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50
migration. That the latter has been disproportionately
great of late years is evidenced by the progressive increase
in the number of inhabited houses, as shewn by the RateBook,
and by the remarkably large increase in the
number of births in comparison with that of the last
inter-census decade. The birth and death rates subsequently
given are determined from the foregoing estimated
population, and must therefore be accepted as, in all
probability, much higher than they actually are.
The births of 762 males and 689 females,
.
total 1,451, were registered during the year.
The number is 113 more than in 1887.
Allowing for increase of population the average number
during the preceding ten years was 1,151; the births
of last year therefore exceeded the average by 300, or
25 per cent. This excess, as already referred to, is indicative
of a great accession to the population by immigration.
Calculated from the official population the
birth-rate was 44.36 per 1000, and the rate of natural
increase 21.78 per 1000 persons living of all ages.
The total deaths registered during the year
numbered 711—361 of males, 350 of females. The
average number during the ten years 1878—87, allowing
for increase of population, was 643. The number of
dea hs of the past year therefore exceeded the average
by 68, and was greater than that of the preceding year
by 101; the mortality, however, of the year before last
as already stated was unusually low. No less than 126
of all deaths occurred in the following public institutions,
viz:—in the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum 100; in the
Workhouse 10; in St. Peter's Hospital 6; in the Hospital
for Incurables 4; in the Prison 5; and 1 in the
Patriotic Asylum for girls.