At the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION, held at St. Martin's Town Hall, Charing Cross Road, on Saturday, the 21st day of March, 1896, Captain His Royal Highness The DUKE OF YORK, R.N., KG-., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee was submitted for adoption:— 1896.

THE Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in issuing their 72nd Annual Report gratefully acknowledge the continued liberal and much-needed support they have received from the British Public during the past year, in their earnest efforts to promote and maintain the thorough efficiency of the Life-boat service, which year by year seems to gain increased favour and popularity with all classes of the community.

Life-boats.—A new Life-boat station has been established by the Institution during the past year at Wick, and another is in course of formation at Carrickfergus for the better protection of the increasing traffic in Belfast Loch.

New Life-boats, fully equipped, were sent in 1895 to six stations to take the place of condemned or disabled boats.

The stations to which these boats were sent were:— ENGLAND AND WALES.

Hilbre Island . . . . Cheshire.

Penzance Cornwall.

Point of Ayr . . . . Flintshire.

Wells Norfolk.

Whitby No. 2 . . . . Yorkshire.

IRELAND.

Fenit Kerry.

The boats at six other stations have been improved and brought up to date, and others will be similarly dealt with during the present year.

Owing to various reasons the Lifeboat stations which had for many years been maintained by the Institution at Ardmore, Greystones, Middlesbrough, Mundesley and Valentia have been closed and the Life-boats withdrawn; and one of the Life-boats has been removed from Pakefield, while the boat at Scarborough has, at the request of the crew, been exchanged for that withdrawn from Middlesbrough.

At the end of last year the Institution's fleet consisted of 303 Life-boats.

The Committee think it well to again remind the public that they are prepared to establish and maintain a Life-boat station on any part of the coast of the United Kingdom, where it can be shown that a Life-boat is really required. It is, however, a sine qua non that there should be a sufficient number of men, either fishermen or others accustomed to manage boats at sea, to man the Lifeboat.

Transporting Carriages.—The Life-boats at seven stations have been provided with new transporting carriages during the past year, and others are being built to meet the requirements of other stations.

of Life-boats, &c.—All the Life-boat stations of the Institution were inspected in 1895 by the Inspectors, a full report on each occasion being submitted to the Committee and carefully considered by them. The system introduced during the previous year of surprise visits to stations has certainly tended to increased efficiency in the service.

Shipwrecks.—1895, like 1894, was remarkable for the lack of stormy weather during the greater part of the year, but was at the same time marked by a few gales of great force and unusual strength towards the beginning and close of the year, resulting in considerable destruction to life and property. The gale of the year was that of the 2nd and 3rd of October, during which 27 Life-boats were launched on service, and succeeded in saving 54 lives.

During the year the Institution's Lifeboats were launched 437 times on service and 1060 times for exercise and drill, besides which crews were assembled on 69 other occasions when circumstances seemed to indicate that their services might be required. Notwithstanding the very large number of Life-boat men who manned the boats on this necessarily dangerous service during the year, until the 24th of December only one man had lost his life, and this life would probably not have been sacrificed had it not been that the gallant fellow in his eagerness and anxiety to save the lives of others failed to take the necessary precautions for his own safety. Unfortunately, however, before the end of the year the committee had to deplore the terrible catastrophe which befel the large Kingstown Life-boat on Christmas Eve. She had proceeded in an E.S.E. gale to the assistance of a vessel in distress, when she was capsized, failed to right, and her crew of 15 gallant men were drowned.

The Committee paid the funeral expenses and contributed 2,2002. towards the fund which was- raised for the relief of the bereaved families. The Committee also requested the Board of Trade to hold an official inquiry into the circumstances attending this disaster, feeling that this would rightly carry more weight than any inquiry held by their own officers.

The official finding was " that the cause of the casualty was the failure of the Lifeboat to right herself, owing to injuries sustained by the end * air-chambers, or one of them, upon her being capsized." As will be seen by the following table, the total number of lives for the saving of which the Committee granted rewards in 1895 was 709. Of these 533 were saved by Life-boats, and 176 by shore-boats and other means, besides which the Life-boat crews saved 36 vessels. The following table gives the details of the services during each month of the year.

1895.

January February March April .

May .

June .

July .

August September October .

November December Total . .

Number of Lifeboat Launches.

67 33 42 30 21 7 13 15 8 57 74 70 437 Lives Saved by Lifeboats.

80 25 45 —31 4 35 14 —78 121 90 533 Vessels Saved by Lifeboats.

6 1 3 4 1 2 - 1 1 4 8 5 36 Lives Saved by Shoreboats.

15 31 12 —3 3 1 18 21 10 36 26 176 The total number of lives saved, either by Life-boats, shore-boats, or other means, for which the Institution has granted rewards, has been 39,354, the number for each year being as follows : — Tear. So. of Lives.

1824 124 1825 218 1836 175 1827 163 1828 301 1829 463 1830 372 1831 287 1832 310 1833 449 1834 214 1835 364 ml- 99*i ij &Ao 183? 272 1838 456 1839 279 1840 353 1841 128 1842 276 1843 236 1844 193 1845 235 1846 134 1847 157 1848 123 1849 209 1850 470 1851 230 1852 773 1853 678 1854 355 1855 406 1856 473 1857 374 1858 427 1859 499 1860 455 Tear. No. of Lives.

1861 424 1862 574 1863 714 1864 698 1865 714 1866 951 1867 1,086 1868 862 1869 1,231 1870 784 1871 882 1872 739 1Q7Q fiftfi JLOfO DDC 1874 713 1875 921 1876 600 1877 1,048 1878 616 1879 855 1880 697 1881 1,121 1882 884 1883 955 1884 792 1885 555 1886 761 1887 572 1888 800 1889 627 1890 765 1891 736 1892 1,056 1893 598 1894 790 1895 709 Total 39,354 Rewards. — The rewards given by the Institution in 1895 for the saying of life from shipwreck, or for efforts to do so with personal risk, and in acknowledgment of other good services rendered to the cause, comprised 7 Silver Medals, 3 Second Service Clasps, 13 Binocular Glasses, 2 Aneroid Barometers, 39 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 10 Certificates of Service framed, and 10.434Z., including grants to relatives of men lost on service and compensation for injuries received in the Service.

Up to the close of the year the Institution had granted in rewards since its establishment in 1824, 98 Gold Medals and Gold Clasps, 1,149 Silver Medals and Clasps, 257 Binocular Glasses, 15 Telescopes, 9 Aneroid Barometers, 1,519 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 57 Certificates of Service framed, and 158,9297. in money.

Aneroids. — Further applications were received during the year for the Aneroid Barometers, which for the last thirteen years have been supplied by the Institution to Fishermen and the Masters and Owners of small Coasters at one-third the retail cost. One hundred and forty-two of these thoroughly reliable instruments were supplied to Fishermen and to Coasters, making a total of 3,609 supplied in all since June 1882.

Life-Belts. — The decision arrived at by the Committee in May, 1894, to supply Fishermen in the Coble districts with thoroughly efficient Life-belts at less than half the retail price, with a view to diminishing the loss of life amongst them when employed in small boats, has not met with so much success as was anticipated, only 40 of the Belts having been applied for during the past year, making a total of 51 Belts issued in all.

Removal of Wrecks. — Numerous wrecks in non-navigable waters dangerous to Life-boats were removed last year by the Trinity House and other authorities under the provisions of the removal of Wrecks Act 1877, Amendment Act 1889, the passing of which was secured by the Institution. Each succeeding year clearly demonstrates the usefulness of the measure.

Electrical Communication on the Coast. — The very important system of Electrical Communication on the Coast for the purposes of Life-saving undertaken by Government, at the instance of the Institution, nearly four years ago, has been still further developed during the past year, several additional lightships and rock lighthouses having been connected with the shore, in compliance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission; besides which many Coastguard stations and postal telegraph offices have been telegraphically or telephonically connected in order that prompt notice may be given to Life-boat crews thai their services are required. More, however, still remains to be done, and it is the earnest hope of the Committee that the Government may find themselves able during the coming financial year to obtain from Parliament a vote sufficiently large to provide for the completion of this great work. The Committee gratefully acknowledge the valuable assistance they have received in their efforts to render the system thoroughly efficient from the Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves and from the officials of Her Majesty's Post Office, who have done all they possibly could to secure the desired end. The great help of electrical coast communication to the work of the Institntion has been abundantly shown during the year.

Local Committees, &c.—The cordial and grateful thanks of the Committee are due to the Local Committees and their Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers for their continued generous and self-denying efforts to obtain financial support for the work of the Institntion, and to maintain the Life - boat stations in thorough efficiency. Were it not for the hearty co-operation of these "voluntary helpers, the Committee of Management could not possibly carry on the work which has been entrusted to them.

The Committee also tender their best thanks to the many inventors and others who during the past year were good enough to submit to them patents and proposals which they thought might be used for the purposes of the Institution.

The Committee are, as they have always been, most grateful for any suggestions from any source whatever which may help them in their endeavour to increase the efficiency of the service.

Life-loat Saturday, &c.—The Institution's Life-boat Saturday Fund continues to gain popularity with all classes of the community throughout the country, and " Life - boat Saturday " demonstrations and collections were made in upwards of 80 of our most important cities and towns in 1895. Notwithstanding the depressed state of agriculture and other industries, and the inconveniences of a General Election as well as County Council and School Board elections, they were highly successful, the amount received by the Institution under this head being 16,8002.19s. 8d.

In some places it was found more convenient to have a Sunday collection, or to select some other day more suitable for local arrangements, but the results were almost always equally satisfactory.

In view of the growth of the movement and the desirability of developing it in the Metropolis, the Committee decided last May that after the close of the year it should be worked from a central office in London. Offices were accordingly obtained at 3, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in close proximity to the Institution. As soon as H.R.H. the DUKE OF YORK heard of the decision of the Committee he graciously accepted the post of President of the Fund. The patronage which His Royal Highness has conferred on the Fund has given general satisfaction, and will be of great service to it. London has already been divided into 80 districts, in which committees are being formed, and these districts are being actively canvassed with a view to a Life-boat Saturday collection in London during the coming season. A very influential Ladies' Committee has also been appointed as an auxiliary to the movement, and there is no doubt that the efforts which are and will be made by this Committee will, as elsewhere, greatly conduce to the success of the campaign.

The Committee of Management of the Institution have deputed the general conduct of their Saturday Fund to a committee composed of representatives from cities and towns throughout the country in which " Life-boat Saturday " collections have been made, with the addition of some members of the Committee of Management. This Committee is working enthusiastically, and is sanguine that is efforts to still further develop the organisation, both in London and the provinces, will be crowned with success.

Early in the spring of last year, the Committee of Management invited the " Life-boat Saturday " workers throughout the country to a conference and conversazione in London, and the interchange of views and the friendly intercourse thus obtained has doubtless been the means of benefiting the cause by stimulating and encouraging all to further effort An impetus has been given to all the Ladies' Auxiliaries by the kind recognition of the labours of the Manchester and Salford Ladies' Committee last November by H.E.H. Princess Louise, who graciously went to Manchester to receive purses on behalf of the Fund, thereby furnishing another instance of the great interest evinced by the Royal Family in the Life-boat cause. The Committee desire to take this opportunity of tendering to all the workers in the movement their most grateful and cordial thanks. The amount of self-denying, hard work done by the Committees, Sub-Committees, Ladies' Committees, &c., has been enormous, and calls for the strongest expressions of appreciation and gratitude.

The best thanks of the Committee are also due to the Press of the country for the general and powerful support which it has so freely given.

Finances.—The receipts by the Institution during the year 1895 in subscriptions, donations, Life-boat Saturday (gross) and Sunday collections, dividends, &c., amounted to 66,2812. 2s. 3d., a sum in excess of the corresponding total of any previous year since the establishment of the Institution in 1824, excepting that of the year 1894, when, principally owing to an unusual number of special gifts, this amount was exceeded. This is the more gratifying because, as has already been stated, the Life-boat Saturday collections were greatly interfered with by the General Election, &c. The revenue under every other head shows a satisfactory advance.

The amount received last year in special gifts was 2,5562. Is. 8d. for specified Life-boat Establishments:— £. ». d.

Abersoch — Oldham Fund (additional) 70 - - Caister — Covent Garden Fund (additional) 86-2 Douglas, Kingstown, Maryport, Port Patrick, Tynemouth, Walmer and Wexford—Civil Service Life-boat Fund, per CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq. (additional) . . . . . . . . 850 1 6 Hunstan ton—Licensed Victuallers' Fund (additional), per A. L.

ANNETT, Esq 50 - - Palling (No. 2)—"Hearts of Oak " Fund (additional) . . . . 50 - - Porthoustock and Silloth—Miss HOWE (additional) . . . . 50 - - HANS BLACKWOOD, Esq. . 700 - - T. B. DBYBBOUGH, Esq. . 700 - - Numerous legacies, the majority of which were small ones, were also received during the year. These the Committee hare found most serviceable in helping them to carry on the Institution's work.

Pull details will be found in another part of the Report.

The expenditure of the year amounted to 75,417?. 3s. Id. (plus 6,0452. 16s. lid.

for the special purpose of working and developing the "Life-boat Saturday" Fund). The payments comprised 26,3752. lls. Id. for building, equipping, improving and repairing Life-boats and Life-boat Carriages, Life-boat Houses and Slipways; 15,9582. 2s. 8d. for Life-belts and other Stores, the Storeyard, Subsidies to non-self-supporting Stations, Branch Payments, and Aneroids for Fishermen and Coasters; 26,7182. 17s. 6d. for payments to Inspectors, Coxswains, Bowmen, Signalmen; to Crews, &c., for Services and for Exercising the Life-boats, Special Rewards and Recognitions for Services, Grants to Relatives of Men lost on Service and for Injuries, also for Medals and Vellums. The remainder was expended in Printing, Advertising, Postage, Telegrams and Stationery; on Salaries, Rent, Bates, Taxes, Housekeeper, &c. Every item of receipt and expenditure has been examined, verified, and passed by Mr. LOVELOCK, of the firm of Messrs. LOVELOCK, WHIFFEN, and DICKINSON, 19, Coleman Street, E.G., Chartered Accountants.

The Committee, while gratefully acknowledging the generous help they have received in the past, earnestly invite increased and sustained support in the future. They believe that the British Public are proud of the Life-boat service and of the good name the Institution bears all over the world, but they have to point out that the thorough efficiency of the service can only be maintained at a very large annual expenditure, and it is for the means to meet this they so urgently appeal..