MORE MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22906, 30 December 1939, Page 2

MORE MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS

RECORD SET IN 1939 A new record in the number of marriage notices received by the registrar of births, marriages, and deaths in Christchurch and in the number ox marriages solemnised by the registrar was set in 1939. A total of 1883 marriage notices was received, an increase of 355 on last year’s total of 1528, which was the previous record, xne number of marriages solemnised by the registrar during the year was 345, an increase of 51 on last year s record number of births during the year was the highest for 13 yeaig- 209 more than last year’s figure of 2363. The month of December also set a new record for marriage notices, with a total of 276. compared,, with last year’s figure of 223. Marriages by the registrar numbered 49, compared with 42 last year. Births during the month, totalling 202. showed an increase of one over those of December last year. Annual Figures

HUGE INCREASE IN NUMBER MARRIAGE LICENCES IN WELLINGTON [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, December 29. An unusual rush for marriage licences which reached its peak yesterday and to-day has been experienced at the office of the registrar in Wellington, and a reduced staff has been kept working at high pressure. Yesterday 17 notices of marriage were received, and seven marriages were performed in the office by the registrar. To-day 12 notices were received and seven marriages performed by the registrar. It was stated to-day that about a third of the bridegrooms were soldiers, and the couples included many visitors to Wellington. The number of marriages was a tremendous increase on that for the same period last year. This afternoon just before the office closed till Wednesday next, the total for the year had reached the record figure of 2558, compared with 2190 in 1938,' 1937 in 1937, and 1787 in 1936. The total for the month was 304, compared with 262 in December last year. It was no record month, as m September when enlistment for overseas service began there was a tremendous rush, and 340 licences were issued m Wellington. This is likely to remain a record for many years. The preference for church weddings still continues, but there was an unusually large number of weddings by the registrar. This year the total was 632, compared with .528 last year, 448 in 1937, and 427 in 1936. YEAR’S VITAL STATISTICS FOR DUNEDIN (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 29. Probably because of the war, the number of marriages in Dunedin duririg the last year was a record. No fewer than 1051 marriage licences i

were issued during the year, compared with 957 last year, an increase, of 94. Births increased by 77 from 1426 to 1503, and there were 1100 deaths, against 1092 last year,

The detailed are as follows: — 1938 1939 Births Deaths Marriage notices 2363 1715 1528 2572 1697 1883 Marriages by registrar 294 345 December Figures 1938 1939 Births 201 202 Deaths Marriage notices 156 223 140 276 Marriages by registrar 42 49