days tho " mother of Te Aro Flat " — a wise counsellor to young people, and a devoted mother to hor family, whioh numbors eleven. All her children wore enabled to be- with hor in her last moments. Her grandchildren number 52, and her greatgrandchildren 22. The Board of Land Purchase Commissioners (Messrs. S. Percy Smith, 0. M. Croinbie, and the local Commissioners of Lands) has been sitting at Invorcargill, Dunedir, and Christchurch, and has had betore it offers of some 56,000 acres of land in the districts named. As a re3ult of the Board's deliberations the Government has been recommended to purchase about 2000 acres of tho best land offered in Otago and Canterbury. Mossrs. H.*D. Atkinson and Farrolly have decided to appeal against tho decision of the Land Board in forfeiting their sections in tho M'Kenzio Speoial Settlement, Mangahao block. Mr. W. B. Edwards has been retained on their behalf. Tho Roy. C. E. Ward, who has beon in charge of the Primitivo Methodist Churoh in Wellington for tho last five years, and who removes to Auckland next week, will preach his farewell sermon in the]! Webb-street Church on Sunday. At tho Lißt Conferenco Mr. Ward was elected President of tho Primitivo Methodist Churoh, and as such will be Chairman of the txeautive at Auckland. The Australasian edition of the Reviow of Reviews for_ February contains a very able and interesting article by Sir Robert Stout, on tho liquor question. Fifteen boxes, of bullion, worth £46,000, were taken from New Zealand by the Gothic yesterday afternoon. Ten of tho boxes were 1 Bbippodby tho Bank of New Zealand and five by tho National Bank. The quantity of butter sent away by the same veasel-from the various Now Zealand ports was as follows :— Wellington, 1240 packages; Auckland, 329 packages ; Napier, 19 packages ; Lyttolton, 778 packages. A wedding took place on Wednesday afternoon, at Kent - terraco Presbyterian Churoh, the Rev. J. K. Elliott officiating, tho contracting parties being Mr. William Frank Now Eon, son of Mr. W. Newson, of Invercargill, and Miss Nelly Robertson, third daughter of Mr. David Robertson, ot the Phoenix Foundry. The brido, who was given away by her father, wore a cream brocaded dress, with tho ÜBual wreath and voil, and entered the ohurch as the choir sang " How Welcome was the Call." The b'idestnaidß wero Miss May Robertson (sister of the bridS) and Miss Newson (sister of the bridegroom), both being dressed in whito and each wearing- a gold broooh, tho gift of tho bridegroom. Mr. W. Osborne acted as best man. Ihe wedding party afterwards drove to tho residence of tho brido's parents, where breakfast was served. The meeting of tho creditors of William Smith, journeyman tailor, convened for yesterday, was adjourned for a fortnight, for want of a quorum. The debtor's written statement showed that eight or nine years ago he purchased land in Brown-street for £30, paying £30 cash and mortgaging tho property for the balance. He built a fourroomed cottage at a cost of £175, and mortgaged the place to Mr. Barraud for £250, repayable by yearly instalments of £25, with interest at 8 por cent, per annum. Being unable to keep up his payments he obtained a loan of £250 from tho Wellington Building and Investment Company. Ho attributed his trouble to deaths and sicknoss in his family, and tho pressure of creditors. He had a wife and four children. Under examination by tho Ofnoial Assignee, the debtor said his average earnings were £2 5s per week. His furniture was bought by his wife from Messrs. b'conllar and Chisholra, in her own name. She had no separate estate. He had no offer to make to his creditors. Mr. Bolton appeared for the bankrupt. Tho death is announced at Bridgowater, England, on 16th January, of Mrs. J. F. I. Boys, formerly of the Wairarapa. Mr. C. T. Williaraß has been elected Secretary of the Wellington Suburbs Licensing Association. The proposed cruiso of tho Auckland yacht Maroatea in the Polorus Sound at Easter has been abandoned, in consequence of tbo serious illnoss of Mr. E. D. Benjamin, her owner. A number of polo ponie? wers brought from the South by the Hauroto yesterday and the Takapuna this morning, to be forwarded to Wanganui in connection with the polo contest which takes place thcro next week. Mr. E. D. O'Rorke, ono of the Canterbury representatives, came up by the Takapuna, and tbo other players for the district— Messrs. Rhodes (2) and Buckley — will follow later on. The Hamilton and Edwards Vaudeville Company repeated its first programmo at tho Criterion Theatre last evening, when a number of itom3 wore encored, and the comicalities of Messrs. Hugo, Lynch, Edwards, and Wilson, and the songs of Mes3i-s. Salisbury and Greenhalgh, Misses Mackay, Thompson, and Melville, together with the aorobatio displays, evoked applause. There is to be a new programme on Saturday evening. A social gathering of members of the Petone Temperance Union was held last evening, Mr. J. W. Powell. President, in the chair. Addresses were given by the Bey. A. Thompson, Messrs. D. Gain, J. T. King, and Pickering. The two last-named gave an account of the work done at the late Conference of Temperanco Workers in the Wellington Suburbs, when it was decided that public meetings should be held in every part of the suburbs up to tho date of the election, commencing on Saturday evening at tho Lower Hutt. Several committees woro formed to canvass the district. Mr Leighton, President of tho Petone Temperance Club, has placed a largo room at the committees' disposal. A number of new members were elected. Several songs and reoitations were given. At the Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, before Messrs. G. London, J. Cudby, and E. Jackson, Justices, a case against Thos. Urwin, charged with allowing a cow to wander on the public road at Kn.itoke, was dismissed. Mr. Gray appeared for the defendant. Harry Rose was charged by F. Moorhouse, ranger, with having speared two trout in the Hutt River on the 23rd of February. Mr. Gray prosecuted on behalf of the Acclimatization Society. Defendant was fined 40s, with £1 12s costs. In civil cases judgments for plaintiffs were given as follows :— G. Sontb.ee v. A. Southee, £1 15 a, with 98 oosts (Mr. Bunny for plaintiff) ; C. Edmonds v. J. Palamountain, £15, rent due and possession of certain messuages (Mr. Baldwin for plaintiff), oo3ts £1 lls 6d ; J. Till v. S. Donkin, £4 15s lid, costs 9s ; same v. B. Rickardd, 13s ; same v. J. Lamonte, £1 Is sd, costs 83 (Mr. Wilford for plaintiff); E. Wilkie v. B. Rickards, £1 Os 3d, costs 8s ; J. Atkinson v. B. Rickards, £2 18s sd, co3t3 7s; Gadaby Bros. v. Donkin, £4 IBs (Mr. Bunny for plaintiff). At a sitting before Mr. J. C. Martin, S.M., and Mr. J. Cudby, J.P., the case of E. Webb v. J. S. Farrell, for tho nse of insnlting language at Kaitoke, was dealt with, defendant being fined 10s and Ifcs costs. Mr. Bunny for complainant and Mr. Wilford for defendant.

Births. Deaths, "g^ Auckland ... 65 37 I'lß Wellington ... 70 49 l"40 Ckristchurch ... 34 19 1 03 Dunedin 40 21 088 Thames 9 1 o'2l New Plymouth... 21 3 0 81 Napier 24 15 1*66 Waiiganni ... 13 10 18i Palmerston N. ..12 4 070 Blenheim 11 5 1 54 Nelson 15 9 131 Groymouth ... 6 3 079 Hokitfka 0 4 I*B9 Lyttelton ... 7 3 075 Sydenhani ... 22 13 123 Timaru 6 0 Oamaru 16 6 1 07 Caversham ..1 5 l"02 Inveroargill ... 11 4 0"71