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APPENDIX. REPORTS OF DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICERS. AUCKLAND DISTRICT. Department of Public Health, Auckland Health District, 22nd July, 1907 J. Malcolm Mason, Esq., M.D., Chief Health Officer I have the honour to submit the seventh annual report of the Auckland Health District—that for the year from the Ist April, 1906, to the 31st March, 1907, the third year the District Health Officership has been held by me, and the last, in view of my accession to the District Health Officership, Wellington, and the incoming to Auckland of my successor, Dr. J. S. Purdy. VITAL STATISTICS. In making a comparison as to the position of Auckland City, and Auckland together with the suburban boroughs, with regard to the birth-rate and death-rate, and as to infant mortality, 1 have only made use of the Registrar-General's returns which cover the period Ist January to 31st December, 1906, whereas the general data in this report are for the departmental year Ist April 1906, to 31st March, 1907. ' To realise the force of the statistics to be furnished it must be borne in mind that Auckland City possesses 2094 per cent, of the mean population of the four chief cities in 1906, and that Auckland and its surrounding boroughs possess 2729 per cent, of the mean population of the four chief cities, with their surrounding boroughs. Where the term " four centres " occurs, this means chief ci'tics with their surrounding boroughs. The populations treated are the mean for the year 1906, as follows: — Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 38,677 With surrounding boroughs ... ... .. ... ... 65,381 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 59,058 With surrounding boroughs ... ... ... ... ... 64,302 Christchurch ... .. ... ... .. ... 50,439 With surrounding boroughs ... ... ... ... . . 53,339 Dunedin . . ... ... ... ... ... 36,458 With surrounding boroughs ... ... ... .. ... 56,557 By reason of its having adopted municipal government, the extensive and populous district of Mount Eden is for the first time included in Auckland centre (Auckland and surrounding boroughs). The increase in the figures afforded thereby is an advantage in providing a wider basis for the comparison of data, with consequent greater accuracy in the conclusions and deductions made therefrom. BIFTH-RATE. An increase in the birth-rate in this district has been commented upon in my two last reports, and Auckland City for the fourth year heads the column in the return for the chief cities in this respect. Birth-rate per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City ... ... ... ... ... .. 2996 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27"85 Christchurch ... ... .. ... ... .. ... 28-19 Dunedin ... ... ... ... ■■ ■■ ... 2896 The mean for the whole colony was ... ... . ... 2708 The rate for Auckland and suburban boroughs was . ... ... 26 - 36 The mean for the four centres (chief cities and their suburban boroughs) was . ... -.. .-.. • ■■ ■• ■■• 2722 It is a little remarkable that by the inclusion of the surrounding boroughs the birth-rate in Auckland centre is so greatly lowered. I refer again to this further on. The birth-rate of Auckland and suburban boroughs represents a natural increase of population of 17-32 per 1,000, that for Auckland City of 17-45, and the mean for the whole colony 16-83. The average birth-rate for England and Wales for the period 1901-5 was 28"1, and the natural increase of population 12*10. Death-hate. The death-rate in Auckland City is 12-51, and with suburban boroughs 9"90. The figures for the past five years are: — Auckland Auckland and Average of City. Suburban Boroughs. Four Centres. 1902 . ■•• 1721 15-27 1274 19 03 ... 12-97 12-23 11-73 T904 .. 11-11 10-20 10-73 | 90 5 ... 12-15 1052 10-43 1906 12-51 9-90 10-42 Mean of five years ... 1319 H62 U2l

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