At the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION, held at St. Martin's Town Hall, Charing Cross Road, on Saturday, the 23rd day of March, 1895, THE EIGHT EON.

LORD TWEEDMOUTH, Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee was submitted for adoption:— ANNUAL REPORT. 1895.

NOTWITHSTANDING the difficulties which have been encountered during the past year by almost every charity in the country owing to the general depression in trade and agriculture, the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has been able to pursue assiduously its important mission of mercy, and the Committee can thankfully report that the efficiency of the Life-boat service is certainly greater now than it has beta at any time since its establishment in 1824.

Steam Life-boat.—The Steam Life-boat City of Glasgow, to which reference was made in last j ear's Annual Report, has seen completed; and after being publicly lamed at Glasgow in the presence of at east thirty thousand spectators by Mrs.

SELL, the wife of the LORD PROVOST, and subsequently thoroughly tested, has been Rationed at Harwich, where it is.believed the will render much good service. The steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland, he first Steam Life-boat built, continues to earn golden opinions at New Brighton, where she is temporarily stationed, and the Committee have decided to build a Steam Life-boat for the Port of Liverpool.

Life-boats.—No better proof could be adduced of the confidence reposed by the public in the management of the Institu- tion than the fact that in July last the whole of the Life-boat service protecting the mouth, of the Mersey and its estuaries, hitherto belonging to and managed by j that important and powerful Corporation, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, was transferred to the Institution,a special agree- ment having been entered into by the Board with the Committee. Since then the service in question, which adds four Life-boat Stations to the Institution, has been thoroughly reorganized. During the year, the Ryde (Isle of Wight) Life- boat Station, which had for very many years been supported and managed by a private Committee, hag also been trans- ferred to the Institution, and a similar course is about to be followed as regards the Life-boat Station at Wick, belonging to the Wick Harbour Board. Ne w Stations have, in addition, been established during the past year at Selsey, in Sussex, and at Greenore, county Louth, and steps will shortly be taken when the dock works are further advanced to establish a Station at Barry, in Glamorganshire.

Besides the new Stations which were established and equipped in 1894, 13 others were supplied with new boats, specially built to meet the views of the crews who would be called upon to man thf-m. The Stations to which these new boats were sent were:— ENGLAND.

Devonshire.

Kent Suffolk.

Cornwall.

Lancashire.

Suffolk.

Brixham. . . .

Dungeness (No. 1).

Dunwich .

Falmouth Fleetwood ...

Gorleston (No. 2) .

Mullion Cornwall.

Staithes Yorkshire.

Sunderland(SouthOntlet) Durham.

Teignmouth. . . . Devonshire.

SCOTLAND.

Fraserburgh . . , Aberdeenshiie.

Forfarshire.

Wigtownshire.

Montrose (No. 1) Port Logan . .

The Life-boats at 18 other Stations were improved last year, and brought as far as possible up to date, and others will, it is hoped, be similarly dealt with before the close of the current year.

During the year one of the Life-boats placed at West Hartlepool was withdrawn, the improvements recently effected in the harbour rendering its retention unneces- sary. The Station at Newport (Pem- brokeshire) has also been closed, the sea-going traffic on that part of the coast now being very small, and difficulties connected with the bar inducing unneces- sary exposure and danger. For somewhat similar reasons the Committee have decided to close the Seascale (Cumberland) Station.

The Institution's fleet consisted at the close of the year of 308 Life-boats.

It cannot be too generally known that the Committee are ready to place and maintain a Life-boat on any part of the coast of the United Kingdom, where it can be shown that the adoption of such a course is really desirable, the only proviso being that there is a sufficient number, in the locality, of sailors, fishermen or others accustomed to manage boats at sea, who can be relied on to man the Boat.

Transporting Carriages.—The Life-boats at 23 Stations were in 1894 provided with new transporting carriages, and several other carriages will shortly be sent to the coast. .

Tipping's Plates.—The efficiency of the launching arrangements at 8 Stations was last year materially increased by the pro- vision of these plates, which have proved of great utility wherever they have been supplied.

Inspection of Life-boats, &c.—The Life- boat Stations were, as usual, periodically visited by the District Inspectors during the year, a detailed report of each inspec- tion having been forwarded to and most carefully considered by the Committee.

The Committee recently decided to strengthen the inspecting force, and they believe that the step they have taken will conduce materially to greater efficiency in the service. A system of surprise visits to the Stations has been established, which cannot fail to increase their efficiency.

Shipwrecks.—The year 1894 was not, taken as a whole, a remarkably stormy one, but both early in the year and during the latter part of it, gales and storms were very frequent and disastrous.

The worst gale of the year was that of the 22nd and 23rd December, during which there were 44 Life-boat launches effected, resulting in the saving of 99 lives. Many occasions therefore pre- sented themselves calling for gallant efforts on the part of the Life-boat. 27 crews, who on no occasion were found 1824, has been 38,645, the number for wanting when the call for duty came, and each year being as follows : — much good service was done in the saving of life and property. Year. So. ot Lives. , 1824 124 Year. No. of Lives.

IMtfl 424 From the 1st January to the 31st 1825 218 1862 574 December inclusive the Institution's IV 36 175 1863 714 Life-boats were launched on service 436 1827 163 1828 301 1864 698 1865 714 times and 1,061 times for practice, in 1829 463 1866 951 addition to which crews were assembled 44 1830 372 1867 1,086 1831 287 1868 8* 2 other occasions when it appeared probable 1832 310 1869 1,231 that their services might be wanted. It 18S3 449 1870 784 is with deep gratitude to Providence the 1834 214 1835 364 1871 882 1872 739 Committee have to report that, notwith- 1836 225 1873 668 standing the fact that many thousand 1837 272 1838 458 1874 713 1875 921 men were out in the Life-boats during 1839 279 1876 600 the year, not one of them lost his life 1840 353 1877 1,048 on duty. 1841 128 1878 616 1842 276 1879 855 Every encouragement was given the 1843 236 1880 697 Life-boat men during the year to be 1844 193 1881 1,121 attentive and prompt in the discharge of 1845 235 1846 134 1882 884 1883 955 their duties, and there is no reason to 1847 157 1884 792 suppose that they at any time failed in 1848 123 1849 209 1885 555 1886 761 this respect. 1850 470 1887 572 The number of lives for the saving of 1851 230 1888 800 which the Institution granted rewards in 1852 773 1853 678 1889 627 1&90 765 1894 was 790, of which 649 were rescued 1854 355 1891 736 by Life-boats and 141 by Shore-boats 1855 406 1892 1,056 1856 4-73 1893 598 and other means, in addition to which 1857 374 1894 790 35 vessels were salved . The details of 1858 427 the services during each month of the 1859 499 I860 455 Total 38.645 year are as follows ; — Rewards. — The rewards bestowed by Lives the Institution last year for the saving Number of Life- Lives Saved Vessels Saved Saved he of life from shipwreck, or for efforts with 1894. boat Launches. by Life- boats. by Life- boats. iy Shore- personal risk to do so, and in acknow- bodts. ledgment of other good services rendered January 67 137 2 . 16 to the cause, comprised 17 Silver Medals, February March 65 16 161 3 1 13 3 2 Second Service Clasps, 13 Binocular April . 18 17 2 29 Glasses, 1 Aneroid Barometer, 33 Votes May .

June . 22 23 31 10 2 1 24 2 of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, July . 12 5 2 13 8 Certificates of Service framed, and August September n 9 n 3 12 1 8,8621. 13s. Id., including compensation October . 41 61 7 1 for injuries received in the Service, &c. November December 51 95 57 153 8 4 10 17 Up to the close of last year the Institu- Total . tion had granted altogether in rewards 436 649 35 141 since its establishment in 1824, 97 Gold Medals and 1 Gold Clasp, 1,139 Silver The total number of lives for the saving Medals and Clasps, 244 Binocular Glasses, of which, either by Life-boats, Shore- 15 Telescopes, 7 Aneroid Barometers, boats or other means, the Institution has 1,480 Yotes of Thanks inscribed on granted rewards since it was founded in vellum and framed, 47 Certificates of Service framed, and 148,495Z. 2s. 8d. in money.

Aneroids.—The demand for the Aneroid Barometers supplied by the Institution to Fishermen and small Coasters at about a third the retail cost still continues, 88 of these very useful instruments having been disposed of during the past year to Fishermen and 30 to Coasters, thus bringing up the total provided by the Committee since Jane 1882, when the system was originated, to 3,467.

Life-Belts—With a view to diminishing the loss of life amongst our Fishermen employed in small boats, the Committee decided in May last to supply them—at less than one half the retail cost—with thoroughly efficient Life-belts having a maximum of 28 Ibs. buoyancy and a minimum of 25 Ibs. It is to be under- stood, however, that after the Life-belts have been received by the purchasers the Institution disclaims all responsibility for them. The experiment has been tried in the first instance on the Northumberland coast and several applications have already been received for the belts.

Removal of Wrecks.—The Elder Brethren of the Trinity House and other authorities have during the year removed many wrecks in non-navigable waters dangerous to the Life-boat crews in the discharge of their life-saving duties. This was done under the provisions of the Removal of Wrecks Act 1877 Amendment Act 1889, passed through Parliament five years ago at the instance of the Institution.

Electrical Communication on the Coast.— Good progress was made last year in the very important system of Electrical Communication on the Coast for Life- saving Purposes, promoted by the Life- boat Institution and undertaken by the Government rather more than two years ago, and several rock lighthouses and light-ships have already been canecled with the shore, as recommended by the Royal Commission. When the system is complete, which it is hoped will be the case before the end of another year, one of the most valuable national works of the generation will have been accom- plished. To make the system thoroughly efficient, however, it is absolutely neces- sary that explicit instructions should be given to the Coastguard as to the use of the telephones and telegraphic wires as connected with the Life-boat Service ; otherwise the value of the system will be seriously discounted. The Committee have brought the matter under the notice of the proper authorities, and have every reason to believe that it will receive prompt attention. The best thanks of the Institution are due to the officials of Her Majesty's Post Office for their zealous co-operation in carrying out the many suggestions which have been made to them by the Committee with a view to increasing the efficiency of the system.

Local Committees, &c.—The Committee have to tender their best and most grate- ful thanks to all the Local Committees and their Honorary Secretaries and Trea- surers, without whose assistance and important efforts the work of the Institu- tion could not be properly and effectively carried on. The Committee feel that the value of the help given by the voluntary officials of the Institution scattered over the length and breadth of the United Kingdom cannot be over-rated or too much appreciated.

Life-boat Saturday, &c.—Since the pub- lication of the last Annual Report, this important and popular movement has greatly developed, the number of cities and large towns in the United Kingdom holding "Life-boat Saturday" demonstra- tions or collections, having more than doubled. The organization has spread north, south, east and west, and wherever the demonstrations have been held the greatest interest and enthusiasm have been excited, resulting in a net sum of 21,OOOZ. being raised. The City-of Lon- don has taken up the cause and good results are expected from the establishment of a very influential Committee appointed last June at an enthusiastic meeting held at the Mansion House, presided over by the LORD MAYOR, and supported by H.E.H.

the DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA, besides many leaders of the mercantile community and others. It will be seen therefore that the steps taken early last year by the Committee for the purpose of extending and developing the " Life- boat Saturday" movement have been most successful, and they have been as a result greatly encouraged to make further efforts to still further extend its operations.

The Committee, however, feel that the main cause of the success of the move- ment has been the unwearying and inde- fatigable zeal of the great army of voluntary -workers in the cause all over the country, and to these, representing all classes of society, the Committee have to tender their most grateful and cordial acknowledgments. The amount of work voluntarily done by the many Committees, Sub-committees and Ladies' Committees, which have been formed at the principal centres of • industry throughout the country, has been enormous, and this work, backed up by the Press of the country, has secured the success attained.

It has been felt on all hands that the cause is a great and national one, and it is this general consensus of opinion which has led high and low, rich and poor, to band together to advance its interests.

Finances.—The receipts for the past year in subscriptions, donations, divi- dends, etc., amounted to 73,961?. 9s. 4d., or 17,2871. 13*. 3d. more than in the preceding year. Rather more than half of the increase is attributable to the further development and extension of the Life-boat Saturday movement, which alone produced a nett increase of 9,098.'. 7s., the remaining 8,18916s. 3d.

being made up of new annual subscrip- tions and special contributions. The Committee are of opinion that these figures are most satisfactory, more espe- cially at a time when " bad times " is the general complaint, and that they indicate that the Life-boat Institution is deeply rooted in the affections of the British public. The following is a list of the special gifts, amounting to 13,0592. 10s., received during the year for specified Life-boat establishments, &c.:— £. ». d.

Abersoch — Oldham Fund (ad- ditional) 70 - - Caister — Covent Garden Fund (additional), per J.WEBBER,Esq. 70 18 - Clovelly—Mrs. FRANCIS ROGET (additional) 2,000 - - Douglas, Kingstown, Maryport, Port Patrick, Tynetnouth, "Walmer and Wexford—Civil Service Life-boat Fund, per CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq. (ad- ditional) 808 11 7 Folkestone — Collection per S. PBOTOLD, Esq 421 9 4 Greenore — Bit A. Blaekwood Memorial Fund ..... 1,118 11 1 Hunstanton—Licensed Victuallers* Fund (additional), per A. L.

AJTNETT, Esq 50 - - Lyme Eegis—0. CABS ASHLET, Esq. (additional) .... 70 - - Palling (No. 2)—"Hearts of Oak " Fund (additional) .... SO - - Point of Ayr—H.G. POWELL, Esq. 700 - - Ditto—Collected in Wolver- hampton 350 - - Penzanoe—The Misses SMITHE- MAK 700 - - Teigumouth.—Trustees of the late Mrs. F. J. STAmroRTH . . . 1,700 - - Wells—"• Coral" Fund, per Mrs.

B. BRAITHWAITE BATTY . . 150 - - Whitby (No. 2) — JOHN A. FIELDER, Esq 3,000 - - H. B. . 1,100 - - JAMBS PAUL, M.D. ... 700 - - Numerous legacies were received during the year, which have been of great service in carrying on the work of the Institution.

Full details of these will be found in another part of the Report.

The expenditure of the year amounted to 80,680?. 16s. Id,, or 2.354Z. 19s. 2d.less than in 1893. It will be observed, therefore, that the capital account was only drawn upon to the extent of 7,154?. 3s. 5d., or 19,3312. 11s. 3d. less than in 1893. The payments comprised 31.480Z. 18s. 3d. for building, equipping, improving and repairing Life-boats and Life-boat Carriages, Life-boat Houses and Slipways; 16,620Z. 13s. 2d. for Life-belts and other Stores, the Storeyard, Subsidies to non-self-supporting Stations, Branch Payments, and Aneroids for Fishermen and Coasters; and 24,893Z. 17s. 4d. for payments to Inspectors, Coxswains, Bow- men, Signalmen; to Crews, &c., for Services and for Exercising the Life-boats, Special Rewards and Recognitions for Services, Medals, Vellums, and Grants for Injuries.

The balance was expended in Printing, Advertising, Postage, Telegrams and Stationery; on Salaries, Kent, Bates, Taxes, Housekeeper, &c. Every item, both of receipt and expenditure, has been carefully examined, verified, and passed by Mr. LOVELOCK, of the well- known firm of Messrs. LOVELOCK, WHIFFEN and DICKINSON, 19, Coleman Street, E.G., Chartered Accountants.

In conclusion, the Committee earnestly and confidently appeal to their fellow- countrymen for continued help and support. For upwards of seventy years they have perseveringly and earnestly worked, and the thousands and tens of thousands of lives which have been rescued from a watery grave as a result of their labours encourages them to "nail their colours to the mast," and to claim for the future, as in the past, the confidence and generous aid of the British Public, always alive to the interests and welfare of " poor Jack," to whom the country at large owes so much.