BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN 1902.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11534, 17 March 1903, Page 4

BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN 1902.

The vital statistics for the year 1502, prepared by Ithe Regietrar-Qeneral, and lished in the kteet Government "Gazette,"' fumiah some interesting comparisons between the various centrea of the colony. It ifl noticeable that although there were 113 more births last year than in 190 L the increase was not proportionate to the total increase in Bonulation. In other word*, the

imprortmroti recorded In the birth rate In 1901 w;w not maintained", the rate, dediiu ing from 26.54 per thousand in that year to 25.69 per thmssand in 1902. Of the four cities, Auckland bad the highest birthwt* last year (30.80 per 1000), Chriitehuwli (25.84) coming next, fallowed by WeJlingt«a (25.89) and Dutoedia (19.96). Ii th« population of th* suburbs i* included in etch ca», th* rsto is raked for Wellington, Chrietehurch *nd Dunedin, and lowered at Auckland; but even then the difference between the Auckland rate and the Dunedin rate is considerable. Comparing the figures with those of 1901, it is found that the birthrate haa increased at Auckland and Christchuroh, and declined at Wellington and , Dunedin. Turning now to the mortality returns, we find that tho death-rate for the colony increased from 9.81 per thousand in 1901 to 10.50 per thousand in 1902. Of the four centres (including suburbs). Auckland had the. highest. dea\h-rato (15.27) Jast year, and Dunedin the loweec (11.29), Wellington (12.24) and Chrietvhurch (12.14) taking second and third places respectively. In regard to infant mortality, th<? four centres stand in the same The total number of deatihj registered for the four centres last

year was 2598, a slight increase on the figures for the previous year. The tables dealing with the causes of death show thattubercular diseases Wfcie responsible for nearly ten deaths in every hundred. The total number of deaths from tuberculosis last year ra smaller, however, than in 1901. Cancer, on the other hand, showed nn increase in the cliief towns, the total rising from 154 to 165, or 6.35 per cent, of deaths for the year from all causes. The greatest number of deaths from phthisis (57) occurred at Christcburch, and tha smallest number (42) at Auckland, while deaths from cancer were mewl numerous at Dunedin, and fewest at CJiristchurch. One hundred and nine violent deaths occurred laJrt. year, of which eighty were classed as accidental. Eighteen people were drowned, eight killed by falling from a height, six through being run over, and three by misadventure with chloroform. During the

year twenty-nine persons, of whom four belonged to Christchurch and fourteen to Auckland, took their own lives in various ways—an increase of six as compared with 1901. The commonest- form of suicide was by shooting, a method adopted by nine out of the twenty-nine. The year passed without a cose of murder being reported.