BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 20 March 1908, Page 5

BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

A TEAR'S RECORD. ABNORMAL INCREASE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A comprehensive statement by th» is published in the "Gazette," giving particulars «>f births and deaths in the Dominion during tho year 1907. Details of the mortality in the four chief centres indicate that it was in the towns that the deaths were more numerous than usual, the total for the four centres, including their suburbs, having gone up by 615 during last year. The deaths numbered 2,450 in 1906, but reached 3,095 in 1907. Ifc seems as if diseases of the respiratory system were mainly responsible for the heavier death roll, for bronchitis, pneumonia, ■congestion of the lungs, pleurisy, and allied complaints, carried off 369 persons—a considerable increase upon. 294, the number of victims in the previous year. Wellington continues to hold its position as the healthiest city in New Zealand. The death rate per thousand of the population during 1907 in the principal cities and surrounding boroughs was as follow:— 1906. 1907. Auckland 9.90 11.43 Wellington 9.19 11.28 Christchurch 11.25 1137 Dunedin „ 11.35 12.02 Details of the Wellington rates for 1907 show that in the city the mortality was 11.45, Karori 9.50, Onslow 10.9, and Miramar 7.56. Dunedin atmosphere appears to be tha best for infants, or else the juvenile Dunedinites must be more sturdy than their comrades-in-arms elsewhere, for the mortality among them last year was 24.65 per 1,000 births, as against 32.83 in. Auckland, 32.71 in Christchurch, and 35.98 in Wellington. In compiling this return children under five years of aga are regarded as infants. Taking the city areas only, and noting the deaths of infants under one year, the mortality at the chief centres durirg the last three years varied in the following manner:—Auckland, 10.13, 9.92, 10.5; Mean of five years, 9.92; Wellington, 10.02; 7.H; 11.85—9.56; Christchurch, 8.60, 7.24, 12.99—9.94; Dunedin 7.21, 7.76, 9.77 —8.15. (Note.- —Excluding suburbs.)

Some of the most fatal diseases with the number of their victims last year arc indicated as follow: —Heart disease, 249; cancer, 230; pneumonia, 206; phthisis, 192; enteritis, 166; apoplexy, 117$ bronchitis, 106; whooping cough, 104;: marasmus, 96; diarrrhoea, 95; influenza, 64; appendicitis, 28. "Old age" is returned as the cau?e of 183 deaths, while accident or negligence accounted for 95; 28 were suicides; and four were homicides.

Christchureh led in the birth rate during 1907, improving its position to the extent of 228, though, in the other centres there was a drop. However, Auckland and Wellington were above the average for the Dominion, which was 27.20 per 1,000 of the mean population. The total number of births registered as occurring in the four sb&eS centres and suburbs in 1907 was 7J&S, <*s against 6.512 for the previous year. The birth rates for the last year were: —Auckland City 29.63, and. six suburban boroughs, 27.46; Wellington City, 27J55, and three suburban boroughs, 27.34; Christchurch. City, 30.47, and one snburban borough, 30.45; Dunedin City, 25.69, affld six suburban boroughs, 25.36. The following are the vital statistics for January: — Auckland estimated population, January, 190S, 42,335; births, 116; deaths 51; proportion of deaths to 1000 of population, 1.2; Birkenhead, 5 births; Devonport, IS births, 4 deaths; Kewmarket, 4 births, 2 deaths; Grey Lynn, 27 births. 8 deaths; Parnell, 8 b'rths, 9 deaths; Mount Eden 20 births, 7 deaths; other suburbs, totals, 198 births, 81 deaths. Wellington (population 65,747); 143 birth*, 54 deaths, percentage ft.B2; Christchurch (population 53,826) : 186 births, 45 deaths, percentage 0.54; Dunedin (population 38,058): 107 births, 34 fieaths, percentage 0.59.

The total births in the f(Bur centres amounted to 681, against 60S in December, an increase of 72. The deaths in January were 234, an increase of 14 on the number in December. Of the total deaths, males contributed IS2, females 102. Eighty-five of the deatfes were ol children under five years of age, being 36.32 per cent of the whole nOmber. Of these 73 were under one yetu- of age. There were forty-five deaths ©f persona of 65 years and upwards; nine men aged 66, 69, 70, 73, 74, 76, 77, (t*e) 81, and six women aged 65, 74, 75, 7d> (two) died at Auckland.