THE decision of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION to carry out exhaustive trials -with different types of Life-boats is an additional proof to those already given in various "ways that the governing body are determined not to sit still, or in. naval parlance to " lay on their oars," and not to rest content with their present magnificent fleet of life-boats, but that they are always striving after perfection.

The intention to hold the trials was advertised far and wide, and competition from outside the Institution was invited, but without result, one boat only having been entered which was subsequently with- drawn. ,It goes without saying that if the Life-boat Institution has not the best and most perfect Life-boats in the world it ought to have them. If one were to judge alone from the collective opinions of the gallant coxswains and crews who man the boats and fight the desperate battles they do against the terrible forces of Venus and Neptune, the conclusion that would be inevitably arrived at would be that the Institution's present fleet is worthy of it, and of the greatest maritime nation in the world. But when the collective opinion is separated and analyzed, views are found to exist amongst these experts as to the qualities of the various types as different and opposite as the poles of the earth and as impossible of being brought together.

It is we suppose only to be expected that in this as in other questions people should " stand by the bridge that carries them safely over." It is therefore only natural that the Life-boat crews should believe thoroughly in the excellence of the qualities of the Life-boats to which they are severally accustomed, and in which they have done good and gallant service, even to the extent of not admitting the existence of any good qualities in other types that inspire equal confidence in the crews on other parts of the coast. These diverse opinions are not restricted to the minds of the Life-boat men only, but are widely spread outside that circle, often gathering force as they go and terminating in criticisms in the public press and elsewhere—from self-elected critics in no way possessed of the experience entitling them to speak as experts, and therefore as exaggerated and without foundation as they are unjust and injurious to the best interests of the Institution—tending to lessen the public confidence in it on a vital point, viz., the efficiency of its fleet.

"Whether or no these trials will have any material effect on the opinions of the Life-boat men themselves is questioned; but it must certainly give them good food for thought when called upon, as they You always are, to decide tot themselves before a new boat is built for them what class and type of boat she shall be. One inevitable result that may be reasonably looked for will be the pronouncing of a serious, well-considered verdict on the various qualities of the different types of boats by a " jury " of the first experts in the world on such a subject, after they have taken conclusive evidence on the several points on which, they speak, which are given in the following extracts from the regulations framed on the subject:— 6. All the Boats to be tried at the same time and place, so as to ensure as far as possible their alt being exposed to the same force of sea and weather for the comparison of their qualities.

7. The Umpires or Judges of the trials to be taken from the Coxswains of the Institution's Life-boats, so selected as to include, as far as possible, those having experience in the different types of Boats. Their number to be governed by the Dumber of Boats under trial, so as to give one for each boat.

Each test to be repeated as many times as there are Boats tinder trial; the Judges to change Boats each time so as to give all of them the opportunity of seeing each Boat at work.

8. The Judge shall not interfere with the Coxswain and Crew in the management of the Boat, but shall concentrate his attention on her behaviour.

9. No one excepting the Coxswains, Ciews and Judges to go in the Boats when engaged in the trials.

10. At the end of every trial each Judge, to record his opinions on the result on a form to be supplied to him for so doing. This he will put into a closed cover and deposit, in the presence of one of the Supervising Committee, in the box provided for that purpose.

11. These reports to be strictly confidential, and the Judges are not to make known then- contents. As soon as the trials are all concluded, the box containing the reports to be transmitted to the Head Office in London to be opened under the directions of the Committee.

12. If a Judge consider a trial to have given no results, or from any cause not to have been sufficiently conclusive to enable -him to report on it, he shall at once report this to the Super- vising Committee, who will decide whether the trial should be repeated, first, if they deem it necessary, consulting the other Judges.

18. If the Supervising Committee are of opinion that for any reason it is desirable a trial should be repeated, they shall call for the opinions of the Coxswain Judges, and, having considered them, act as they may deem expedient.

The Supervising Committee, tinder whom these trials will be carried out, is to be composed of three officers of position and high standing in the Mercantile Marine, the Chief Inspector of Life-boats, and the Inspector of the Eastern District.

They will give their whole time to the duties prescribed for them in the following regulations drawn up for their guidance:— 1. They shall give their whole time to the duties of the Committee, and shall not leave Lowestoft whilst the trials are in progress without sanction.

2. It -will be their duty to arrange the courses, places of launching and landing, to decide on every occasion whether or no the weather is suitable for a trial and to order one to be made or not as they consider right.

3. They will give such instructions as they may consider necessary to equalise any difference hi the test to which boats may be put, through the direction of the wind and run of the tide or sea varying at any repetition of a trial.

4. They will enquire into and adjudicate upon any disputes that may arise between, on complaints that may be made by, any of the Coxswain Judges, Boats' Crews, or others employed for the purposes of the trial.

Immediately after the boats are assembled, and before the trials begin, there will be three preliminary launches of all the boats for purposes of exercise, to give the crews a knowledge of their boats; also to test the launching and hauling up arrangements, including the organization and discipline of the launchers.

The trials will begin on the first suitable, i.e really rough or stormy day after these preliminary trials are completed, and will be continued whenever the wind and weather ate suitable for testing the qualities of the boats in the following order until completed.

1. launching from a steep beach through a surf, and beating off to an outlying shoal o* prescribed mark, landing on an open beach, hauling up and preparing for service again.

2. Similar tests from & flat beach.

NOTE.—The time of carrying out these tests (No. 2) will depend in great measure on the state of the beach as affected by winds from different directions.

3. Running in a heavy sea with the wind abeam, on the quarter, and right aft.

4. Passing through, heavy breakers on an outlying shoal, and anchoring in them as though to veer down to a wreck.

5. Towing by a powerful tug against wind and sea.

6. Capacity for carrying rescued people.

Each of the tests, Nos. 1 to 5 inclusive, will be repeated four times, so that each judge may see every boat undergo it for the purposes of these trials the Life-boats have been divided into two classes, sailing and pulling; the above tests are applicable to both except that the pulling boats will pull off from the beach instead of sailing. The trials about to begin are with the sailing boats only, and Lowestoft has been chosen for the place of trial because it presents more of the conditions necessary for carrying these out than an; other place on the coast.

The trials are looked forward to with great interest by all interested in Life- boat matters, and will doubtless be keenly watched by many; whatever may be the verdict on each class of boat they cannot but materially strengthen (if possible) the position of the Life-boat Institution in public estimation.