STATISTICS AND RETURNS

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 15 June 1893, Page 8

STATISTICS AND RETURNS

The botal births in the chief boroughs in New Zealand for the month of April amounted bo 383, against 448 in March, a decrease of 65. The deaths in Aprii were 194, an increase of 17 on the number in March. Of the total deaths, males contributed 113 and females 81. Fifty-five of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 2835 per cent, of bhe whole number, and 42 of these were under 1 year of age. From a reburn prepared by the Collector of Cusboms at the request of the late Premier, it appears there has been a remarkable decrease in the consumption of liquor of late years. Since' 1878 the amount of spirits used per head has decreased 48 per cenb. ; imported ale and beer, 64 per cenb.; wine, 61 per cent.; and New Zealand ale and beer, 22 per cenb. Tea has remained nearly the same; coffee, cocoa, etc., have decreased nearly one half, bub Mr Glasgow explains that the chicory used is all made in the colony, and some cocoa also, whilo strong Indian teas have partly supplanted the Chinese and lessened the necessary consumption. There has been a decrease of 40 per cent, in convictions for drunkenness, almost coinciding with the decroased percentage in spirits. The Customs revenue for May was £140,868, as against £123,146 in the present month, and £130,820 in May 1892. As compared with May of last year, bho figures of the chief ports were :— Auckland ... £26,875 against £24,165 Wellington ... £31,375 against £30,057 Christchurch ... £25.280 against £22,291 Dunedin £32,995 against £29,223 The beer duty last monbh was £4,942, ngainsb £4,935 in the previous month, and £4,158 in May, 1892. The figures for the chief towns for May, 1893, as against May, 1892, were as follow :— Auckland ... £1,067 against £865 11s 9d Wellington ... £492 againsb £440 Christchurch^. £937 against £798 Dunedin ... £1,189 against £993