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8
Births.
The births registered during the year numbered
1,072 (males, 529; females, 543), which is
slight excess over the number of the previous
year, but it affords a slightly lower birth rate,
being equivalent to 23.3 of the estimated population,
as against 24.07 for 1904. We are, therefore,
I regret to say. in sympathy with the falling
birth rate in England and Wales, which, although
it reached 27.2 per 1,000 of the population,
was the lowest on record. The natural increase
of our population, that is, the excess of
births over deaths, amounts to 559.
With regard to general sanitary administration,
I have every reason to believe that our
system of scavenging maintains its usual efficiency.
and certainly the manner in which the
read watering was carried out last summer calls
for much praise. I look upon this as a most important
matter, as above the question of comfort
and cleanliness resulting therefrom, enjoyed by
ocevpants of houses in all roads (and move
especially by those dwelling on our main road,
over which such an incessant traffic of all kinds
passes), there is the hygienic question of laying
the microbe carrying dust which, if not effectually
carried out, is, no doubt a considerable
factor in the production of certain disorders.
With regard to the water supply of the
borough I have had no complaints, and I believe
its quality to be usually excellent, and its quantity
equal to all demands.
The general system of drainage is up to its
usual standard of efficiency, and there can be
no stronger proof of this than the fact that, notwithstanding
the very large increase of new
roads with their contributory drains completed
during the past four or five years, with a resulting
large population the existing main drains
have proved perfectly competent to deal with
the extra quantity of sewage passing through
them. The construction of a distinct surfacawater
system has, no doubt, materially contributed
to that result.
Relative to matters in the Borough Surveyor's
department, with which I have concern, I can
bear testimony to the efficient way in which
the sewage has been dealt with at the respective
works. The Northern Farm has given off an
excellent effluent, with which the authorities
of the Middlesex County Council and Thames
Conservancy are perfectly satisfied. The new
pressing machinery, and the buildings connected
therewith are rapidly approaching completion,
and within a few weeks will be in full working