THE VITAL STATISTICS.

Evening Post, Volume XX, Issue 242, 15 October 1880, Page 2

THE VITAL STATISTICS.

The vital statistics of New Zealand for the month of September, 1880, are issued. Wellington still maintains its pre-eminence in respect to the number of births, having 83 with a population of 21,582, while Dunedin, which comes next, had 75 births to a population of 23,959 ; Christchnrch (population 15,156) had 68 births, and Auckland (population 13,022) 44. Unfortunately, Wellington Has a.lsq the largest number of deaths and the heaviest death-rats ftf &U che 3Sew 55ea : land cities — 33 deaths being regi&tei e S, wipsty is equivalent to 1*53 per 1000 of population. In Dunedin the number of deaths was 26, and the rate per 1000 l'O9. In Christchurch there T?ere 19 deaths, the rate being 1"25 per 1000. Auoklaiid had qnjy \2, deaths in the month, implying the yery small' dea|h-uate of 080 per 1000- Among the smaller tQwns., Nelson hae the large number of 25 deaths, more than twice as many as Auckland, with only about one-third of the latter's popula. tion. The Nelson death-rate was one ot° the heaviest ever yet recorded in New Zealand, being as high as 3"67 per 1000— more than twice as heavy as that of Wellington. The total number of births in the New Zealand boroughs during September showed a depjeaee ef 29 as compared with August, and the deaths 4 depregse of § : males contributed about 60 per e«nt, deatiis) a^'ft females *l}Oj|t 40 per cent. ; 40 per cent, ef the whale num* ber were children under five years of age, and about two-thirds of these were under one year. Zymotic diseases showed a decrease complied s^ith the previous month. One deEth'frima djphflierla occurred |n Wellington) ancf one in Dunedin •' typhoid* fever caused one death in Christchurch, arid diarrhpe'a one in JDanedin ; Ig $he latter place a death troin •'rh'enm4ti§m qf fheT he&ri;'' is peflorded. A death from cancer occurred at Auokl^d- Fjom " old Qgo " six deaths oc? curred, foiu? being in Weljuigtqn. Wljgopipg cough and brononitis ahowea a marked dinv. nution in September compared with August.

The s.s. Zealandia, with the inward San Fjranci-po mail, is expected to arrive at Auckland on Sunday nexf;. Various contemporaries have during the lajSt fey 4&ys professed to have received official information as to thg movements of our new Governor, Sir Aftkur Gordon, and, a.mong ptfoer things, have given out witlj an air of authority, fl}a.t }}is Excellency will not reach here before Deoembep nest, The latest communication from Sir Arthur Gordon is a private letter to the Acting-Governor received same two days ago, in which he states that he hopes to be in Auckland on 15th November. No official communication has recently been received by the" AGtiag-Go>ernor, and the private letter referred to makes no mention of anything else in reference to Sir Arthur's movements. The announcement in our coniemp'oraries that Ggvernor Gordon will take up his permanent residence in Aupkland, e^r espt duping the session of Parliament, must have been eyojyed f pen} the inner conscious? ness of the writer^. Our rooming contemporary says: — f In issuing the new railway tariff, through some inadvertence, no special arrangement waa made for newspapers." If onr contemporary Lad takeQ tlje trouble to examine the tariff before making Ihia s»sj* it would have 'fsuij'il under P&rp If. the" fallowing clause :— " Newspageri? will be'pharged 'half pftscgl rates." By the s.s, Te An^u, arrived from Melbourne this morning, the Stay Boating Club received a very desirable addition to' their plant in the shape of two new sculling boats and onefour-oarodinrigged racing gig. They fgtq excellent specimens of. the boatbuildey's arf/" v and wtro built by Mr. J&, S. Fuller, of Melbourne. The sculling jboats are fitted with swivel-rollocks and sbSing. seats.

The Harbor Board yesterday decided on the motion of Mr. Coffey that the wharfage charge for firewood be fixed at 9d per cord instead of Is Gd as previously proposed in the tariff list. Mr. Coffey informed the Board that a large number of persons obtain a livelihood by bringing firewood across the Bay, and to compel them to pay Is 6d per cord would be a harsh tax upon their industry. Captain Williams, who seconded tho proposition, remarked that fishermen frequently fill their boats with firewood whenever they fail to catch any fish, in order that their expeditions may not prove altogether unremunerative. For some time past complaints have been made to the police that many of the graves in the cemetery have been robbed of their plants and blooms. Recently some ladies informed Sergeant Anderson that they had 3een a man plucking flowers from some graves, but they did not give any particulars, as they had an objection to appearing as witnesses in Court. Sergeant Anderson, however, took other means of detecting the offender, and stationed Constable Christie in the cemetery. This morning the constable saw an old man named Jonathan Henshaw in the act of plucking flowers from a grave, and concealing them in a tall hat. The constable at once arrested the man, and charged him with the theft. He had in his possession at the time a large bunch of wallflowers, narcissus, and other blooms. Henshaw, who is an inmate of the Hospital, was brought before Messrs. E. Baker and J. G. Holdsworth, J.P.s, at noon, and charged with having violated the 25th section of th« Cemeteries Management Act of 1877. The information was laid by Mr. Jonas Woodward, one of the trustees of the cemetery. The prisoner pleaded guilty. The informant did not press for a severe sentence, and Mr. Baker, in delivering the decision of the Bench, said that, as this was the first case of the kind, he would refrain from inflicting a penalty on the prisoner, who would, therefore, be discharged with a caution. It was a sad thing, their Worships said, to see an old man like him brought up on a charge ol robbing graves of the flowers planted thereby friends of departed ones, and they wished it to be known that in future persons guilty of this practice would be punished very severely. His Excellence the Acting-Governor has cancelled the dismissal from the public service of the colony of Mr. Henry Jackson, Chief Surveyor of the Wellington District, as notified in the Gazette of the 20th March, 1879, and has accepted the resignation of that officer. The boating season will be inaugurated to-morrow afternoon (weather permitting) by a grand procession of boats. They will be headed by two boats of the Naval Brigade, in one of which will be the band of the corps. Owners of boats and yachts generally are invited to assist, and it is expected that the display will be better than on any previous occasion. The procession is to start at 3 o'clock, and the fact of the weather being considered sufficiently fine to admit of the display will be notified to the public by the ship St. Leonards being dressed with bunting. An advertisement on the subject appears in another column. Green flax, it transpired at the last meeting of the Harbor Board, is now largely exported to Melbourne for purposes in connection with the manufacture of paper, and the exportation is steadily increasing. The Board, considered that the traffic should be encouraged, and the charge on green flax has consequently been reduced to Is per ton. The number of "violent" deaths— i.e., those resulting from other than "natural" causes — in New Zealand during the month of September, 1830, is returned as 6, of which 4 occurred in Wellington, viz., 1 suicide by poison, and 3 of which the causes are unspecified ; a death from " traumatic tetanus" is included among the "violent" ones in Dunedin. and one "violent" death, cause " unspecified," occurred at Christchurch. Eeference was made at yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Harbor Board to a statement that the harbor along the new breastwork is being silted up several feet, in consequence of the "tons of shingle from tho drains running through the reclaimed land." Captains Williams said that at one point where there had formerly been a depth of seven feet at low water it was now dry. The Harbormaster was instructed to enquire into the matter without delay. It was stated at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Harbor Board that the offer of the North British Insurance Company for insuring the Board's property at the pilot and signal stations had been accepted. The rate demanded was 2s 6d per .£IOO, for whioh satisfactory figure, the Chairman said, the Board must thank the sprit of enterprise engendered by the competition between the various insurance companies. The Perseverance Tent, 1.0.8., held its usual session last Tuesday evening, when one candidate was admitted a member of the order. The financial balance-sheet was read for the last quarter, and showed the funds to be in a satisfactory state. Mr. Jaokson yesterday intimated that, at the next meeting of the Harbor Board, he will move — "That, in order to reduce the possibility of accidents occuring at night time, the railway wharf and Waterloo Quay be properly lighted ; also, that shifting iron stanchions with suitable chains be fixed at the edge of the breastwork at Waterloo Quay, such stanchions and chains not to be unshipped from their places, except for the purpose of binding and shipping goods ; and that Messrs. Coffey and Rose and tho mover be a committee to report to the Board as to the best means of carrying out such work, with the probable cost." For many months past the following note has been appended to the Registrar-General's returns :— " Population. — In the case of Nelson the population is given according to the estimate for January, 1879, as the local authorities have not yet supplied the information necessary to enable the estimate to be corrected. In the other cases the estimates are for the l&t January, 1880." Why are not the Nelson local authorities compelled to do their duty ? It is a most singular thing that the public statistics should be allowed to remain . confusedly inaopupate through their neglect. The monthly repetition of this note shows that there must be " a screw loose somewhere." Who is in fault ? The decision of the Court of Enquiry into the cause of the wreck of«the s.s. Rangatira has been confirmed by his Excellency the Administrator of the Government. Councillor Brown, at the meeting of the City Council last night, paid an appreciative and well-merited tribute to the conscientious manner in which Mr. Johnson performed the duties of Relieving Officer to the Benevolent Institutiqn. Cfiuncjliqr B,rqwn' attended at Mr. Johnson's office for an hour one day to witness how he discharged his duties, and saw quite sufficient to convince him that the post was a very difficult one, and that it was Very ably nl}eq\ The monthly sitting of the District Court took place this inorning, a.nd lasted about POe njinute. Three oases were set down for hearing, bnt one — Plhnmer and another v. Tonka, JJ145 15s Gd— was settled out of Court ; a second — G. Denton y. A. Braithwaite, .£76 5s — was adjourned till next sitting day ; and the third— Stewart and Co. v. A. Barron, j>76 5s — could not be dealt with owing to the summons not having been served in time. There were neither litigants nor lawyers present. 'Eonde.rs §re invited by the Hutt County Council from perstma wfflirit* to undertake the management of the Waikanae Ferry for two years from the Ist January next. Tenders must be sent in on or before Mon-r day, the Bth proximo, to the Chairman of the Hutt County Council. The Star qf- Wellington Lodge, session, which wq,s held at the A^henseum last evening, wa,a fqirjy a,ttende4, " ijlth.ougfh the weather w%s unfavorable, Fire pa.ndida.tes were dnly admitted as members, and others were prqpQ3ed. A general meeting of the Order will take place next Friday evening, 22nd in3t.. at the Athenasum, to take into consideration any important measure that may be deemed advisable to be forwarded to the next session of the Grand Lodge, to be held at Christchurch in January. The resignation of the W.C.T., who had to go to the country for employment, was read, but not acc&pted. Sexter,al ridings we.re given by Brothers Pirani and Douse, and a song by Sisf§r WjJcqx. Brother Bedford also gave some perlfetEmanctis t>n the piano, after whiph a pleasant ineeting was brought tq a termination in the usual way. On the 7th inst, the Waste Lands Board passed a resolution recommending that Block HI., Oroua Survey District, known as Kiwitea Native Block, and situated about 10 miles from Feilding, should be set apart for sale on deferred payments. This has now been done, and a Gazette notice fixes the upset piipe pe.t at £1 10 a. The Karori-Makara Highway District has been divided into two highway districts, the new QB9 beinjf caljed the. IJUBeiinie Highway pistriet. f)\i3 is divided into" five wards, the boundaries of which will be fqund gazetted. The altered boundaries of ihe 2£arori»Makara District are also published |n the Gazette. Wardens for the Ejlbirnie Highway £oard will be elected on the 28th instant. There is to be seen at Okell's, Courtenay Place, some sample pods of green peas, the produce of American seed imported by him. \Ye believe these are the first qf the seasqn. The pbd.s *re ' wellrgrown and foil,' and \vere raised at Oriental Bay, Among the role 3 and regulations of the | Wellington Hospital laid on the table of the City Council last night is one relating to the class of patients who shall not be admitted into the institution, and among this class is placed " those who have disorders to the cure of which other establishments are' appropriated," and "tho3e who, wanting food and

not medicine, are more properly objects of charitable relief." These regulations, if strictly enforced, will in future prevent the Hospital being turned into an infirmary and old men's refuge, as has been the case during many years past. It has frequently been the case that our Hospital has been disagreeably overcrowded, to the detriment of legitimate . patients, owing to the fact that men suffering from incurable, though pot painful or dangerous diseases, and men infirm from age, have been allowed to take up a permanent residence within its walls. This has in a great measure resulted from the absence of ary suitable place in which to accommodate persona of the class referred to ; but it has nevertheless been fraughtwith much inconvenience. Here is an example — The old man named Jonathan Henshaw, referred to in another place as having been arrested in the act of pilfering flowers from the graves in the cemetery, has, according to his own statement, been an inmate of the Hospital for a period of tweive or thirteen years. Though incapable for work, he is able to get about, and cannot be considered a fit subject for treatment within the walls of a Hospital. He appears to go and come just when he likes, and the fact of his being able to prowl around the cemetery and steal flowers from graves proves that not only is he not in a very precarious condition or health, but that he is undeserving of the charity so long bestowed upon him. His case, so far as his bodily condition is concerned, is not singular by any means — in fact, he and others have for long used the Hospital as a lodging house, if not to the absolute exclusion, at least to the inconvenience of those unfortunates for whom the institution is specially intended. What will be done with the infirm and the incurables when they are prevented from taking up their abode in th 9 Hospital is a question which it is not necessary to discuss in this place at the present moment. We merely point out a condition of thing 3 which the Corporation will probably allow to exist no longer. From the official meteorological report for September, 1880, it appears that the mean temperature of the air during the month was considerably above the average at all stations, the excess ranging from l'4deg at Auckland, and I*B at Wellington, to 2'l at Nelson, 22 at Hokitika, 2.5 at Chriatchurch, and 4"odeg at Dunedin. The highest and lowest shade temperatures were, as usual, both recorded at Ohristchurch — viz., 762 and 28"0deg respectively. The rainfall was only about half the average of previous years at Wellington, and barely one-third of the average at Christchurch and Dunedin. At Auckland it was slightly under the average, and at Hokitika considerably above. Lieutenant-Colonel Pearce has intimated to the country volunteer corps that their services will not be required at the review to be held at the ttutt on the 9th November (Prince of Wales' Birthday). The review will, therefore, be strictly confined to the city and suburban corps. We have to acknowledge the receipt, from the New Zealand Commission of the official catalogue of the New Zealand court at the Melbourne Exhibition, and also the official Handbook of the Colony, prepared by Dr. Hector. Both appear to be very carefully prepared. The Handbook is exceedingly valuable, not only as showing strangers the resources of the colony, but also as a work of reference. Its value is materially enhanced by some excellent maps and statistical diagrams, the latter prepared by Mr. Bryoe-Bain. The following teams have been chosen to play in the match Bising Star Cricket Club v. Government printers, in Leech's paddock, Polhill Gully, to-morrow afternoon, at 1.30 :— Eising Star— H. Brown, Eenner (2), Eiding, Howe, Eeeve, Tustin, Hudson, Lambert, Widdop, and Mansill ; emergency, Dixon and j Chisholm. Government printers — D. Fisher, I H. Gamble, Grant, Keefe, Little, Plimmer, Meta, M'Girr, Pirani, Eoberts, and Tomo Area; emergency, Eogers and Pegden. The well-known and favorite comedy of " Our Boys" was produced at the Theatre Royal last night by the Lingard Company. Almost every theatre-goer is thoroughly acquainted with the merits of this play and Mr. Lingard's able representation of Perkin Middlewick, the retired butter merchant, as Mr Lingard has frequently appeared in this part before Wellington audiences. The company performed the comedy in a thorough manner and to the entire satisfaction of the audience. This evening a play new to the Wellington public will be placed upon the boards. It is entitled " Baby Betsy," and is said to be an extremely amxising comedy. A telegram from Wanganni informs ua that the Rutland Hotel has been rebuilt since the late disastrous fire by the enterprise of its proprietor (Mr. Frank Evans), and is now in thorough order. Many important improvements nave been made, and it has been entirely refurnished and fitted throughout in the short space of three weeks. It was recently observed that someone had been digging about the graves at the Maori burying-ground at Te Ore Ore. It was as^ sutned that a European had been violating a grave, with the objeot of obtaining greenstone ornaments. The Maoris, naturally very indignant, at once held meetings, with a view to the discovery and punishment of the offender. The police have visited the I spot, and from their investigation are disposed to beljeve that it was probably a native who committed the offence. One grave only was, apparently, dug out as far as the coffin, but the hitter was undisturbed. At present there is a good deal of mystery about the whole affair. An alteration has been made in the charge of admission to the upper T of the wharf on the occasion of the production of " PinaI fore " to-morrow night, for the benefit of Miss Leaf. One shilling will be charged for admission to the standing space, and 2s 6d for the seats. We are requested to call the attention of our readers to some special bargains to be obtained at Te Aro House to-morrow (Saturday), particulars of which will be found in onr advertising columns. A public temperanoe meeting was to have been held in the schoolroom, Tinakori Boad, last night, but owing to the bad state of the weather it was thought desirable to postpone it till a future day. Mr. John Lawson, Commissioner of North Island Railways, who, we understand, is about to leave Wellington, advertises in another column that his pleasantly-situated and convenient dwelling-honse, at the corner of Tinakori Eoad and Molesworth-street, is to let. Full particulars will be found in the advertisement. Eefen^ng to the, victory o| Camballo in the Farewell Handicap at the V.8.,C. Complimentary Meeting, the Australasian says, that he thus justified the good opinion of his former owner, Mr. Vallanco, who took 500 to 60 about him just before the start. The new tariff of railway charges oontalns the following peculiarly cheerful item among the oharges for luggage, parcels, &c: — " Corpses : One shilling (Is) per mile ; minimum, one pound (£l). Children's, halfprice ; minimum, ten shillings (10s). Mr. Coffey has tabled a notice that at th 6 next meeting of the Harbor Board he will move — " That the question relative to the acquisition of the Queen's Wharf be now taken into consideration." An opinion was expressed that the Council would be willing to transfer the wharf for a fair price, to which the Mayor, who wa.s present fttyeßto^day'a meeting of tlje Board, said b,ear,, hear." ; ' ' ' = ' The Superintendent of the Lunatic Asjlum desires to thank Mr. John Maginnity for a number of illustrated papers and copies of Pnnoh |ent by thas genjlema.n for the use qf the patients. " At the meeting qB the C|ty Council last night, the Town Oleyk, in ?ep!y to a qnes. tion, said that pemyasjon was given to Mr, Cary by the Public Works Committee for tho use of ths wharf on Thursday evening in connection with the Pinafore performance. Councillor Diver pointed out that the performance had been postponed until Saturday night without the permission of the Council. He did not think they had any power to aUow Mr. Cary to collect money on th,e wharf, and as he had *ak,en; upon himself to postpone.' till peiformance till Saturday without reference to the Council, he (Councillor Diyef) moved th,a.t le^yo be n °.t given for the uae of the wharf that evening. The mo.tio*n was n,ot seconded, and consequently fell to the ground. Among tha inward oarreapondanee, it was stated at the meeting of the City Oounoil last night, there was a letter from Dr. Grace, making a complaint against the dispenser of the Hospital. Some of the Councillors wished the letter read. The Mayor stated that the matter had been enquired into b,y a committee, whq found that the dispenser had been guilty of a certain" amount of carelessness. " They had, therefore, reprimanded; him and cautioned him thai on a repetition he would forfeit fcis situation. After some discussion it wag considered- better not "to read the letter. The City Council last night agreed to let the Fire Brigade Hall to Mr. Ishexwood for one night a week at 7s 8d per night, for a number of instrumentalists to hold a private praotice in, The following sizes of casks computed in Imperial gallons have been approved by the Cqmmissioner of Customs under the Bee* Duty Act : — Hogsheads of a capacity not gpeater than ftfty-icjar gallons ; barrel 1 ? of a capacity of thirty-six gallons; halkharreU of a capacity of eighteen gallons ; casks of a capacity of thirty, twenty- eight, twentyseven, ten, five, three, and two gallons, respectively. Hogsheads will be assessed at filty-two gallons, and other casks at the number of gallons they are capable of holding. These regulations take effect from

yesterday. Beer duty stamps are now prepared and available for use. They can be procured on application to the collector appointed to collect the duties leviable under the Beer Duty Act. Messrs. H. A. H. Monroand J. J. Symonds have been appointed Judges of the Native Lands Court under the A«t of 1880. , The appointments of Mr. Joseph Prime Maxwell as General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, and Mr. William Mowat Hannay as Assistant General Manager, are advertised in last night's Gazette. The appointments date from the 12th instant. During the month of September, 1880, one nonagerian died in "New Zealand — a man, aged 92, in Wellington. One octogenarian died, a female, aged 80, also in Wellington. No fewer than nine septuagenarians passed away in New Zealand dnring September, viz., a male of 74, and two females aged respectively 79 and 70, in Wellington; a male of 70 and a female of 77 at Auckland ; a male of 79 and another of 73 at Christchurch ; and two males respectively aged 78 and 74 in Dunedin. We believe that so many deaths of people advanced in years have never before been registered in New Zealand in any one month. The Pinafore Company will Day a visit to Masterton on Monday, and give one performance there. On Tuesday they visit Carterton, where they will also produce ' ' Pinafore ' ' for one night only. Nothing has transpired as yet as to the intention of the Government respecting the Agency-General. The names of Sir Edward Stafford and Mr. Reader Wood are freely mentioned as possible successors to Sir Julius Vogel, and Colonel Whittnore has been alluded to in the same relation. A pleasing ceremony took place at the Post Office to-day, upon the occasion of Mr. Rogers leaving the service to embark in business on his own account. His brother officers took the opportunity of presenting him with a handsome fowling-piece, as a memento of their regard and an earnest of their desire for his future welfare. Mr. Rogers left to-day for Gisborne, where ho intends to settle as a sheep farmer. Despite the inclemency of the weather last night, there was a fair muster of vocalists at the Choral Society's rooms, when the choruses incidental to the opera of the " Lily of Killarney" were gone through with considerable spirit. The society has been remarkably unfortunate of late, the last three practice nights having turned out so wet and unpleasant as to deter all but the most enthusiastic from facing the "warring of the elements." We hope they will have better luck for the future. A serious accident, aocompanied by very brutal conduct, is reported by the Masterton paper as having occurred at Clareville, Taratahi, on Tuesday afternoon. It appears that a child of Mr. F. Meenken's, between three and four years old, had gone to Mr. Fisk's store to get some trifle and had just started to return home, being close to the store frontage, when he met two people riding. One of the horses swerved and threw the child down, fracturing his jaw, knocking his teeth out, and causing two or three ugly wounds on the little fellow' 8 head. The cause of this mischief merely got off, lifted the boy up, handed him over to another child with instructions to take him home, as he was badly hurt, and then, with brutal indifference, he and his fair companion rode off. No apology or sorrow was expressed for the accident, nor was the child left in capable hands, till Mr. Pisk, attracted by something unusual, went out and picked the little boy up, a bleeding and bruised mass. The matter has been placed in tho hands of the police. The "Confederate Diorama" ia announced to open in Wellington on Monday, the Bth prox. It is now being exhibited with remarkable success in Christchurch, and in Dunedin it enjoyed a run of four or five weeks. A special feature in connection with the entertainment is +he distribution of gifts on an unusually liberal scale. Our readers are reminded of a great sale of drapery, &c, to-morrow, at Mr. J. B. Hamilton's, Cuba-street. The prices are such as to meet the present times, while ihe goods have just been landed, and are of the latest description.