THURSDAY, 5th February, 1885.

EDWARD BIRKBECK, Esq., M.P., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and approved the Minutes of the previous Meeting, and those of the Finance and Corre- spondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Com- mittees.

Read the Report of the Chief Inspector of Life-boats on his recent visits to Clacton-on- Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Ilfracombe, Appledore, and Braunton.

Also the Reports of the five District Inspec- tors of Life-boats on their visits to the following Stations:— 1. Sonthend.

2. Weston-super-Mare, Burnham, Watchet, -Lynton, Ilfracombe, Morte, Braunton, and Appledore (two Boats).

3. Drogheda (two Boats), Blackrock, and Giles' Quay.

4. Irvine, and Ardrossan.

5. Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Har- wich, Witbernsea, Hornsea, Grimsby, Donna Nook, Mablethorpe, and Sutton.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last Meeting:— £ s. d.

The Misses HEWITT, Lytham (ad- ditional) 100 - - Trustees of the late WILLIAM THORN- GATE, Esq. (annual subscription). 80 - - B. A. B. PRESTON, Esq. (annual subscription in aid of Cornish Life-boats) 50 - - EDWARD BIRKBECK, Esq. M.P., V.P.

(annual subscription in aid of the Norfolk Life-boats) ... 47 5 - Proceeds of performance by the LEWISHAM AMATEUR DRAMATIC COMPANY, per E, N. HOLE, Esq. . 20 18 - Mrs. PETER HARDIE (additional) . 20 - - THOMAS K. HARDIE, Esq. (addi- tional) 20 - - Trustees of BERMAN'S CHARITY (ad- ditional) 10 10 - WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF ARMOURERS AND BRASIERS (additional) . . 10 10 - •—To Be severally thanked.

Also that the late Mrs. ELIZABETH CLEGO, of Rochdale, had bequeathed 100Z. to the In- stitution.

Voted the thanks of the Committee to JOHN POOLS, Esq., J. A. ROBINSON, Esq., and W. A.

LLOYD, Esq., in recognition of their past valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretaries respectively of the Hayle, Southport, and St.

Anne's Branches of the Institution.

Reported the transmission to their Stations of the Blackrock, Youghal, and Ballywalter new Life-boats.

The Belfast and Londonderry Steam Packet Company kindly granted a free passage to the i Ballywalter Boat from Liverpool to Belfast —To be thanked.

Decided that the present Life-boat on the Drogheda No. 2 Station be replaced by a new one, possessing all the latest improvements.

Paid 2,4:111. 2«. Sd. for sundry charges on various Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 136Z. 10s. 8d. in payment of the ex- penses of the Caister No. 2, Mablethorpe, Lydd, New Brighton No. 1, Wexford No. 2, New Romney, Blyth No. 1, and Penzance Life- boats, in rendering the following Services:— Lives saved.

Brig Triton, of Svelvig. Assisted to save vessel and 6 Fishing smack Primrose, of Grimsby. Re- mained by vessel.

saved.

Schooner Margaret, of St. Ives .... 3 Steamer Venetian, of Liverpool. Remained by vessel.

S.S. Slaney, of Liverpool 33 Barque Windermere, of Newcastle ... 13 S.S. Jutland, of Newcastle. Remained by vessel.

Barque Petrellen, of Porsgrund. . . .18 The Caister Nos. 1 and 2, Lowestoft, Gorleston Nos. 1 and 2. Montrose No. 1, Plymouth, Yealm River, Arbroath, and New- biggin Life-boats also rendered services, as follows:— Lives saved.

Barque Loreley, of Arendal, assisted to save vessel and crew 12 Dandy Tyro, of Lowestoft. Remained by Trawler Snowdrop, of Ramsgate, assisted to save vessel and 5 S.S. Speedwell, of Yarmouth. Rendered assistance.

Montrose fishing boats, rendered assistance.

Barque Wellington, of Windsor, N.S., assisted to save vessel and .... 15 Arbroath and Newbiggin fishing boats, rendered assistance.

[Detailed accounts of most of these services will be found on pages 640-645.] Voted also 220Z. 4s. 4d!. to defray the expenses of the Braunton, Kessingland No. 2, Kings- town, Kildonan, Torquay, Rhosneigir, Harwich.

Walton-on-the-Naze, Wexford No. 1, Lowestoft.

Hartlepool No. 2, Newcastle (co. Down), Tyrella, and Newbiggin Life-boats, in assembling their crews or in putting off in reply to signals of distress shown by vessels which did not ulti- mately require the services of the boats.

The Ramsgate Life-boat was also taken out on two occasions during the month, but her services were not eventually needed.

Voted 20Z. to Mr. T. LEAR, of Torquay, with an expression of regret, on the part of the Com- mittee, at the injury which he received while superintending the launch of the Life-boat on that Station on the 2nd January. On that occasion the slings parted, and a rope caught his ankle, breaking one of the bones, and dis- abling him for several weeks.

Also 10Z. in aid of a local subscription for the relief of the widow of CHARLES HUMBERSTONE, who was accidentally killed by the parting of a steamer's tow-rope, which struck him while he was employed in getting a stranded vessel afloat.

Humberstone was one of the launchers of the Donna Nook Life-boat for about ten years, and was enrolled as one of the crew of the boat about fourteen months ago.

Also 41. to eight men for putting off from Brixham, Devonshire, in the Coast-Guard whale boat, and saving five of the crew of the s.s.

Antonio Stathato, of Ithaca, whose boat was capsized while they were proceeding- from their vessel to Brixham during a strong E.N.E. wind on the 21st December.

7s. extra was granted, in addition, to one of the salvors who first observed the accident, and j gave an alarm. | A farther sum of 21. 10s. was at the same time awarded to five men who manned another boat, and also went to the rescue at some risk, their boat being a small one.

Also 61. 15s. to the crews of two boats for rescuing the fishing coble Pioneer, of North Sunderland, and her crew of four men, which had her rudder broken, and was in danger during a gale of wind from the W. and a rough sea on the 19th December.

Also 21. to four men for saving the crew, consisting of five men, from the boat of the steamer Ferifer, of Dundee, which struck on Bondicar Point in thick weather on the 26th January, and sank within a few minutes.

A further sum of 21. 10s. was granted to the salvors, being the amount they would probably have earned by fishing, which they lost by returning to Newbiggin with the rescued men.

Also II. 5s. to five men for rescuing the crew of two men of the gig Spring, of St. Ives, which while returning from fishing had been upset by a sudden squall in St. Ives Bay on the 26th January. With the help of another boat's crew the capsized boat was towed ashore.

Also 5s. to a man for rescuing a fisherman, who had fallen overboard from his boat, off Bucks, Devonshire, during a moderate breeze from the E. on the 18th November.

THURSDAY, 5th March.

His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, P.O., in the Chair.

Read and approved the Minutes of the pre- vious Sleeting, and those of the Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub- Committees.

Bead the Reports of four of the District In- spectors of. Life-boats on their visits to the following Stations:— 1. Clovelly, Bude, Port Isaac, Padstow, Newquay, Sennen Cove, Penzance, Hayle, St.

Ives, Scilly, Porthleven, Porthoustock, Cadg- with, and Slullion.

2. New Brighton (two Boats), Southport, Lytham, St. Anne's, Blackpool, and Fleetwood.

3. Tynemouth (two Boats), Cullercoats Blyth, (two Boats), Newbiggin, and Cresswell.

4. Sunderland (four Boats), Whitburn, Sea- ham, Hartlepool (three Boats), West Hartlepool (two Boats), Seaton Carew, Saltburn, Middles- brough, Redcar, Runswick, and Staithes.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting: £ ». d.

Mrs. MACDONALD, towards the en- dowment of her Life-boat at Appledore 1000 - - HENRY M. HARVEY, Esq., further on behalf of Penzance Lifeboat Station 100 - - (Making a total of £1,100) £ s. d.

50 - - 20 - - 20 - - Mrs. JOSHUA WILSON ....

WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CLOTH- WORKERS (additional) . . .

Collected at Leith Custom House, per A. M. Boss, Esq —To be severally thanked.

Also that the following legacies had been bequeathed to the Institution:— £ ; The late Mrs. E. A. Clare, of Higher i Broughton, Manchester (duty free) . 1000 I The late HENRY SKYNNER, Esq., of Ken- i sington (duty free) 500 ! The late Miss MARY CLARIDGE.of Bedford 500 : The late DENNIS HERBERT, Esq., of Hunt- ingdon (duty free) 200 Reported the transmission to their Stations of Life-boats for Fishguard and Littlehaven i (Pembrokeshire).

Decided that the present Life-boat at Black- pool be replaced by a new one, possessing all the latest improvements.

i The Committee expressed their deep regret at the recent decease of Dr. STORFORD W.

| HALPIN, of Arklow, who had been for eighteen i years, the valued Honorary Secretary of the 1 Arklow Branch of the Institution.

Paid 3,1781. 14s. Id. for sundry charges on j various Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 591. 4s. to meet expenses connected with the North Sunderland Portmadoc, and | Sunderland, No. 2 Life-boats in rendering the following Services:— Lives saved.

! North Sunderland fishing boats rendered [ assistance.

Barque Spanker, of Glasgow .... 7 j Schooner James, of Inverness. Remained by vessel.

I The Skegness Life-boat assisted the schooner ! John Lee, of Blakeney, and the Scarborough Life-boat saved the fishing-smack Lady's Page of Scarborough, and her crew of 5 men.

[Accounts of some of these services will be found on page 645.] Voted 96Z. 16s. to pay the expenses of the Bridlington, Whitby No. 1, Briglistone Grange, ' Drogheda No. 2, Tramore Castletown, Montrose ] and Porthdinllaen Life-boats in putting off to the assistance of vessels which did not even- tually require their help.

i Also 121. to twelve men for rescuing by j means of two boats, the crew of five men of the Norwegian schooner Nordenfeld, which stranded on Craster Little Carr Rock, near Boulmer,  Northumberland, during a nioderate breeze from S. to S.E., and thick weather, on the 23rd January.

Also 21. 10s. to five men for putting off in a boat, and saving the crew of two men from the smack Eliza McDonald, of Wigtown, which j was in distress in Port Yerrock Bay, Wigtown- ' shire, during a gale from the S.S.E. on the 21st February. was also awarded to some men and boys who assisted to launch the boat, and 101. to a carter who was injured by the boat, and the cart on which it was being conveyed from Whithorn Harbour to Port Yerrock Bay being blown over.

Also 51. Ws. to eleven men for putting off in a yawl, and saving the crew of three men from the schooner Geneva, of Carnarvon, which was in danger outside the breakwater at Peel, Isle of Man, during a strong S.S.E. gale on the 28th January. | Also 21. 5s. to three men for saving the lugger | St. Fergus, of Stornoway, and her crew of four I men. The vessel had her sail blown away, and was in great danger off Barra, during a very strong N.W. wind on the 20th December last.

Also 11. 10s. to six men of Newburgh, Aber- deenshire, for rescuing four boys from a boat which had been carried out to sea from the river Ytham on the 14th February.

Also 11. 10s. to three men for putting off in a Txrat, and saving the crew of two men of a lighter which had struck and sunk on the flats off Wexford, during a strong S.W. wind, and hazy weather on the 23rd February.

Also 11. Is. to six fishermen for putting off in a boat, and saving two persons from another boat which was in danger in Newport Bay, during a strong southerly wind, on the 10th February.

SATURDAY, 21st March.

The Annual General Meeting of the friends and supporters of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION took place this day at Willis's j Rooms, St. James's, His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, P.O., President of the In- stitution, in the Chair.

His GRACE having made some suitable ob- servations on the great and national character j of the operations of the Institution, Mr. CHARLES DIBDIN, the Secretary, read the i Annual Report, which will be found in the j May number of The Lifeboat Journal. j The Meeting was also addressed by His Grace the DUKE OF PORTLAND; The Right Hon. The EARL PEBOY, M.P., V.P.,; the Right Hon. Sir STAFFORD H. NORTHCOTE, G.C.B., M.P.; Sir WILLIAM CHABLEY, Q.O., D.C.L., Common Sergeant for London; Sir THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, Dart.; Sir WALTER (». STIRLING, Bart.; EDWARD BIRKBECK, Esq., M.P., V.P., Chairman of the Institution; and Colonel FITZROY CLAY- TON, V.P., Deputy-Chairman.

The officers for the current year were chosen and various resolutions were moved, seconded, and carried unanimously, pledging the meeting to renewed exertions on behalf of the benevolent and national objects of the Institution.

The officers' names and the resolutions will be found in the May number of The Lifeboat Journal.

THURSDAY, 2nd April.

EDWARD BIRKBECK, Esq., M.P., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and approved the Minutes of the pre- vious meeting, and those of the Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub- Committees.

Elected the Members of the Sub-Committees (L. T. CAVE, Esq., Chairman) for the ensuing year.

Read the Report of the Chief Inspector of Life-boats on his recent visits to Clacton-on-Sea and Southend.

Also the Reports of the five District Inspec- tors of Lifeboats on their visits to the following Stations:—1. Yealm River, Plymouth, Salcombe, Hope Cove, Dartmouth, Brixham, Teignmouth, Tor- quay, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Kimeridge, Weymouth, Swanage, and Poole.

2. Lizard, Falmouth, Portloe, Mevagiasey, Fowey, and Looe.

3. Piel, Seascale, Whitehaven, Silloth, Mary- port, Rhyl (two Boats), Llanddulas, Llandudno, Penmon, Bull Bay, and Moelfre.

4. Kildonan, Ardrossan,Whithorn, Port Logan Port Patrick, Balcary, and Kirkcudbright.

5. Upgang, Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby (two Boats), Scarborough, Filey, Flamborough (two Boats), Bridlington, Barmstow, Hornsea, Chapel, and Skegness.

Reported the receipt of 1000Z. from Miss BASS, of Dalston, to provide a new Life-boat, to be named the William and Frances.

Decided that the best acknowledgments of the Committee be conveyed to Miss BASS, and that her gift be appropriated to the new Life- boat about to be sent to Sidmouth.

Also the receipt of 5001. from Miss LUCY L. HARRIS, of Lower Clapton, for a Life-boat to be named The Escape.

—To be thanked.

Also the receipt of the folio wing other special Contributions since the last meeting:— £ s. d.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN (Annual Subscription) 50 — - Miss Howis (3 years' maintenance of her Life-boat at Silloth) . . . 210 - - Collected from Pupils at Taplow Grammar School per, E. DYKE, Esq. (additional) 119 —To be severally thanked.

Also that the late Mrs. LAMBIE, of Edinburgh had bequeathed a legacy of 501. to the Institu- tion.

Reported the transmission to their stations of new Lifeboats for Plymouth, Silloth, Ferryside, Totland Bay, and Cloughey Bay.

The Belfast and Londonderry Steam Packet Company kindly conveyed the Cloughey Bay Life-boat from Liverpool to Belfast, free of charge. To be thanked.

Decided that the present Life-boat on the Bridlington Quay Station be replaced by a new one, possessing all the latest improvements.

Also to appropriate the Boat to the legacy o 5851., left to the Institution by the late W. J PAYNE, Esq., City Coroner, for a Life-boat t be called The William John, and Frances.

Also decided that various works be carried out at the Southend, Buckle, and Kilmore Life boat Stations at an expense of 1,0862.

Also that the thanks of the Committee b given to MELVILLE GREEN, Esq., and PATRICK REID, Esq., in recognition of their past valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretaries respec tively of the Worthing and Greystones Branche of the Institution.

Paid 5,1621 13s. 2d. for sundry charges on various Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 201. 10s. to pay the expenses of the North Sunderland and Porthdinllaen Life-boat in saving the crew of five men from the schoone St. Fergus, of Wick, and the crew of four men from the schooner Richard, of Nefyn.

The Caister No. 1 Life-boat assisted to save the three-mast schooner Akyab, of Genoa, ane her crew of eleven men; also the s.s. Bedale of Scarborough, and 20 men; and the Ramsgate Lifeboat brought ashore from the Gull Light- ship, the crew of four men of the ketch Minnie of Bideford.

[Details of some of the services will be founc on pages 640-645.] Voted 240Z. 15s. 10 J. to pay the expenses o] the Tyrella, Holyhead, Portmadoc, Selsey, Gorleston, No. 1, Winterton No. 2, Walton-on- the-Naze, Harwich, North Deal, New Brighton No. 1, Caister No. 2, and Gourdon Life-boats, in assembling their crews, or putting off with the view of assisting vessels which did not ultimately need the services of the boats.

Voted 51. 5s. to six men for rescuing the crew of four men from the boat of the ketch James Walter, of Hull, which sunk on the Knavestone Rock, Fame Islands, during a S.W. wind on the 12th February.

Also II. to two men for putting off in a boat from a pilot cutter, and helping to rescue the crew of eight men of the brigantine Margaret Jane Swift, of Faversham, which stranded off Poole, during a strong E. breeze, and a rough sea on the 20th February.

Also 1Z. to two men for rescuing a man who had been thrown overboard from his boat by the jibing of the main boom in Wexford Har- bour during a strong E.N.E. wind on the 6th March.

Also 1Z. to two men for saving the lives of two men whose boat capsized off Tynemouth while entering the harbour during squally weather on 21st March.

THURSDAY, 7th May, EDWARD BIRKBECK, Esq., M.P., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and approved the Minutes of the pre- vious Meeting, and those of the Finance and Correspondence and Wreck and Reward Sub- Committees.

Bead the report of the Chief Inspector of Lifeboats on his recent visits to Montrose, Broughty Ferry, Buddonness, Arbroath, Edin- burgh, Hauxley, Newbiggin, Clacton-on-Sea, and Southend.

Also the reports of four of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their visits to the following stations:— 1. Penarth, Porlhcawl, Pembrey, Ferry side, Milford, Littlehaven, Port Eynon, Tenby, Swansea, Solva, St. David's, and Fishguard (two Boats).

2. Poolbeg, Howth, Arklow, Greencastle, Portrush, Groomsport, Port Erin, Castletown, Douglas (two Boats), and Ramsey.

3. Ballantrae, Girvan, Campbeltown, Southend (Cantyre), Ayr, Irvine and Troon.

4. Sheringham, Cromer, Mundesley, Hun- stanton, Brancaster, Wells, and Blakeney.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:— £ s. d.

HERBERT A. FOSTER, for a Life-boat to be named the Queensbury, and placed on the Yorkshire or Lan- cashire Coast 650 - - Stewards of the COVENT GARDEN LIFE-BOAT FUND, in aid of the support of the Caister Life-boat (additional) 70 3 2 W. A. T. AMHERST, Esq., M.P., An- nual Subscription in aid of Nor- folk Life-boat Establishments . 15 15 - Two-thirds of Collection in WESTON- STJPEH-MARE PARISH CHURCH, per Rev. Prebendary BUCKLE . . 12 17 7 GEORGE WEBSTER, Esq., further on account of his Lifeboat Fund. . 12 10 - Balance of Fund raised for sending AYRSHIRE FISHERMEN to the Inter- national Fisheries Exhibition . 55- Also that the following legacies had been bequeathed to the Institution:— £ *. d.

The late T. W. GEORGE, Esq., of East Carlton, Norfolk (duty free) 1000 - - The late Mr. THOMAS JACKSON, of Edinburgh 10 - - The late Miss ANNS COLLIN, of Store Street, Bedford Square . . .35 shares of the Grand Junction Waterworks Company.

The Committee expressed their deep regret at the decease of Admiral of the Fleet Sir GEORGE SARTORIUS, G.C.B., Lieutenant-General TULLOH, R.A., C.B., and Mr. T. M. WEGUELIN, ill of whom had for many years been Members of the Committee of Management of the In- stitution.

Reported the transmission to their Stations of the new Life-boats for Clacton-on-Sea, Bridlington, Llanddulas, and Drogheda.

The Great Eastern Railway Company kindly conveyed the transporting carriage of the Clacton Boat to its Station, and brought back he old carriage to London, free of charge. To be thanked. 

Decided that the present Life-boats on the Newbiggin, Tenby, and Fishguard No. 2 Stations be replaced with new ones, possessing all the latest improvements, as soon as circum- stances permit.

— Also that the Plymouth new Life-boat be appropriated to the gift of Miss LUCY L. HARRIS of Lower Clapton.

Voted the thanks of the Committee to JAMES HUNTER, Junr., Esq., in recognition of his valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary of the Dundee Branch of the Institution during the past twenty years.

Also the Silver Medal of the Institution, and a copy of the vote, inscribed on vellum, to Mr.

JAMES ARMSTRONG, coxswain of the Hauxley Life-boat, in acknowledgment of his gallant services during the past twenty-five years, in which period he has assisted to save 141 lives.

Also 51. on retirement, to Mr. JAMBS BRIGGS, in recognition of his good services during the seven years he held the position of Coxswain of the Wexford Life-boat Decided that the new Instructions to Cox- swains of the Life-boats of the Institution, prepared in accordance with the directions of the Committee, be adopted and circulated.

Paid 1,763?. Is. Wd. for sundry charges on various Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 521. in payment of the expenses of the Lydd, Penzance, and Whitby No. 2 Life-boats in rendering the following services: — Lives saved.

Barque Queen Victoria, of Dublin. Remained by vessel.

Penzance Fishing Boats. Rendered assis- tance.

Sloop Wear, of Scarborough 2 The Ramsgate Life-boat assisted to save the barque Bhuddlan Castle, of Liverpool, and 16 lives; and the Montrose No. 1 Life-boat ren- dered important assistance to two endangered fishing boats.

(Accounts of some of these services are given on pages 640-645.) Voted also 951.13s, to pay the expenses of the Broadstairs, North Deal, Dunbar, Montrose No. 1, Drogheda Nos. 1 and 2, Redcar, Shering- ham, Bamburgh Castle and LlanaeVhaiarn Life-boats in assembling their crews, or putting off to the aid of vessels not ultimately requiring their services.

Also 501. 4s. to HENRY CABBY, who was permanently injured while assisting to launch the Donna Nook Life-boat on the 21st Nov. last.

Also 21. 10s. to the Chief Officer of H.M. Coastguard at Pembrey, and four other Const- guard men for putting off in their boat, and saving a man from the cutter Gazelle, of Swan- sea, which was totally wrecked off Pembrey during a strong breeze from the S.E. on the 24th April..