THE Life-boat Saturday workers through- out the country, and more especially those connected with the Ladies' Auxiliaries, have been greatly encouraged and stimulated in their self-denying efforts during the past summer by the gracious and very important personal interest taken in their work by the PRINCESS OF WALES, who is not only a Vice-Patron of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, but the President of the Ladies' Auxiliaries. The 3rd July, 1903, will long be remembered by the same 125 ladies, who, gathered from all parts of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland and Ireland—met at Marlborough House on that day by the kind invitation of their Royal President. These Ladies were either Presidents of local Ladies' Auxiliaries, or had, for other reasons, been specially selected by the various Ladies' Committees of the Life-boat Saturday Fund, to represent them at this pleasant function. Each lady on being presented to the Princess, handed her a purse representing the financial results of the most recent collection made by their respective committees; but it was generally felt that, thanks to this mark of favour to, and interest in, the | kind work shown by Her Royal Highness, even better results would be obtained by them in the near future. ! Prior to the presentation at Marl- borough House, a very interesting conference of the Lady Representatives was held at Stafford House, by invitation of the Life-boat Institution's good friend the Duke of Sutherland. The conference was presided over by Sir Edward Birkbeck, Bart., the Chairman of the Institution, and also of the Life-boat Saturday Fund, and it was delightful to hear the enthusiastic speeches of the many ladies who rose, one after another, to state in eloquent terms their views and experiences, their hopes and their fears, in connection with their campaign on behalf of the great national life-saving work carried on by the Institution.

We heartily congratulate the Ladies' Auxiliaries on their successes in the past, and are confident that, encouraged as they have been by such important recognition of their excellent services in so grand a cause, they will, with ever- increasing vigour and success, go on "conquering and to conquer" all the difficulties and possible opposition with which they may from time to time be called upon to contend ; continuing to earn in. the future as in the past the gratitude and thanks of all whose lot is cast on the dangerous environments of our " right little, tight little island.".