VITAL STATISTICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 January 1938, Page 4

VITAL STATISTICS

CHRISTCHURCH TOTALS [pee press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 1. There were more marriages in Christchurch last year than in any previous year, according to figures issued by the District. Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Mr. J.. J. McGahey), when his office closed for the year on Thursday. A record in the number of marriage notices issued in the district was set in 1936, but the figures issued for 1937 show that the previous record was beaten by 71—the respective totals being 1,413 and 1,484. In addition, there were 259 marriages celebrated in the office last year, compared with 241 in 1936. Deaths, too, numbered more last year than in any year since 1918. when the influenza- epidemic took such a toll. Last year there were 1.626 deaths—2o3 more than in 1936, and only 31 fewer than in 1918. The birth rate increased also last year. The highest, total was in 1920, with 2,740, but last year the total was 2,305. Following are the figures for 1937, compared with those for 1936: — 1937. 1936. Births • • .. 2305 2175 Marriage notices 1484 1413 Deaths .. 1626 1423 Marriages in office 259 241 DUNEDIN FIGURES DUNEDIN. January 1. Last year established a record in the number of marriages registered in Dunedin, the total of 1,023 showing an increase of 131 over the figures for 1936, and surpassing the previous record of 915 in 1920. Deaths for the year totalled 1047. compared with 1012 in 1936. and births 1392, compared with 1350 in the previous year. OTHER CENTRES. CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH. January 2. An increase of £23,702 in the revenue collected by the Customs Department. at Christchurch is shown in the return for December, 1937, as compared with the same month of the previous year. Customs returns through the whole of the financial year have been buoyant, and the total revenue for the nine months from April to December is shown as £1.657,337. compared with £1,382,298 collected in the corresponding period of 1936, an increase of £274,939. AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. January 2. A continued expansion in Customs, excise, and sales tax returns, with the exception of motor spirit duties, was recorded at Auckland in 1937. The total amount, received from all sources was £5,390,999, an increase of £417,748 over the previous year’s figure, and representing a gain of about Si per cent.

WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON. January 2

Substantial increases are shown in the revenue collected by the Customs Department. Wellington, last month and for the 12 months. The net customs revenue last month was £265,96!). compared with £279.685 in December, 1936. a. decrease of £13,716. The revenue for the 12 months of 1937 was £3.772,541. compared with £3,293.276 for 1936. an increase of £479,265. Sales tax last month was £116.931 in December, 1936. £103.411. an in crease of £13,520: for the 12 months of 1937. £1.342.960. compared with £1,085,872 for .1936. an increase of £257,088.

Motor spirit duty last month was £87,980, compared with £86.120 in December. 1936. an increase of £1860; for the 12 months of 1937. £857,497. compared with £823,236 for 1936, an increase of £34,261. Tyre tax last month was £lBl6. com pared with £1594 in December, 1936. an increase of £222; for the 12 months of 1937 £26,890, compared with £21,360 for 1936, an increase of £5530. Beer duty last month was £BBl5, compared with £9173 for December, 1936, a decrease of £358; for the 12 months of 1937, £76,102. compared with £65,837 for 1936. an increase of £10.265.

DUNEDIN

DUNEDIN, January 1

General increases in all classes of customs revenue are revealed in the returns for Dunedin for the last nine, months, and for December, compared with the corresponding periods of the preceding year. The return to prosperity that has been apparent, during the year just closed is reflected in the various figures, the outstanding indications being provided by the substan tia.l increases in customs revenue sales tax, and beer duty. The growth in the. number of motor vehicles lias caused big increases in the amounts of petrol and tyre tax collected, both, during the nine months and the last month.