AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, on Wednesday, the 16th day of March, 1904, The Eight Hon. Lord BRASSEY, K.C.B., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee of Management was submitted and adopted:— ANNUAL REPORT.

1904.

THE important and popular work of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has been actively carried on during the past year, and every effort has been made to maintain that nigh state of efficiency which is acknowledged on all hands, both at home and abroad, to characterize the British Life - boat Service. Some relief has been given to the anxiety expressed by the Committee of Management in their Reports of the last three or four years by an improvement in the financial position of the Institution, and the Committee are thereby encouraged to hope that better times may now be in store. It is still necessary, however, to appeal earnestly and urgently to all interested in those who " go down to the sea in ships," to generously assist in obtaining for the Institution more reliable and permanent support than has hitherto been secured, and without which no advance can be made.

Ne 10 Premises. — The Committee of Management have been busy since the publication of their last Report in preparing their new headquarter premises, at 20 and 22, Charing Cross Road, for occupation. Although these were obtained, as reported last year, on very moderate and satisfactory terms, there remained much to be done in the way of adaptation and fitting-up, and they are glad to be able to report that, thanks to the invaluable professional advice and generous assistance given them, entirely gratuitously, by the well- known architect, Mr. J. MACVICAB ANDERSON, of 6, Stratton Street, Piccadilly, to whom their grateful thanks are due, the work was completed in December last, and the final removal from 14, John Street, Adelphi—which had been the habitation of the Institution since 1855—was effected on the 19th December and the few days following. The Committee are of opinion that the change, which was not of their own seeking, will tend to greater publicity being given to the existence and work of the Institution, and certainly to the better health of the Officers and Staff, who for many years have carried out their duties at considerable disadvantage owing to the lack of sufficient space and the inconvenience of their old quarters.

, boat withdrawn. It has been decided, j however, to provide the adjoining station at Aldeburgh with a second boat which will fully compensate for the compulsory abolition of the Dunwich | Station.

| The Steam Life-boat, which, in 1898, ; was placed experimentally at Grimsby, was, in January 1903, transferred to Gorleston (Suffolk), where she has already done service.

At the close of the year the Insti- tution's fleet comprised 285 sailing and pulling Life-boats, 4 steam Life-boats and 1 steam tug.

Life-boats.—During the year 1903, 15 new pulling and sailing Life-boats were sent to various stations on the coast after careful and full consultation with the coxswains and crews for whom they were built. In ! response to the earnest appeal made to the Institution by the Local Committee, coxswains and crew at Eastbourne, the service there has been strengthened by the addition of a second boat.

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

Norfolk.

Sussex.

Devonshire.

Kent.

Co. Durham.

Devonshire.

Pembrokeshire.

Cornwall.

Co. Dublin.

Isle of Wight.

Somersetshire.

Somersetshire.

Dorsetshire.

Cumberland.

Berwick-on-Tweed Caister (No. 2). .

Eastbourne (No. 2) Exmouth . . .

Folkestone Hartlepool (No. 3) Hope Cove . . .

Littlehaven Polpear (The Lizard) Skerries . . .

Totland Bay . .

Watchet . . .

Weston-super-Mare Weymouth.

Whitehaven . .

Owing to the impossibility of obtaining an efficient crew to man the Life- ' boat which had for many years been , stationed at Dunwich (Suffolk), the ' station has been closed and the Life- ; Transporting Carriages.—New trans- porting carriages have been supplied to 5 stations.

Inspection of Life-boats.—All the Life- boats and Stations of the Institution have, during the year, been thoroughly and carefully inspected; a full and detailed report of each inspection being submitted to the Committee of Management for their consideration.

Shipwrecks.—The first three months of the year 1903 were unusually stormy, the remaining nine months being remarkable for the constant high winds which prevailed, and exceedingly frequent and almost abnormal rains and devastating floods, accompanied at times by destructive gales. The services of the Life-boats of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION were as a natural result in constant requisition throughout the year and the efforts of their gallant crews to render assistance to shipwrecked mariners were in very many instances crowned with success, hardly a week passing without praise- worthy rescues being effected.

The heaviest gales of the year occurred on the 25th-27th February and the 9th-l 1th September. On these occasions there were 75 launches of Life-boats, resulting during the February gale in 2ND MAY, 1904.] ANNUAL REPORT. 27 the saving of 74 lives, and of 58 lives rewards in 1903 was 709 ; of these, and 7 vessels during the gale in. 572 were saved by Life-boats and 137 by September. shore-boats and other means, in addition It is with the greatest regret the to which the Life-boat crews were instru- Committee have to report that during mental in saving 28 vessels and boats. the gale of the 1st February last, whilst The table in the preceding column the Swansea Life-boat was proceeding ; gives the details of the services during to the assistance of a vessel believed to each month of the year. be in distress and was making for Port The grand total of lives for the Talbot, she capsized, owing, as reported saving of which the Institution has by the Board of Trade Public Inquiry, to bestowed rewards since its establishment the unfortunate neglect of the crew to in 1824, by Life-boats, shore-boats, or make proper use of the drogue, with the j by other means, has been 44,361, the terrible result that six of the gallant Life- number for each year being shown in boat men were drowned. The Committee | the following table : — - at once tendered their deepest sympathy j year. No. of Lives, i Year. No. of Lives. to the survivors and to the widows and 1824 124 1866 951 j 1825 218 1867 1 086 ' orphans of the drowned men — forthwith 1826 175 1868 862 contributing, on behalf of the tution, 1,200Z. to the local relief Insti- fund 1827 163 1828 301 1829 463 1869 1,231 1870 784 1871 882 opened for their benefit. The Insti- 1830 372 1872 739 tution also defrayed all the expenses • JJJ31 87 1873 668 1874 713 connected with the funerals, medical 1333 449 1875 921 expenses, etc. , amounting to more than 1834 214 1835 364 1876 660 1877 1,048 1001. 1836 225 1878 616 Throughout the year the Life-boats 1837 272 1879 855 were launched on service 376 times and 1838 456 1839 279 1880 697 1881 1,121 1,051 times for exercise, besides which 1840 353 1882 884 crews were assembled 6£ i times in 1841 128 1883 955 1842 276 1884 792 readiness for service, but their aid was 1843 236 1885 555 not ultimately required. 1844 193 1845 235 1886 761 1887 572 1846 134 1888 800 Vessels 1847 157 1889 627 Number Lives and £j™d 1848 123 1890 765 1903 of Life- Saved Boats by 1849 209 1891 736 boat Launches. )y Life- boats. Saved by Life- boats. Shore- boats. 1850 470 1851 230 1892 1,056 1893 598 1852 773 1894 790 January February 39 71 101 176 3 7 13 29 1853 678 1854 355 1855 406 1895 709 1896 461 1897 662 March . 33 26 2 1856 473 1898 756 April . 15 7 1 I 1857 374 1899 609 May . 11 11 Q — , 1858 427 1900 865 June . - ~ 1859 499 1901 490 July . 11 4 • , q 1860 455 1902 455 August September 19 54 6 81 9 fq 1861 424 1 QRO K7A 1903 709 October 35 66 3 Q J.OUA V 1 * November 30 52 1 4 1863 714 Total 44,361 December. 52 33 2 13 1SD4 oya 1865 714 — — Total. . 376 572 28 137 Rewards. — The rewards bestowed by the Institution, in 1903 for the saving The total number of lives for the of life from shipwreck, or praiseworthy saving of which the Institution granted and prompt efforts to do so, and in c 2 28 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[2ND MAY, 1904..

recognition of other good services rendered in the interests of the cause, included 4 Silver Medals. 2 Decorations, 5 Binocular Glasses, 10 Aneroid Barometers, 26 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 9 Certificates of Service framed, and 10,896?. 18s. -2d., including gifts to the families of men lost on service, compensation for personal injuries sustained in the Service, and in retiring allowances.

At the close of the year the Institution had granted altogether in rewards since 1824, 99 Gold Medals and Clasps, 1,204 Silver Medals and Clasps, 68 Decorations, 360 Binocular Glasses, 15 Telescopes, 59 Aneroid Barometers, 1,752 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 168 Certificates of Service framed and 242,004Z. in money.

Aneroids. — Numerous applications were received during the past year for the valuable Aneroid Barometers issued by the Institution at about a third the retail price to the masters and owners of fishing-boats and small coasters. The total number supplied was 88 ; of these, 70 were sold to fishermen and 18 to coasters. The total number provided to fishermen since 1882, and to coasters since 1883, has been 4,651.

Electrical Communication on the Coast.

—It is with the liveliest satisfaction that the Committee of Management have to report that within the last few months it has been decided by the Government that several of the Light- vessels on the east coast are to be supplied with the necessary apparatus for providing a system of wireless telegraphy. The Committee are satisfied that the results will be thoroughly satisfactory and hope that this system of communicating with the shore so important for securing prompt assistance for vessels in distress will at no distant time be extended to all the more important Light-vessels and Light-houses off the coasts of the United Kingdom.

Local Committees.—The most cordial and grateful thanks of the Institution are due to all the honorary officials throughout the country whose generous and self-denying co-operation is of the utmost importance. The help which has been so well rendered during the past year by the Branch Committees and their Secretaries and Treasurers has been invaluable and cannot be overrated.

The best thanks of the Committee of Management are also tendered to the Public Press, which so constantly appeals to the public to show its confidence in the Institution by extending to it liberal and unstinted support, as well as to H.M. Coastguard whose continued aid is thankfully acknowledged.

Life-boat Saturday. —Great success has followed the zealous efforts of the Life-boat Saturday workers in England, Scotland, and Ireland during the past year. The clouds and discouragements which, owing to special circumstances, seriously thwarted them during some of the preceding years, would seem to have lifted and to some extent disappeared; with the result that renewed effort, backed by unlimited enthusiasm and zeal, has been productive of excellent returns. The Committee of Management desire to place on record their sense of deep ! gratitude to each and all of their Life- j boat Saturday friends, including the Central Committee, the Local Life- boat Saturday Committees and their Officers, and especially to the Ladies' Auxiliaries.

The number of cities and towns in which the Life-boat Saturday movement was worked, in 1903, was 162, as compared with 126 in 1902, collections being made for the first time in several localities. All those working for the 2ND MAY, 1904.] ANNUAL REPORT.

29 cause, and more particularly those connected with the Ladies' Auxiliaries, have been much encouraged and stimulated 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 President of the Ladies' Auxiliaries.

On the 3rd July last, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS kindly received, at Marl- borough House, the Presidents and other delegated officials of the Ladies' Auxiliaries throughout the country, numbering about 125, thereby not only showing the keen interest which she herself takes in the Cause, but greatly encouraging the general workers.

Inventions. — Many inventions and suggestions have been thoroughly and carefully examined and considered by the Committee of Management since their last Report was issued, and they desire to make it as widely known as possible that they are at all times only too glad to receive and consider any proposals which might possibly, if adopted, tend to increased efficiency in the Life-boat service.

Finances.—The total amount received by the Committee of Management in 1903, in subscriptions, donations, dividends, kc., and including the very gratifying sum of 19,777Z. 12s. 2d.

from the Life-boat Saturday Fund, was 80,662Z. 4s. lid., a satisfactory increase of 8,523Z. 7s. 6d., as compared with the corresponding total of 1902. A further sum of 32,042Z. 2s. was received in legacies, of which 10,38II. 5s. &d. was for special trusts or specified purposes.

The total expenditure in 1903 was 93,217Z. 18s. IQd. This total included 41,326Z. 13s. 8d. for building, equipping, and repairing Life - boats, Life-boat transporting carriages, Life-boat houses and slipways; 16,100Z. 15s. Qd. for subsidies for non-self-supporting stations, branch payments, aneroids for fishermen and coasters, life-belts and other stores and the storeyard; 29,66G/. 2s. 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 lost on service; for injuries, pensions, and retiring allowances to coxswains, bowmen and signalmen; medals and vellums; also for payments to Inspectors. The balance was ex- pended in printing, advertising, post- age, telegrams and stationery; on salaries, rates, taxes, office expenses and legal charges connected with leases and bequests. Every item of receipt and expenditure has been examined, verified, and passed by Mr. Albert W. Wyon, Chartered Accountant, of the firm of Messrs.

Price, Waterhouse (k Co., 3, Frederick's Place, Old Jewry, B.C.

For the long period of fourscore years the Institution has carried on its very important national work, in- creasing year by year, efficiently and usefully; but this desirable state of affairs cannot go on unless the necessary means are found by the British public to whom the Committee of Management earnestly and confidently appeal, not only for substantial monetary support, but also for continued confidence and hearty encouragement.