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4
comparison between our own and other districts may be
facilitated to those who desire to institute it.
On account of the difficulty of obtaining with accuracy
the numbers of the population of the different Wards, I
have used the computation which was made for a similar
purpose in 1856. The population has probably increased
5 per cent, in the last two years, so that correction to that
extent must be applied to the Tables (21/2 per cent, per
annum).
But little change in the number of inhabitants can have
taken place in the South or the West Wards, those Wards
being built over and having attained something like their
maximum of population. The vacant spaces of land in
the North and East Wards are gradually being covered with
houses ; the Centre also, in a less degree. The bulk, if not
indeed all of the additional population, must, therefore, be
supposed to be distributed among the North, East, and Centre
Wards.
As in every sanitary Report, the mortality returns
form the most material portion, 1 shall at once offer them
to your notice, only preceding them by a statement of the
births,