AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Town Hall, Westminster, on Saturday, the 20th day of April, 1901, His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G-., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee of Management Was submitted and adopted :— ANNUAL REPORT.

1901.

WITH the New Year and the opening Century, a great and irreparable loss fell on the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION in the death, on the 22nd January, of its beloved Patron, Her Majesty QUEEN VICTORIA. Her Majesty, ever ready to promote and help any work for the benefit of her people, graciously became the Patron of the Institution on her accession to the Throne in 1837, and never ceased through the very long period of her eventful and glorious reign of 63 years to take a warm interest in its welfare, being also one of the largest Annual Subscribers.

The Committee of Management have also with great regret to record the loss which the Institution sustained last July by the death of H.R.H. the Duke of Saxe-Cohurg and Gotha, Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., who had been a Vice- Patron of the Institution since 1883.

His Royal Highness had taken an active interest in the Institution and its work since 1873, having presided and spoken at its meetings on. two occasions, served on the Committee of Management for three years, and in various other ways assisted to promote and advance the welfare of the Institution.

The past year, as a whole, proved an anxious one for the Committee of Management, owing to the increased difficulty which they met with in their efforts to raise sufficient funds to carry on and maintain in efficiency the great National Life- Saving Work entrusted to them. This difficulty was due to the numerous appeals which were made throughout the whole year, in every part of the United Kingdom, in connection with the War in South Africa, to which were added, during several months, extensive public collections to relieve the Famine in India. The Committee have not how- ever in any way relaxed their efforts, and they trust that their subscribers and friends will consider that, notwithstanding great obstacles, they have rendered a good account of their stewardship. Lifeboats.—New sailing or pulling ' Life-boats, fully equipped and thoroughly adapted for their purpose, were supplied to 17 stations during the year after the fullest consultation with the crews who man them. Of these, 3 went to altogether new stations, namely, one to Buckhaven on the Firth of Forth, one to Sunderland, North Dock (Durham), and the third to Helvick Head (Dungarvan Bay); the remaining 14 were placed at stations where the existing Boats had become either unfitted for their work, on account of age or injuries, or owing to changed conditions.

The following is a complete list of the Stations to which the new boats were sent:— Arbroath .... ITorfarshire.

Buckhaven. . . . Fifeshire.

Gambols .... Northumberland.

Dungarvan Bay . . Co. Waterford, Holy Island (No. 2 Life-boat) . . . Northumberland.

Hunstanton . . . Norfolk.

Johnshaven . . . Kincardineshire.

New Romney . . . Kent.

Porthleven. . 1 „ „ Porthoustock . . ) Cornwall.

Port Patrick . . . Wigtownshire.

Sunderland (North Dock) .... Durham.

Swansea .... Glamorganshire.

Tynemouth (No. 2 Life-boat) . . . Northumberland.

Walton-on-Naze . . Essex.

Wexford .... Co. Wexford.

Winchelsea . . . Sussex.

It has been found desirable, owing to change in the local requirements, and with the full concurrence of the Local Committees, to withdraw Boats from Thorpeness (Suffolk), Morthoe (North Devon), Ballinacourty (Co. Waterford), Roker (Durham), Sunder- land, South Pier (Durham), and Grimsby (Lincolnshire). In the case of the four last-mentioned Boats, improved arrangements have been made in the respective localities thereby obviating the necessity of retaining the Boats in question.

At the close of the year the Institu- tion's fleet comprised 286 Life-boats.

Transporting Carriages.—New Trans- porting Carriages have been supplied to 11 Stations.

Inspection of Life-boats, etc.—All the Institution's Life-boats and Stations have been very carefully and thoroughly inspected during the past year, a full and detailed report of each inspection, many of which were "surprise visits," being submitted to and considered by the Committee of Management.

Shipwrecks.—The year 1900, although not so fine as its two predecessors, was not until quite the end of the year remark- able for either stormy or bad weather, but was rather noticeable for its un- seasonably mild, dull, and persistently rainy seasons. Such gales as did prevail, however, were not as a rule of long duration or of unusual force, but were fairly distributed throughout the year and on the different parts of the coast. The heaviest gales of the year occurred on the 15-16th February, the 3rd-4th August, and the 27-29th December. On these occasions there were 54 launches of Life-boats, resulting, during the February gale, in the saving of 66 lives and 2 vessels; of '25 lives and 2 vessels during that in August, and of 60 lives in the two gales at the end of December. Throughout the year the Life-boats were launched on service 362 times, and 1,056 times for exercise, besides which, the crews assembled on 55 other occasions, when it was thought that their services would be required.

It is with the profoundest sorrow the Committee have to report, that whilst the new protected-screw steam Life-boat, stationed at Padstow (Cornwall) as recently as February 1899, was proceed- ing to the assistance of a vessel in distress, on the llth April last, the wind at the time blowing hard from the W.N.W., she was suddenly struck by a by shore-boats and other means, in tremendous sea rolling up on the port addition to which the Life-boat crews quarter ; the sea broke as it struck were instrumental in saving 35 vessels. her, and turned her over, with the result , The details of the services rendered that she became a complete wreck and during each month of the year, are was washed up on the rocks. Eight of her given in the preceding table. crew perished, namely, the engine-room The total number of lives, for the staff of four, who were below, and four of saving of which the Institution has be- the deck hands all of whom had on their stowed rewards since its establishment life-belts. The Committee forthwith con- in 1824, by Life-boats, shore-boats, or tributed £1000 to the relief fund opened by other means, has been 42,707, in the locality and county for the benefit the number in each year being as of the dependent relatives of the follows : — drowned men and met all the expenses Year. No. of Lives. Year. No. of Lives. connected with the funerals, etc. The 1824 124 1864 698 Board of Trade, at the request of the 1825 218 1826 175 1865 714 1866 951 Committee, very carefully inquired into 1827 163 1867 1,086 the disaster and could not find that it 1828 301 1868 862 was attributable either to faulty con- 1830 372 1869 1,231 1870 784 struction of the Life-boat or mismana.ffe- 1831 287 1871 882 ment by her crew. Having regard to 1832 310 1833 449 1872 739 1873 668 the terrible nature of the disaster and the 1834 214 1874 713 exceptional requirements of the locality the Committee have decided not to 1835 364 1886 225 1837 272 1875 921 1876 600 1877 1,048 replace the wrecked Steam Life-boat, 1838 456 1878 616 but to substitute for it a sailing Life- 1839 279 1840 353 1879 855 1880 69T boat to be towed by a Steam-tug which 1841 128 1881 1,121 has been specially designed for the 1842 276 1843 236 1882 884 1883 955 purpose by Mr. G. L. Watson, the 1844 193 1884 792 Consulting Naval Architect of the 1845 235 1885 555 Institution and is now being built. 1846 134 1847 157 . 1886 761 1887 572 1848 123 1888 800 Number of Life- Lives Saved Vessels Saved Lives Saved 1849 209 1850 470 1889 627 1890 765 1900. boat by Life- by Life- by 1851 230 1891 736 Launches. boats. boats. Snore- boats. 1852 773 1892 1,056 1853 678 1893 598 January February MariOi 32 56 21 41 124 16 2 • 6 6 29 20 9 1854 355 1855 406 1856 473 1894 790 1895 709 1896 4bl in.drcu OQ 1857 374 1897 662 MPaf 17 24 35 1 3 3fc 5 1858 427 1898 756 (Tun 3 14 18 3 11 1859 499 1899 609 Til IT g 6 1860 459 1900 865 V U-L J August September 27 11 54 3 2 3 31 1861 424 1862 574 1 Ofto IT-I A Total 42,707 October . 21 96 2 8 looo /14 November 66 147 6 20 December . 67 150 4 1 Rewards. The rewards given last Total. . 362 690 35 175 year by the Institution for the saving of life from shipwreck on the coasts of The total number of lives for the the United Kingdom or for meritorious saving of which the Institution granted and prompt efforts to do so, and in rewards in 1900 was 865, of which 690 recognition of other good services ren- were saved by the Life-boats, and 175 deredj included 11 Silver Medals and Clasps, 16 Binocular Glasses, 4 Aneroid Barometers, 36 Votes of Thanks in- scribed on vellum and framed, 11 Certificates of Service framed and 10,662Z. Os. Id., including grants to the relatives of men lost on Service, com- pensation for personal injuries sustained in the Service, and retiring allowances.

At the close of the year the Institu- tion had bestowed altogether in rewards since 1824, 98 Gold Medals and Clasps, 1,192 Silver Medals and Clasps, 305 Binocular Glasses, 15 Telescopes, 28 Aneroid Barometers, 1,672 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 127 Certificates of Service framed and 211.348Z. 17s. 6d. in money.

Aneroids.—During the year there was a constant demand for the excellent and reliable aneroid barometers which the Institution has supplied at a greatly reduced price to the masters and owners of fishing boats and small coasters since 1882. The total number disposed of last year was 118. Of these 97 were supplied to fishermen and 21 to coasters. The total number issued has been 4,290.

Electrical Communication on the Coast.

—Further additions, with a view to completing the scheme, have been made to the system of electrical communica- tion established on the coast for life- saving purposes, and the system each year increasingly proves its need, usefulness and importance. The Committee regret that the Government have not as yet seen their way to utilize wireless telegraphy for light-vessels, especially as ( the Borkam light-vessel, 20 miles off'{ the German coast, has been utilized since last spring for life-saving and commercial purposes by means of wire- less telegraphy. They trust, however, that the full advantages of the discovery may ere long be secured for this country.

Local Committees.—The duties of the Local Committees have been more than usually onerous during the past year owing to the increased difficulty experienced in raising funds for the Institution, caused by the appeals so generally made throughout the length and breadth of the land in connection with the South African War and the Indian Famine. The most hearty and grateful thanks of the Committee of Manage- ment are therefore due, and are tendered to all the Honorary Officials of the Institution, including the Branch Committees, Secretaries and Treasurers; and the Committee would ex- press the earnest hope and belief that in the near future all those who have generously co-operated with them in so self-denying a way may see a better and more encouraging result of their unceasing and unselfish labours.

The Committee also desire to acknowledge the very important assistance which they have received from the Public Press, and to recognise the valuable and much appreciated co-operation of H.M. Coastguard.

The cordial acknowledgments of the Committee are also tendered to all who have been so good as to submit for their consideration inventions, suggestions and patents which might possibly, as they hoped, be utilized for increasing the efficiency of the Service.

Lifeboat Saturday.—The efforts of the Central Committee of the Life-boat Saturday Fund, the Life-boat Saturday Committees and the Ladies' Auxiliaries throughout the country have been very severely handicapped during the past year by the South African War and Indian Famine Funds. In many instances it was found necessary to abandon Demonstrations and Collections altogether, and in others to modify the arrangements which had been made.

The best and grateful thanks, as well as the sympathy of the Institution, are therefore tendered to all the Life-boat Saturday Workers, and the Committee of Management are hopeful that brighterdays are in store for the movement in the New Year. It is gratifying to find, however, that notwithstanding adverse circumstances, Life-boat Saturday Demonstrations and Collections were made in 93 cities and towns, and of these four towns had not previously participated in the movement.

Finances.—The total amount received by the Committee of Management last year in subscriptions, donations, dividends, etc., and including the contribution (11,666?. 5s. 9d.) received from Life-boat Saturday Fund, was 69,6931. 6*. 8d., a considerable falling off of 2,8951. Os. §d., as compared with, the corresponding total of the previous year. The loss was mainly due to the diminution, in the amounts received under the heads of donations and Life-boat Saturday collections, entirely caused, it is believed, by the South African War and Indian Famine Funds. A further amount of 31,491?. Is. 10(1. was received in legacies, of which 12,796?. 3«. 2cL was for special trusts and other specific purposes.

The total expenditure in 1900—• enormously increased by the great rise in price of all materials and labour—was 95,623?. 3s. 7d., and included 43,5681.

15s. 8d., for building, equipping, improving and repairing Life-boats, Life-boat carriages, Life-boat houses and Slip- ways; 17,112?. Is. Id. for subsidies to non-self-supporting stations, branch payments, aneroids for -fishermen and coasters, life-belts, and other stores and the storeyard; 29,104?. 3s. 3d. for payments to coxswains, bowmen, signalmen; to crews, etc., for services and for exercising the Life-boats, for special rewards and recognitions, for services, grants to the relatives of men lost on service, for injuries, pensions, and retiring allowances to coxswains and signalmen, medals and vellums; also for payments to Inspectors. The balance was expended in printing, advertising, postage, telegrams and stationery; on salaries, rates, taxes, house-keeper, other office expenses, and legal charges connected with leases and bequests. Every item of receipt and expenditure has, as usual, been examined, verified, and passed by Mr. Samuel Lovelock, Chartered Accountant.

The Committee of Management once more earnestly appeal for help. They have already .drawn attention to the fact that last year, owing to the special reasons mentioned, there was a falling off in the aggregate amount contributed for the Life-boat cause, but they cannot but hope that when it is realised by the public that the moneys received from the ordinary sources of income are in- sufficient to maintain the Institution's large life-saving fleet in thorough efficiency, those who have the means and recognise the importance of the great national work carried on by the Institution for the last 77 years, will liberally respond to their appeal, and not only supply the deficiency of the year gone by, but also generously provide for the exigencies of the Service in that which is to come.