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4
Births.
The number of births registered in the district during
the year was 696, a decrease of 7 in the number recorded in
the preceding year.
Of the total number of births registered 346 were males
and 350 females.
The total number of births for 1901 was 576
1902 „ 596
1903 „ 615
1904 „ 723
1905 „ 713
1906 811
1907 „ 774
1908 „ 751
1909 „ 703
1910 „ 696
The births were distributed as follows :—
South Ward 138
Central „ 127
East ,, 159
West „ 272
The birth rate per 1,000 of population amounted to 25'7.
It will be noticed that there has been a continued
decline in the birth rate since 1906. This may be somewhat
accounted for by an increase of the population of the
district, which at this distance from the last census it is
difficult accurately to estimate ; but after full allowance for
this discrepancy the decline is marked and steadily increasing.
Deaths.
With an estimated population of 27,000, the number of
deaths within the district was 251, a decrease of 60 as against
last year. The death rate shewed an average of 9'2 per
1,000 as against 11'5 per 1,000 in the preceding year. I
draw particular attention to these figures. It will be seen
that the death rate is the lowest on record, the fall from year
to year since 1901 being steady and almost continuous, which
speaks very well for the health of the district, and has reached
a rate it will be difficult to lower. I attribute this low record