1960 VITAL STATISTICS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 11

1960 VITAL STATISTICS

Record Birthrate In City For the fourth year in succession there has been a record number of births registered in Christchurch in the 12 months ending December 31. according to figures supplied yesterday by the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages (Mr J. M. Norling). Up to 4 p.m. yesterday there had been 5529 births registered during 1960, compared with 5351 in 1959.

Marriage figures for the last year are the highest since 1947. In 1960 there were 2437 marriages compared with 2413 in 1959. These figures include marriages by registrar, which showed a slight decrease from the 1959 total. (1960: 401; 1959, 414.)

Deaths registered during 1960 totalled 2308. Although this figure was slightly less than the 2339 in 1959, it marks no appreciable change from the generally stable death rate in the city over the last few years. Figures for births, death and marriages during the last month, however, have all shown an appreciable decrease compared with those for December, 1959. During the last month, there were 35 fewer marriage notices issued (in all 32 fewer marriages). 28 fewer births, and 7 fewer deaths than in the same period last year. Figures for December, 1960, with those for December, 1959. in parenthesis are: births, 408 (436); deaths, 171 (178); marriages, 242 (274), of which 54 (51) were by registrar.