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Summary of the Meetings of the Committee

THURSDAY, 18th April, 1901.

Sir EDWARD BIRKECK, Bart., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Read letter from His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, stating that he had the command of THE KING to convey to the Committee of Management His Majesty's thanks for their loyal and dutiful address expressing their sympathy with His Majesty and the Royal Family on the occasion of the lamented death of Her late Majesty QUEEN VICTORIA.

Reported that Her Majesty QUEEN ALEXANDRA had graciously consented to continue her patronage to the Institution.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the Building, Finance and Correspondence and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the Reports of the District Inspectors on their visits to the following Stations :— Northern District — Ackergill, Alnmouth, Anstruther, Banff, Buckie, Crail, Dornoch Firth, Eyemouth, Fraserburgh, Holy Island (2 boats), Huna, Longhope, Lossiemouth, Newbiggin, Newburgh, North Sunderland, Peterhead, Stornoway, Stromness, Thurso, Whitelink Bay and Wick.

Eastern District—Broadstairs, Dover, Dun- geness (2 boats), Filey, Folkestone, Hythe, Kingsdowne, Margate (2boats), New Romney, North Deal, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick, Scarborough, Sheringham, Staithes, Upgang, Walmer and Whitby (2 boats).

Southern District—Bembridge, Guernsey, Hayling Island, Jersey, Lyme Regis, Poole, Ryde, Southsea, Swanage and Weymouth.

Western District—Appledore (two boats), Bude, Clovelly, Ilfracombe, Llandulas, Lynmouth, Newquay (Cornwall), Padstow and Port Isaac.

Irish District—Aranmore, Giles' Quay and Greenore.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:— £ s. d.

The THORNGATE TRUSTEES (annual subscription) . . 80 - - Trustees of BERMAN'S CHARITY (additional) .... 10 10 - Moiety of Offertories on Steam Yacht Argonaut, during her last cruise.....10 5 -£. s. d.

Collection in H.M. Dockyard Church, Devonport, per Rev. P. C. STEBBING, M.A., B.N. . 366 —To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies :— The late JAMBS NEWPORT, Esq., of Holloway The late Miss ELIZABETH S.

CLARK, of Clifton The late Mrs. MARY POSTLETHWAITE, of Barrow-in-Furness The late Miss ELIZABETH HALL, of Whitchurch ....

100 - - 50 - - 50 - - 25 - - Resolved that the best thanks of the Institution be presented to the following (gentlemen in acknowledgment of their valuable co-operation while they were serving as Honorary Secretaries of Branches of the Society, which posts they had lately re- signed:—Dr. H. K. DAWSON, Sheringham; Rev. J. A. GREER, LL.B., Ballywalter; Mr. ALLAN LEIGH, Fethard; Capt. A. A. WALKER, Kingstown, and Mr. W. WAREHAM, Seaham.

Also that the services of the following ladies who had done good work for the Insti- tution during the last five years and upwards, be suitably acknowledged: Miss L. GARTER, Clevedon; Miss M. E. GARDNER, Perth; Miss S. HAMILTON and Miss F. SOMERVILLE, Lakes District: Miss E. M. JOHNSON, Taunton; Mrs. J. POMEROY, Enniskillen; Mrs. SANDERSON, Cavan; Mrs. SANDFORD, Whit- church, and Miss F. SIDNEY, Millom.

Reported the transmission to Dunbar and Montrose (No. 2) of new Life-boats, trans- porting carriages, Tipping's plates, &c.

Paid 4,6892. 13s. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 3472. 8s. 9d., to defray the expenses of the following services by Life-boats :— Life-boat.

Clacton .

Ditto.

Douglas .

Dungeness ) No. 1 . / Ferryside Formby .

Harwich (Steam Life-boat) Margate No. 1 Palling No. 2 Peel Penzance Vessel.

Brig Comforter, of Tons- berg ....

Smack William and Eliza, of Colchester.

Stood by vessel.

Schooner Mersey, of Dublin ....

Steamer Alcinous, of Liverpool. Stood by vessel.

Ship Australia, of Christiania .

S.S. Dominion, of Liver- pool. Stood by vessel.

Schooner Rose, of Ipswich Brigantine Rose, of Whitstable .

S.S. Ardlethen, of Aber- deen. Rendered assist- ance.

Lugger Maria Jane, of Peel. Assisted to save vessel.

Barque Antarctic, of Swansea. Landed 9.

Lives saved.

15 Life-boat.

Southend (Essex) Wexford Whitby No. 1 Vessel.

Barque G-rethe, of Kra- gero. Stood by vessel.

Schooner Perseverance, of Wexford. Stood by vessel.

Fishing cobles. Re- mained in attendance.

Lives saved.

The Margate No 2 Life-boat rendered assist- ance to the brigantine Mary Johns, of Fowey.

Voted an extra reward to the crew of the Ferryside (Carmarthen Bay) Life-boat, in recognition of their good services on the ! occasion of the rescue of fifteen of the crew I of the ship Australia, of Christiania, on the ! 30th March (vide also p. 281).

I Also 542Z. 5s. 9 J. to pay for assemblies of the crews, watching or launches by the follow- ing Life-boats, with the view of assisting those on board vessels apparently in distress:— Arbroath, Bude, Cadgwith, Caister No. 1, Clacton, Cromer, Dunbar, Filey, Gorleston No. 1, Hauxley, Holyhead (Steam Life-boat), Hoylake, Lowestoft No. 2, Margate Nos. 1 and 2, New Romney, Padstow, Palling No. 2, Port Erroll, Southend (Cantyre), Southend (Essex), Tenby, Weston - super - Mare, Wey- mouth, Whithorn and Winterton No. 2.

The crew ofv the St. Ives Life-boat also assembled, ready ,to put off if necessary, but made no charge, those in danger being fellow- fishermen.

Voted 1Z. to a man injured at the launch of the Winterton No. 2 Life-boat, for service on the 17th March.

Also 21. 10s. to five men, for rendering service to the crew, ten in number, of the s.s. Broughshane, of Londonderry, which stranded in' Doon Bay, Rathlin Island, Co, Antrim, in a strong S.S.E. gale, a heavy sea and thick weather, on the night of the 15th January. The crew took to their boats and were assisted by the five men, who, by means of lanterns, directed them where to land, and, with the aid of lines thrown from the boats, helped them to reach the shore.

Also 15s. to two men for saving one of the crew of a fishing boat, which had sunk about a quarter of a mile W. of Wart Holm, Copinshay, Orkney, in a fresh breeze from N. to N.N.E., and a rough choppy sea, on the 22nd February. The salvors, who were in another boat, pulled and sailed to the scene of the casualty and succeeded in rescuing one of the men, but unfortunately the other was drowned.

Saturday, 20th April, 1901.

The Annual General Meeting of the Governors and friends of the Royal National Life-boat Institution took place this day at the Town Hall, Westminster, His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G., in the Chair.

The Chairman having made some suitable observations on the great and national character of the operations of the Institution, the annual report (which will be found in the May number of The Life-boat Journal) was presented to the meeting.

The meeting was also addressed by Sir JOSEPH W. PEASE, Bart., M.P., CHARLES H. SEELY, Esq., M.P., WALTER R. PLUMMER, Esq., M.P., Sir JOHN C. B. COLOMB, K.G.M.G., M.P., JOHNSTONE WALLACE, Esq., Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., and Sir ROBERT TJ. PENROSE FITZGERALD, Bart., MP.

The officers for the current year were chosen, and various resolutions moved, seconded and carried unanimously, pledging the meeting to renewed exertions on behalf of the benevolent and national objects of the Institution, and expressing the fullest confidence in the management.

The officers' names and the resolutions will be found in the May number of The Life-boat Journal.

THURSDAY, 9th May, 1901. " Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., was unanimously elected Chairman, and Colonel FitzRoY CLAYTON, V.P., Deputy-Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institu- tion for the ensuing year.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., having taken the Chair, the members of the Sub-Committees were elected for the current year.

Also the delegates to the Central Committee of the Life-boat Saturday Fund.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting, also minutes of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Also read the minutes of the last meeting of the Central Committee of the Life-boat Saturday Fund, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the report of the Chief Inspector of Life-boats on his recent visit to the Eastbourne Life-boat station.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors on their recent visits to the following stations :— Northern District — Berwick - on - Tweed, Dunbar and Hauxley.

Eastern District—Bridlington, Cromer, Flamborough (two boats), Hornsea and Sheringham.

Southern District—Brixham, Exmouth, Hope Cove, Plymouth, Sidmouth, Teignmouth Torquay and Yealm River.

Western District—Holyhead (two boats), Llanddulas, Forth Rhufiydd, Pwllheli and Rhyl.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:—• £ s. d.

Moiety of collection on board the Steam Yacht Argonaut, on her last cruise, per CONNOR F. S. BROWNE, Esq. . . . 18 13 10 Collected on B.M.S. Tantallon Castle, per Capt. TRAVERS . 10 10 - Contents of contribution boxes at Annual General Meeting . 352 I Also the receipt of the following legacies:— £ s. d.

The late Mrs. ELIZA MACKENZIE, of Clarkshill . . . 525 - - The late HENRY CARNLEY, Esq., i of Hull (balance) ... 20 15 3 The Committee expressed their regret at the death of the late Mr. ROBERT WHITWORTH, who had been a Vice-President of the Institution for nearly forty years.

Resolved that the zealous and valuable services of various Honorary Secretaries oi Local Branches of the Institution for twenty years ! and upwards, be suitably recognised.

Paid 7.945J. 12s. l i. for various charges on j different Life-boat establishments.

Voted 8i. 14s., to pay the expenses of the i service rendered by the Runswick Life-boat I in standing by fishing-boats in danger in a heavy sea, on the 12th April.

Also 522. 8s. for the expenses of the launch of the Giles' Quay and Palling No. 2 Life-boats and assemblies of the crews at Atherfield and Porth Rhufiydd, with the view of assisting vessels in distress.

The Ramsgate Life-boat was taken out, but her services were not ultimately called into requisition.

Voted il. 15s. to seven fishermen for saving the crew of three men from the boat Hawk which had been capsized by one of her occupants climbing the mast, when about three miles distant from Arbroath, in a smooth sea and fine weather on the 20th April.

Also U. to Mr. THOMAS VEALE, Ferry-boat Proprietor, of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, for putting off in a boat and rescuing a boy from a boat which was drifting out to sea., without oars, and was in a sinking condition, off Dungarvan, in a moderate W.N.W. gale and a rough sea, on the 14th April.

Thursday, 13th June, 1901.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the Minutes of the previous meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their recent visits to the follow- ing Stations:— Northern District—Ayr, Eyemouth, Girvan and North Berwick.

Eastern District — Blakeney, Brancaster, Gorleston (three boats), Harwich (two boats), Hasborough, Hunstanton, Palling (two boats) and Wells.

Southern District—Atherfield, Bembridge, Brighstone Grange, Brooke, Eastbourne, Littlehampton, Selsey, Shoreham, Totland Bay and Worthing.

Western District—Angle, Bull Bay, Burn- ham, Cemaes, Cemlyn, Littlehaven, Llandd-wyn, Moelfre, Penarth, Penmon, Point of Ayr, Rhosneigir, Rhoscolyn and Tenby.

Reported the receipt of the following special  contributions since the last meeting :— j & s. d.

Mrs. McNAB, in memory of her late husband......500 - - Miss GANTHORP......50 - - J. CLIFTON BROWN, Esq. (additional) 25 - - The administrators of the late Mr.

WILLIAM FRANCIS HALE . . 10 10 - Collected on board the R.M.S. Dunolly Castle, per Capt. B. H. IVET........6 - - Collected on board the s.y. Argonaut, per Connor P. S. PEROWNE, Esq. 598 Passengers on the s.y. Victoria on her recent Mediterranean trip, per G. B. GRANT, Esq. . . . 10 10 - —To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies :— £ s. d.

I The late N. W. F. SMITH, Esq., of Kennington.....1,595 15 1 ' The late JOHN BAYLISS, Esq., of Ryde, I.W., to provide a Life- boat to be called the John and Amy........1,000 - - The late Miss KATHERINE S. SKYKNER, of Brighton, for a i Leslie Life-boat for the coast of England......1,000 - - The late Miss MARIANNE CULLEN, of Nottingham, for a Life-boat to be named the James Cullen 900 - - The late Mrs. A. MACGEORGE, of Hyde Park Square .... 234 9 3 The late W. H. DEAN, Esq., of Stratford (additional) ... 70 14 7 The late Miss PRANCES M. BEN- SON, of Leamington ... 25 - - The thanks of the Institution were ordered to be presented to Mr. ALEXANDER BARB and Mr. GEORGE CLARK in acknowledgment of their services as Honorary Secretaries re- spectively of the St. Andrew's and Grange- mouth branches.

Voted 131. to two men injured while on service with the Life-boat at St. Ives.

Reported the transmission to Dunbar of the new Life-boat transporting carriage, Tipping's plates, horse-launching poles and pushing-poles.

Paid 11,1202. 3s. Id. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

The Committee specially recognized the services of Mr. F. JOSE on his retirement from the office of coxswain of the Falmouth Life- boat. Also the services of Mr. SAMUEL SOUTHEBDEN, late assistant-coxswain of the Life-boat at Rye.

Voted 111. 10s. to pay the expenses of the Harwich steam Life-boat and the Staithes Life-boat in remaining respectively by the schooner Harriet, of Goole, and distressed fishing cobles.

The Gorleston No. 1 Life-boat assisted to save the s.s. Ossian, of Leith, with seventeen persons on board.

Voted also 169Z. 19s. to pay for watching, assemblies of crews or launches of Life-boats, with the view of assisting those on board vessels in distress, at the following stations:— Ackergill, Aranmore, Cemaes, Huna, Lowes- toft No. 2, Palling No. 2, Whitby No. 2 and Winterton No. 2.

The Caister No. 1 and Winterton No. 1 Life-boats were also launched, but their ser- vices were not needed.

Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed, to Mr. RICHARD OWEN, assistant- coxswain of the Moelfre Life-boat, in recognition of his excellent services and conspicuous courage displayed on many occasions, especially in November last, when he jumped overboard, although unable to swim, to disentangle a net which had fouled the boat's rudder. He was appointed in 1887, and since then the Life- boat has been launched for service on twenty- one occasions and has saved fifty-seven lives.

Voted 2Z. 12s. 6 Z. to six coastguard men and a fisherman for putting off in the station whale-boat at Howth, co. Dublin, and saving the crew of two men from the yawl Lizzie, of Howth, which was capsized off the East Pier, in a strong N.E. breeze and a very heavy sea, on the 26th April.

Also II. 15s. to seven men for putting off in a coastguard-boat at Gloughey, co. Down, and landing the crew of four men from the ketch Ravinello, of Bridgwater, which was in danger of becoming a total wreck, on the 22nd May.

The sum of 2s. each was awarded to nine men who assisted to launch the boat and to a messenger employed on the occasion.

THURSDAY, 11th July, 1901.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the Minutes of the previous meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered that their re- commendations be carried into effect.

Read the Report of the Deputy Chief Inspector on his visit to the Llanddulas and Llandudno Life-boat stations.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their recant visits to the following stations:— Northern District—Arbroath, Ardrossan, Ballantrae, Broughty Ferry, Campbeltown, Gourdon, Irvine, Johnshaven, Kildonan, Montrose (two boats), Port Logan, Port Patrick, St. Andrew's, Southend (Cantyre), Stonehaven and Troon.

Southern District — Cadgwith, Coverack, Falmouth, Looe, Mevagissey, Polpear, Porth- leven and Porthoustock, Western District—Aberdovey, Aberystwyth, Barmouth, Burry Port, Cardigan, Ferryside, Fishguard (two boats), Newquay (Cardigan- shire), Porthcawl, St. David's and Weston- Super-Mare.

Irish District—Castletown, Clogher Head, Culdaff, Douglas, Drogheda, Greencastle,Howth, Peel, Port Erin, Portrush, Port St. Mary and Ramsey.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting j— £ s. d.

B. F..........50 - - Collected on the occasion of a Church Parade of the Loyal Order of Anglo-Saxons Friendly Society, per the Reverend S. B. WIGAN, Thornham, Maidstone . 232 E. F. WHITE, Esq. (annual subscription) .......50 - - Miss S. E. WHITE (annual subscrip- tion) ......., . 25 - - Ancient Order of Foresters, per 3.

LISTER STEAD, Esq.....500 - - —To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies:— £ s. d.

The late Mrs. CATHERINE APE- DAILE, of Haydon Bridge (on account of share of residue) . . 500 - - The late RICHARD JONES, Esq., M.D., of Scarborough. . . . 250 - - The late PERCY BARRON, Esq., of Warwick.......89 18 6 The late BENJAMIN GIBBONS, Esq., of Sutton Coldfield .... 4 14 6 The late Miss ADA G. MACDONALD, of Chester Street, S.W. . . . 200 - - • The late Miss HANNAH HARVIE, of Cheltenham......2000 - - The Committee specially recognised the very important service rendered by J. CAME- RON LAMB, Esq., C.B., C.M.G., in connection with the Institution's scheme for the establishment of electrical communication on the coast, for life-saving purposes, adopted by the Government.

The services of Messrs. JOHN GLOVES and THOMAS MARTIN, on retirement from the office of coxswain respectively of the Weston- super-Mare and Portrush Life-boats were recognised, as also were those of Messrs. WILLIAM JENKINS and WILLIAM BROWN, retiring assistant coxswains at Cardigan and Porthcawl.

Paid 12.707J. Is. 5 Z. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

The sum of 2/. 17s. 6d. was granted to two men slightly injured while on service at Criccieth and Flamborough.

The Committee expressed their deep sympathy with the families of Messrs. JOHN OWEN and THOMAS OWEN, firemen on. board the steam Life-boat, Duke of Northumberland, who lost their lives by an explosion in the engine room on the 26th June. Inquests were held on the bodies of the two men, the juries returning a verdict of accidental death. A grant of 1000L was made to the widows and families of the men, and the funeral and other expenses were defrayed by the Institution.

The Committee ordered that their approval of the manner in which he discharged his duties on a very trying occasion be conveyed to Mr. BASIL HALL, late Lieutenant R.N.' District Inspector of Life-boats, who was on board the steamer at the time of the unfortunate occurrence.

Voted 351. 8s. to pay the expenses of the Holyhead No. 2 and St. Agnes Life-boats which respectively rendered assistance to an endangered boat and saved twenty-seven persons from a boat of the four-masted barque Falkland, of Liverpool.

Also 147L 10s. to pay for watching, assemblies of crews or launches at the following Life-boat stations with the view of rendering help to those on board distressed vessels:— Aranmore, Caister No. 1, Gorleston No. 1, Hope Cove, Margate No. 1, Newquay (Cardi- ganshire), Salcombe and St. Mary's.

Also 2J. 12s. 6d. to seven men for putting off in a boat from Withernsea, Yorkshire, to the assistance of a boat, with four boys on board, which had been carried out to sea in.

a moderate S.W. gale, on the 23rd June. The boys, who had been picked up by a steam trawler, were landed and their boat was towed back to the shore.

Also II. 5s. to five men for putting oft in a boat and saving a fisherman whose boat was sinking off Newquay, Cardiganshire, in a strong S. gale, on the 19th June.

THURSDAY, 1st August, 1901.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., Y.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the pre- vious meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward ' Sub-Committees, and ordered that their re- commendations be carried into effect.

Bead the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their visits to the following Stations:— Northern District—Banff, Buckle, Fraser- burgh, Hauxley, Holy Island (two boats), Lossiemouth, Newburgh, Peterhead, Port Erroll and Whitelink Bay.

Eastern District — Brixham, Falmouth, Fowey, Mevagissey, Mullion, Newhaven, , Torquay and Winchelsea.

Western District—Barry Dock, Port Eynon, Swansea and Watchet.

Irish District—Aranmore, Blackrock, Oar- i rick Fergus, Giles Quay, Greenore, Grooms- i port, Kingstown (two boats) and Poolbeg.

I Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:— £. s. d.

S.D.R.S.D. (additional) .... 50 - - Passengers on the R.M.S. Magda- lena, per Capt. JAS. POPE . . 33- Offertory in Highfield School Chapel, per Miss Metcalfe . . 169 The Worshipful Company of Drapers (annual subscription) . . . . 52 10 - —To be severally thanked.Also the receipt of the following legacies:— & s.

d.

The late Mr. WILLIAM A. C. HARDIE, of Glasgow, per Glasgow Branch 225 - - The late Mrs. ANN VEALE, of York 20 - - The late Mrs. HENRY VAUGHAN, of Cumberland Terrace, Regent's Park.........13 6 6 The late Miss MARGARET BARNARD, of Newnham-on-Severn . . . 100 - - The Committee specially recognised the services of Mr. NOBLE RUDDOCK, coxswain, and Mr. JOHN O'BRIEN, bowman, of the Courtmacsherry Life-boat, on their resignation.

A gratuity was awarded to Mr. JOHN HALL, who was injured while employed on board the steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland, on the 26th June.

Voted the silver medal and a pecuniary grant to Mr. JETHRO PuTTiT, ex-coxs-wain of the Broadstairs Life-boat, in recognition of his good service in the boat during the period in which he held office.

Paid 5,9061. 18s. 3d. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

Reported that a new transporting carriage and a set of Tipping's plates had been supplied to the Clogher Head Life-boat station.

Voted 181. 3s. to pay the expenses of the Youghal and Peterhead Life-boats in assisting the barque Pax, of Liverpool, and fishing boat Advance, of Pittenweem.

The Walmer Life-boat rendered assistance to the s.s. Cid, of Barcelona.

Voted 16Z. 15s. to a man who was injured I while engaged on service with the Winchelsea Life-boat, on the 15th February.

Also 6s. to two fishermen for putting off in a boat from Whithorn and taking into the harbour a boat, containing four persons, which was being carried out to sea by the current off Burrow Head, in fine weather, on the 13th July.