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6
year (the census being taken in April). It will be shown
subsequently that this is a highly unsatisfactory way of
estimating the population, as it comes very much short of
the real population, more especially during the latter portion
of the decade. Indeed, so widely does the estimated and
the real population differ, that it is a question, for the next
four years, if it serves any good purpose to attempt
founding any rates of death or birth upon such uncertain
calculation. In the last two Annual Reports,
however, a method of arriving at the real population was
fully explained. (See Report for 1875, pages 7 and 8,
and for 1876, pages 7 and 8.) It is found that the
number of births bear an almost constant ratio to the
population. We find that in this District about 34
children are born for every 1000 of the population, so that,
given the number of births, we may in this manner
estimate the population. The population, according to the
official estimate in the middle of 1877, was 159,234; but,
as we find that 6159 births were registered in the
District, and that the birth-rate would therefore be 38.6
per 1000, we can see how incorrect that estimate is. To
obtain a per milleage of 34 from the number of births
above stated, we would require a population of 181,146,
which we submit is not fat from the true and correct
estimate of the population.
Births and Birth-rate.— As above stated, 6159 births
were registered during the year, of which 3142 were of
males, and 3017 of females. The birth-rate, according to
the official estimate of the population, is 38.6.
Deaths and Death-rate.— It is very encouraging to
have to report a decrease in the deaths and death-rate