View report page

10
Meteorology.
There was no evidence that the severe winter penalised
the health of the community unduly. Winter food
crops undoubtedly suffered, but on the other hand the
severity of the weather exercised a beneficial effect on
land for the cultivation of essential food crops.
The Borough Engineer reports from his records of
1939 as follows:—
Total rainfall 31.60 inches
Mean maximum daily temperature 57.9° F.
Mean minimum daily temperature 43.7° F.
Highest maximum temperature recorded 86.0° F.
—7th June.
Lowest minimum temperature recorded 18.0° F.
—28th Dec.
Lowest grass minimum temperature
recorded 18.0° F.
—30th Dec.
Population.
There is no evidence of exceptional migration of
population from the Borough owing to war circumstances.
Some of the larger type of houses were vacated, possibly
due in many cases to cost of upkeep. These large residences
prove useful for temporary business accommodation.
Once again the town, within a short period of time,
has been called upon to shelter refugees from abroad
forcibly deprived of their homes and property. voluntary
effort, always a marked characteristic feature of the
civic life of the town, simplified the arrangements for
reception and billeting.
My estimate of population, based on local facts and
figures, may be placed at 60,300. The Registrar General's
mid-year 1939 estimates are:—
(a) Resident population 60,000
(b) Average population appropriate to
to the calculation of death rates 59,080