AT the Thirty-first Annual Meeting of I the Committee of this Fund, held on the 19th January, and presided over by Mr. CHARLES G. TURNER, C.B., Controller- General of Inland Revenue, Mr. CHARLES DIBDIN, the Honorary Secretary, reported that the fund continued to be as popular as ever with the Members of all Branches of Her Majesty's Civil Service, and that the committee had been able during the year 1897 to pay to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, the sum of £429 Is. 5d. to meet the payment of all expenses connected with the maintenance of the seven Life-boat stations, for the building and endowment of the boats, for which the fund had already paid; in addition to £223 3s. to recoup the Institution the money paid during the year in rewarding the crews of the Civil Service boats for launching for service. The Civil Service Life-boats have up to the present time been instrumental in saving 257 lives and several vessels, besides aiding numerous other vessels and crews in distress. The Marquis of SALISBURY, and Mr. ARTHUR J. BALFOUR, M.P., have recently become Vice-Patrons of the Fund.