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10
VITAL STATISTICS.
POPULATION.
The Registrar General estimates that the mid-year, 1909, population
of this district was 136,602.
This is an increase of 5,116 over that of 1908, and 15,268 over that
of 1906.
The natural increase of the population, or the excess of births over
deaths, for the latter period was 7,352.
Since 1906, building operations have been practically at a standstill,
and our rate of growth was in no way like that prior to 1901, but it is
on an assumption that such growth was similar, that a population of
136,602 is based.
The population assigned may be accepted as a basis for comparing
our birth and death-rates with those of other "Large Towns," since
their populations are estimated on a like assumption, but in dealing with
the constituent portions of the district, I estimate each Ward's population
on the basis of 129,500 for the whole district.
These figures are probably more nearly correct than those given by
Somerset House, and we must await the official enumeration of 1911 for
absolute accuracy.
In arriving at the populations of the Wards, I have followed the
methods of previous years, and thus comparisons made between the
Wards have a like basis, and a continuity which makes such comparisons
of some value.
The following table is compiled from information supplied me by
Mr. Jones, the Superintendent of the Schools' Attendance Officers, who
make a yearly enumeration of the houses within the district.
Owing to the limited time at these officers' disposal, an accurate
return could not be expected, and approximate numbers can only be
assumed.