THE BIRTH AND DEATH-RATE IN THE COLONY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5419, 31 March 1879, Page 5

THE BIRTH AND DEATH-RATE IN THE COLONY.

The Registrar-General, in his report for the last year upon the vital statistics of the seven principal boroughs in the colony, brings out several noteworthy facts. During IS7S, in these, boroughs, there were 3G22 births registered, equal to 4313 per 1000 of the aggregate inwin population of the boroughs, against 3GIS, or 45 per 1000 of the population in 1577. The births in IS7O numbered 3022. There has been thus a gradual decrease in the birth rate per 1000 of the population. In 1575 the birthrate iu England and Wales was 3505 ler

10C0 persons living; but in the County of Durham, the birth rate was 45'5 per 1000. In Durham the married women comprised 60 per cent, of all the women of the ages ot 15 to 45. In the New Zealand boroughs stated, the married women amounted to 55*S per cent, of all the women at the ages of 15 to 45, the total number of females in the boroughs being in the proportion of 95 (53 to every 100 males, while in .England aud Wales the proportion was 105 37, thereby exceeding the males by fully 5J per cent. In the County of Durham the propjrtion of females to every 100 males was 94. In IS7S, the deaths in the New Zealand boroughs cumbered 1232, agaiust 1329 in 1577, a decrease in IS7S of 94 deaths. Allowing for the difference in population, these numbers represent a death rut= in IS7S or 14T>8 per 1000 of the population, and in 1577 of 1G 53 per 1000. There was a reduction in the death rates in each of tile boroughs except Christchurch. In that borough the death rate was 15 u in 1577, and 1G"23 in IS7S. The deaths in the boroaghs of children under 1 year amounted iu IS ( i> to 426, or 11-76 per cent, of the births, against II 25 percent, in 1577, and 13'77 percent, in lS7t>. The deaths under 1 year amounted to 3T9S per cent, of the total deaths, against 30-G2 in 1577, and 3S S in IS7G.