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Deaths. Yot the whole of the district, 163. In 1906 there were 469; in 1905, 432; in 1904, 414; in 1903, 452. Though the population has increased and is still increasing, the number of deaths remains much the same. It will be observed that in 1907 there are 11 more deaths only than in 1903, and with the increase of population it is a proportional decrease. The deaths from the more important diseases during the past year are: From cancer, 45; tuberculosis, 52; scarlatina, 3; typhoid or enteric fever, 3; diphtheria, 5; erysipelas and bloodpoisoning, 4. This is twice as many as were notified. The Registrar at Wairoa has returned 2 deaths from this cause, but none were notified. The number of deaths from cancer are more than double those of last year (22), and almost double those of 1905 (26). There is also a large increase in the number of deaths from tuberculosis (22) in 1906, but they are four less than in 1905, when they amounted to 56. The deaths from the various zymotic diseases show very little change. The case-mortality from scarlatina is only 3 per cent.—a very small death-rate—indicating that the epidemic was of a mild type. The case-mortality of diphtheria is 11*6 per cent. Such a low case-mortality could never have been hoped for only a few years ago, and shows the triumphal advance of our art. Antitoxin has robbed diphtheria of most of its terrors. Napier. —Deaths from all causes, 146—4 less than in 1906, and 6 more than in 1905; from cancer, 15—2 more than in 1906, and 1 more than in 1905; from tuberculosis, 12—there were 15 in 1906, and 29 in 1905; from scarlatina and diphtheria, each 2; from typhoid fever, erysipelas, and blood-poisoning, none. There were 3 deaths from typhoid fever in 1906, and none in 1905. Hastings. —Deaths from alt causes, 55; in 1906 they were 57; in 1905, 61; and in 1904, 65. This decrease in the death-rate with a rapidly increasing population is very satisfactory. From cancer, 3; there were 2 in 1906, and 3 in 1905: the death-rate from cancer remains about the same, though the population is increasing; but it is probable that some of the cases go into the Napier Hospital, swelling the death-rate from that cause there, and reducing it in Hastings. From tuberculosis, 8: there seem to have been none in 1906, and the same number (8) in 1905. From typhoid fever, 3. From other zymotic diseases, erysipelas, and blood-poisoning, none. Dannevirke. —From all causes, 63: there were 41 in 1906, 31 in 1905, and 38 in 1904. lam afraid that this is a proportional as well as an absolute increase, for though the population of Dannevirke is increasing, it has not increased sufficiently to account for this augmentation of the death-rate. It may partly be accounted for by the opening of the new Hospital, which has attracted severe cases from surrounding parts. Woodville, for instance, has a phenomenally low death-rate, but the inhabitants of Woodville may have helped to swell the Dannevirke death-rate. As there have been neither notifications of nor deaths from any zymotic disease in Dannevirke during the past year, it is difficult to account for the increased death-rate in any other way. Woodville. —From all causes, 11; from cancer, 1; and from tuberculosis, 2. There is a decrease in the number of deaths in Woodville—there were 15 in 1906 and 1905, and 23 in 1904, and the population has increased somewhat. Wairoa. —From all causes, 25; from tuberculosis, erysipelas, and blood-poisoning, of each 2; from the various zymotic diseases, none. The deaths from all causes have been 9 more than in 1906. It is difficult to account for this, as there has been no epidemic, and the population has not increased to any extent. Gishorne. —From all causes, 109: 3 more than in 1906, 6 less than in 1905, and 18 more than in 1904. Considering the enormous increase in the population of Gisborne, these figures may be considered as very satisfactory. From cancer, 3 ; from tuberculosis, 8; from scarlatina, 2 ; from diphtheria, 1 ; from other zymotic diseases, none. The remainder of the District. —From all causes, 35; from tuberculosis, 18; from diphtheria, 1 ; from cancer and zymotic diseases not mentioned, none. Vital Statistics. — Death-rate per 1,000 in Principal Centre*. Combined district, from all causes, 1096 : Napier, 112, Hastings, 9-16; Dannevirke, 15-75; Woodville, 4-7; Wairoa, 1336; Gisborne, 10-88. From cancer: For the whole district, 1065; Napier, T22. From tuberculosis: For the whole district, T23; Napier, 099 ; Hastings, I*6 j Dannevirke, 1-0; Woodville, 074; Wairoa, 0"9; Gisborne, 0-77. From all zymotic diseases: Erysipelas and blood-poisoning, 066. Houses condemned. One in Waipukurau, 1 in Napier, 1 in Taradale, 3 in Cook County, and 1 in Gisborne. Special Inspections made and reported on. Napier, 25; Hastings, 29; Taradale, 13; Waipukurau, 12; Waipawa, 6; Takapau, 7; Danut'virke, 4; Woodville, 2; Norsewood, 3; Gisborne, 9; Cook County,_ 7 ; Wairoa, 8. Most of the sanitary defects have been remedied on my recommendation, and tlie others are receiving attention. There have been only two prosecutions in this district during the past year. One Chinaman was prosecuted by the Napier Borough Council, at the instigation of the Department, for keeping bis shop in a dirty and insanitary state. A conviction was obtained and a fine imposed. The other was undertaken by the Hastings Borough Council, at the instigation of the Department, against a householder who had not complied with the notice to connect his premises with the sewer.