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I
REPORT.
The Borough.—The area of the Borough comprises 1,356 acres, including 20 of water
(canals) and 175 (approximately) of open spaces. At the last census (1901) there were
17,084 inhabited houses, occupied by 33,661 families, of whom 21,815 lived in homes of less
than five rooms. Of the inhabitants of such homes 27.6 per cent, were returned as
"overcrowded," that is, the inhabitants of the homes averaged more than two per room,
irrespective of the ages of the occupants. The proportions of the total inhabitants of the
Borough, so "overcrowded," were 13.5 per cent, in 1901, and 16.7 in 1891 (Old Parish of
Paddington).
During the past year changes have been effected in the registration areas included in
the Borough, by which the boundaries of the new districts have been made to coincide with
those of the Wards. The alterations which have been made are indicated in the following
scheme:—
Old Registration Sub-Districts. Wards. New Registration Sub-Districts..
North-West Paddington ... Queen's Park.
( Harrow Road. Paddington, North.
cMaida Vale.
St. Mary
West bourne.
Church CentraL
St. John Lancaster Gate (West)
„ „ (East) „ South.
Hyde Park.
The present occasion has been taken as a favourable opportunity for abandoning the use
of the Registration Sub-Districts for statistical purposes and introducing the long-contemplated
substitution of the Wards. Such change involves a break in the continuity of the returns, but
the advantages accruing from the use of unit areas of more homogenous characteristics outweigh
the disadvantages attaching to the change.
Population.—The inhabitants of the Borough were estimated to number 149,542 persons
at the middle of 1907. Such estimate, based on an assumption of a continuance of the rate
of increase recorded between 1891 and 1901, can be regarded as an approximation only*
having regard to the interval which has elapsed since the last census. The figure given
indicates an increase in the population during the 6¼ years (dating from April, 1901) of 5,560.
persons. The natural increase in the population during the same period,.being the excess of
births (as registered) over the deaths of inhabitants, amounted to 7,493 persons—nearly
35 per cent, more than the estimated increase. On the other hand, the rate books show an
increasing proportion of "empties," but it has been found impossible to make any use of the
figures from that source owing to the difference in the system of rating and enumerating
houses. The estimated numbers of inhabitants of each Ward are given on the next page:—