AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Royal United Service Institution, "Whitehall, on Thursday, the 5th day of March, 1903, His Grace the DUKE OF SUTHERLAND, K.G., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee of Management was submitted and adopted:— ANNUAL REPORT.

1903.

THE Committee of Management have the honour to report that during the past year H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, who since 1895 has been the President ,of the Ladies' Auxiliaries throughout the United Kingdom, graciously became a Vice-Patron of the Institution. Such support has been particularly encouraging, inasmuch as the year proved a very difficult one for all the workers for the cause. Increased taxation, the necessary result of the late South African War, and expenses and calls specially connected with the unusual circumstances of the year, all proved dangerous obstacles to the raising of the necessary funds to maintain in thorough efficiency the great national life-saving service carried on by the Royal National Life-boat Institution. The Committee of Management have, however, persevered, and thanks to the loyal and zealous aid of the Institution's many friends and supporters, their appeals for help have not been made in vain.

Considerable anxiety has, for some time past, been caused the Committee, by the approaching termination of the lease of the House of the Institution in John Street, Adelphi, which will expire on the 25th March, 1904. The present premises, occupied by the Institution as its head-quarters since 1855, have for a long time proved altogether inadequate, the work connected with the Institution , having practically doubled during the last thirty years, and it is imperatively necessary, if the work is to be efficiently carried on in the future, that the official staff should be housed in larger and more convenient premises. After much careful search, the Committee are glad to be able to report that they have acquired a sixty-five years' lease, at a ground rent of 385Z., of an excellent building situated in Charing Cross VOL. XVIII.—No. 208.—LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL.

2 N 594 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[1ST MAY, 1903.

Road, which will, they believe, when fitted up and occupied next year, prove in every way better adapted than the present offices for the great national object of the Institution, and far more sanitary and suitable for the officers and staff. The price of the lease (10,OOOZ.), though a large sum, the Committee consider moderate for such desirable premises.

Life-boats.—Newly built pulling and sailing Life-boats, thoroughly equipped and fully adapted for their important purpose, were supplied last year to 23 stations, and it is gratifying to know that they have given satisfaction to the coxswains and crews for whom they were supplied, and who were fully consulted as to the selection of their several types. Of the new boats thus provided, one was sent to a new station established at Hendon Beach (Durham).

The following is a complete list of the Stations to which new Boats were sent in 1902 :— Suffolk.

Devonshire.

Co. Donegal.

Isle of Wight.

Northumberland.

Somerset.

Norfolk.

Go. Louth.

Go. Donegal.

Northumberland.

Co. Durham.

Co. Wexford.

Carnarvonshire.

Corn wall.

Haddingtoushiro.

Co. Dublin.

Carnarvonshire.

Co. Antrim, Yorkshire.

Yorkshire.

Pembrokeshire.

Devonshire.

Co. Durham.

Aldeburgh . . .

Appledore (No. 2) .

Aramnore .

Bembridge .

Blyth ....

Burnham .

Cromer ....

Drogheda .

Greencastle Hauxley Hendon Beach Kilmore Llandudiio Looe ....

North Berwick Poolbeg . . .

Porthdinllaen Portrush . .

Robin Hood's Bay Scarborough . .

Tenby ....

Torquay . . .

Whitburn . . .

During the year it became desirable to close the Porthcawl (Glamorganshire) station, in consequence of the impossibility of obtaining a really efficient crew to man the Life-boat; in addition to which the amount of shipping frequenting the port, which originally caused the establishment of the station, had fallen to very small dimensions, thereby practically removing the necessity for a Life-boat.

Transporting Carriages.—New trans- porting carriages have been provided for 11 stations.

Inspection of Lifeboats, etc.—Each of the Institution's Life-boat stations has been carefully and thoroughly inspected during the past year, a full and detailed report of each inspection, of which many were " surprise visits," being submitted to and considered by the Committee of Management.

Shipwrecks.—The year 1902 was unusually free from violent gales; The services of the Life-boats and their gallant crews were, however, in constant requisition during some portions of the year, and much excellent life-saving work was effected. The heaviest gale of the year occurred on the 15th to 17th October, during which 16 of the Institution's Life-boats were launched, and were the means of saving 65 lives.

Between the 1st January and the 31st December, 1902, inclusive, the Life-boats were launched 295 times on service, and 1,084 times for exercise, in addition to which crews were assembled in readiness for service 42 times, but their assistance was not in the end required.

It is with the greatest satisfaction and the deepest thankfulness that the Committee of Management are able to record that, notwithstanding the thou- sands of Life-boatmen who were afloat in the Life-boats during the year, not one lost his life by drowning when on service. This is the first time since i 1897 that the Committee have been able IST MAY, 1903.] ANNUAL REPORT. 595 to make such a gratifying announce- Year. No. of Lives.

1858 427 Year. No. of Lives.

! 1882 884 ment. 1859 499 1883 955 The number of lives for the saving 1860 455 i 1884 792 of which the Institution granted 1861 424 1862 574 1885 555 i 1886 761 rewards in 1902 was 455 ; of these, 1863 714 1887 572 364 were saved by the Life-boats, and 1864 698 1865 714 1888 800 1889 627 91 by shore-boats and other means, i 1866 951 1890 765 besides which the Life-boat crews were *§?7 1 9?? 1891 736 instrumental in saving 28 . . 1868 862 vessels and | 1359 1,231 1892 1,056 1893 598 j j boats. | 1870 784 1894 790 !! The following table furnishes the 1871 882 1872 739 1895 709 1896 461 details of the services during each 1873 668 1897 662 month of the year :- 1874 713 1875 921 1898 756 1899 609 1876 660 1 077 1 ( 1Q 1900 865 1OA1 AQA Vessels Lives -LOl I JL,mo 1878 616 J-oUJ. 4*flJ 1902 455 Number of Life- Lives Saved and Boata Saved 1879 856 1902. boat by Lile- Saved by R i™*o 1880 697 Total 43,652 Launche . boats. by life boats. cjnore* boats. 1881 1,121 — Rewards. — The rewards granted by January February March . 30 33 19 51 38 7 2 5 3 10 2 9 the Institution in 1902 for the saving of life from shipwreck on the coasts MPrU ' 14 5 3 3 of the United Kingdom, or for prompt May June . 16 7 14 12 2 18 13 and meritorious efforts to do so, and in July . 16 3 — 9 recognition of other good services ren- August September October . 6 20 34 4 29 74 1 3 2 10 dered, included 4 Silver Medals, 9 Decorations, 18 Binocular Glasses, November 50 29 2 9 8 Aneroid Barometers. 20 Votes of December. 50 98 5 8 Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed. Total. . 295 364 28 91 11 Certificates of Service framed, and 7,847Z. Is. IQd., including pensions and The total number of lives for the grants to the families of men who had saving of which the Institution has granted rewards since 1824, by Life- boats, shore-boats, or by other means, has been 43,652, the number for each year being given in the f ollowing.table : — died as the result of their Life-boat services, compensation for personal in- juries sustained in the Service, and retiring allowances.

At the end of the year the Institution had granted altogether in rewards since 1824, 99 Gold Medals and Clasps. Year. No. of Lives.

1824 124 Year. No. of Lives.

1841 128 1 2 JO Silver Medals and Clasps, 60 1825 218 1842 276 Decorations, 339 Binocular Glasses, 15 1826 175 1827 163 1843 236 1844 193 Telescopes, 42 Aneroid Barometers, i 1828 801 1845 235 1,710 Votes of Thanks inscribed on 1829 463 1846 134 vellum and framed, 151 Certificates of 1830 372 1847 I tvi 1831 287 1848 123 Service framed and 231,1072. in 1832 310 1849 209 money. .1833 449 1850 470 1834 214 1835 364 1851 230 1852 773 Aneroids. — There has been a steady 1836 225 1853 678 demand during the past year for the 1837 272 | 1854 .355 excellent Aneroid Barometers sold bv 1 R ft 4- fi 1855 406 tf AOoo ±u j 1839 279 1856 473 the Institution at a greatly reduced 1840 353 ) 1857 374 price to the masters and owners of 2 N 2 596 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[1ST MAY, 1903.

fishing-boats and small coasters. The total number supplied in 1902 was 146 ; of these, 122 were provided for fishermen and 24 for coasters. The total number issued since 1882 has been 4,563.

Electrical Communication on the Coast.—The Committee of Management are still anxiously awaiting the establishment of a satisfactory system of wireless telegraphy in connection with the light- houses and light-vessels round the coasts of the United Kingdom. They believe that such a system would be far more valuable than any existing arrangements for securing ready and prompt assistance from the shore for vessels in distress, and they consider it a matter of the utmost importance for Government to take action.

Local Committees.—The Committee desire once more to tender their grateful thanks to one and all of the honorary Officials, without whose important and valuable help, the Institution could not be carried on. The ready and important support given by the Branch Committees and their Secretaries and Treasurers, has been, and is, invaluable and cannot be too highly appreciated.

The cordial thanks of the Institution have also been earned by the Public Press, whose appeals on its behalf continue to be most encouraging and helpful. The co-operation of H.M.

Coastguard has merited the heartiest acknowledgments of the Committee.

Life-boat Saturday.—There has been no falling back in the efforts of the thousands of Life-boat Saturday workers during the past year, but the unusual circumstances of the year rendered their work more than ordinarily difficult.

Their zeal and enthusiasm have, however, effected much, and whether the results obtained have been large or small in amount, the very grateful thanks of the Committee of Management are due, and thankfully tendered to all helpers alike—to the Central Committee, to the local Life-boat Saturday Committees, to their Officers, and to the Ladies' Auxiiaries. It is very satisfactory to find that notwithstanding the adverse circumstances to which reference has been made, Life-boat Saturday Demonstrations and Collections were in 1902 made in 129 cities and towns, and of these, 12 towns had not before assisted in the movement.

Inventions, &c.—The Committee wish it to be clearly understood that they are at all times glad to receive and examine any suggestions which might perhaps, if adopted, tend to increased efficiency in the Service, and numerous inventions and patents have been thoroughly investigated by them since the publication of their last Report.

Finances.—The total amount received in 1902 by the Committee of Management, in subscriptions, donations, dividends, &c., and including the sum of 15,0471. 2s. Id. received from the Central Committee of the Life-boat Saturday Fund, was 72.138Z. 17s. 5d., a decrease of 4,9321. 15s., as compared with the corresponding total of the preceding year. In addition, the sum of 33,3151. 3s. 5d. was received in legacies, of which 16,158?. lls. &d. was for special trusts or other specific purposes.

Thetotal ordinary expenditure in 1902 was 98,862Z. 2s. 6d., a decrease of 12,434Z. 14s. Td., as compared with the corresponding total for 1901. The expenditure included 47,486Z. 8s. 3d. for building, equipping, improving, and re- pairing Life-boats, Steam-Tug, Life-boat transporting carriages, Life-boat houses j and slipways; 18,281Z. 2s. 5d. for subsidies for non-self-supporting stations, branch . payments, aneroids for fishermen and coasters, life-belts and other stores and IST MAY, 1903.] ANNUAL REPORT.

597 the storey ard; 27,227Z. 6«. id. for payments to coxswains, bowmen, and signalmen, to crews, etc., for services and' for exercising the Life-boats, for special rewards and recognitions for services; grants to the relatives of Life- boatmen who have been lost in connection with the Service ; for injuries, pensions, and retiring allowances to i coxswains, bowmen and signalmen; medals and vellums; also for payments to Inspectors ; in printing, advertising, postage, telegrams and stationery; on salaries, rates, taxes, housekeeper and other office expenses; also legal charges connected with leases and bequests. The special net expenditure of 10.121Z. 17s. 4d. (including legal expenses and 'deducting rent received) incurred in the purchase of the Lease of the Institution's new head- quarters has been included in the accounts in the total expenditure for the year by desire of the Auditor.

The Committee would have preferred showing the sum in the Balance Sheet as an investment under the head of Assets, and writing off a proportion of the amount every year. Each item of receipt and expenditure has, as usual, been examined, verified, and passed by Mr. Samuel Lovelock, Chartered Accountant.

The special attention of the public is drawn to the very remarkable development of the Institution since the accession to the throne, in 1837, of the late Queen Victoria, for 41 years the Institution's Patron, such development and advance having been made not only in its practical means for life-saving, and the number of lives for the saving of which it has granted rewards, but also in its income. In 1837, the 14th year of the Institution's existence, it possessed or contributed to the mainten- ance of only 35 Life-boats, whereas, last year, 1902, the Coronation year of the Institution's present Patron, KING EDWARD VII., its fleet comprised no less than 288 Life-boats. At the close of the year 1837, the Institution had, since its establishment in 1824, granted rewards for the saving of 3,937 lives, whereas at the end of 1902, the corresponding total had reached 43,652. In 1837, the receipts of the Institution from all sources, at that time diminishing year by year, amounted to 899Z. 3s. id., and the expenditure to 893Z, Is. 5d.

Having regard therefore to the very successful work done by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION during the last 79 years, resulting in the saving of so many thousands of lives from shipwrecks, and the absolute necessity which still exists for maintaining a thoroughly efficient fleet of Life-boats round the dangerous shores of the United Kingdom, the Committee of Management once again earnestly appeal to the British Public for increased financial support.