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The natural increment of the population during
1899, i.e., the excess of registered births over deaths,
amounted to 878 persons, as compared with 935 in
1898, 1,210 in 1897, 1,126 in 1896, and 880 in
1895. The mean annual increment for the preceding
decennium was 964. With a falling birth-rate, the
natural increment will shrink unless the decrease in
the death-rate be equal to, or in excess of, that of
the birth-rate. The limit to the shrinkage of the
former rate is unfortunately apparently not reached,
but as regards the latter it is probable that much
more shrinkage cannot be expected. As the reduction
in the death-rate (plus immigration, here neglected)
has hitherto largely neutralized the effects of the reduced
birth-rate, it will be readily understood that
the continuing decline in the birth-rate is not a matter
which can be regarded with indifference.
BIRTHS.
During the fifty-two weeks of the registration year
1899, 2,940 births were recorded in the Parish, viz.,
1,521 of boys and 1,419 of girls, equivalent to a rate
of 22.76 per 1,000 persons of all ages. In North
Paddington 2,555 births were registered (1,325 of
boys and 1,230 of girls), equivalent to a rate of 26.68
per 1,000 inhabitants of the District. In South Paddington
there were registered 385 births (196 of boys
and 189 of girls), equivalent to a rate of 11.52. In
Table 2 the figures for each quarter of 1899 are given,