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62
The Bakehouses have excited an immense deal of attention
throughout the whole of the Metropolis, but I am glad to say no
great fault can be found with those in my district.
The workshops and factories have also been inspected, and
many sanitary improvements have been carried out.
It will be seen that the estimated population of the Parish
of Saint Nicholas, which was estimated by me last year to be
8,108, is this year returned as only 7,078. The result of the 1891
Census showed that there was a decrease in the population of
that Parish as compared with the Census of 1881. This decrease
was caused, in a great measure, by the demolition of the houses
in the Hughes' Fields area. During the year 1892 some of the
vacant sites were built upon and the houses occupied, and from
enquiries I made at that time, I was led to believe that the
population had risen up to the number (8,108) I then estimated.
I have, however, during the year 1893 gone very carefully into
this question. It is impossible, when a Parish shows a decrease
of population, and that decrease is known to have been caused
by the removal of buildings, and in the course of time other
buildings are erected to take the place of those houses which
have been demolished, to estimate with any exactitude the
present population; and, indeed, only the taking of a Census
would furnish it. In the case of Saint Nicholas, Deptford, from
the enquiries I have made, and the information received, I am
convinced that the population for that Parish was estimated too
highly for the year 1892; and I am of opinion the estimated
population, as given for this year, is as near correct as it is possible
under the circumstances to be ascertained. I draw attention to