AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Royal United Service Institution, "Whitehall, on Wednesday, the 21st day of March, The Eight Honourable Lord Tweedmouth, First Lord of the Admiralty, in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee of Management was submitted and adopted :— ANNUAL REPORT.

1906.

THE Committee of Management hare earnestly endeavoured during the past year to secure and maintain the highest possible efficiency in the service of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and they trust that their efforts have met with success.

Life-boats. — The Motor Life-boat, the experiments in connection with which were specially mentioned in the Institution's last Annual Report, was sent in May to Tynemouth, where she now is, and has continued to give every satisfaction. So satisfied indeed have the Committee of Management been with the result of their first efforts to introduce motor power as an auxiliary into the Institution's lifesaving service that they have decided to extend its employment and with that object in view they have made the fullest inquiry, hoping to obtain such an engine i or engines as may prove the most suitable for installing in Life-boats. In order I to test the capabilities of those engines which in their opinion seemed to be the best for the purpose they fitted in the first instance three Life-boats with three different engines and are experimenting with them.

During the year 1905 fourteen pulling and sailing Life-boats were built and placed at various stations on the coast after consultation with the several coxswains and crews for whose use they were provided. Very gratifying reports have already been received as to the excellent behaviour of most of these boats either on service or at special exercises and there is no doubt that in many ways they are superior to the old boats.

A second Life-boat has been supplied for use at Aldeburgh, a very important station on the coast of Suffolk, and the two pulling Life-boats which had for many years been stationed at Tynemouth have been withdrawn, the requirements of the immediate locality being, as the Committee believe, now fully met by the motor Life-boat recently placed at the mouth of the Tyne. The boat at Penarth has also been withdrawn, there being an important Station at Barry Dock and the Station at Weston-super-Mare having been strengthened.

The following is a complete list of the stations to which boats were sent:— Aldeburgh (No. 2) . .

Barmouth . . . .

Cardigan Fethard Flamborough (No. 1) .

Hornsea Lossiemouth . . . .

Lowestoft (No. 1) .

Mablethorpe . . . .

Maryport North Deal . . . .

Ramsgate . . . .

Ryde The Mumbles . . .

Tynemouth (Motor Boat) Suffolk.

Merionethshire.

Cardiganshire.

Wexford.

Yorkshire.

Yorkshire.

Elginshire.

Suffolk.

Lincolnshire.

Cumberland.

Kent.

Kent.

Isle of Wight.

Glamorganshire.

Northumberland.

At the end of the year the Institution's fleet comprised 277 pulling and sailing Life-boats, 1 motor Life-boat, 4 steam Life-boats—282 in all—and 1 steam-tug.

Transporting Carnages.—New transporting carriages were supplied during the year to three stations.

Inspection of Life-boats.—Each of the Life-boat stations of the Institution, together with the Life-boats and their gear, was overhauled and thoroughly inspected during the year, a detailed report in each case being placed before and considered by the Committee of Management.

Shipwrecks.—The first three months of 1905 were somewhat remarkable for the constant recurrence of storms and gales resulting in numerous wrecks, and it is interesting to note that during the period in question the Life-boats of the Institution were launched on service more frequently than in any corresponding quarter for upwards of 30 years. During the autumn and the remaining months of the year bad weather was experienced from time to time, but there was an almost general absence of that type of gale which proves so disastrous to shipping on our coast and so perilous to the mariner. The principal gales of 1905 occurred on the 11—16th January, when there were 23 launches of Life-boats, 40 lives being saved and one vessel; and on the 12-15th March, when 31 Life-boats were launched and 51 lives saved, besides assistance being rendered to 7 distressed vessels.

Throughout the year the Life-boats were launched on service 373 times and 1,067 for exercise, in addition to which crews were assembled in readiness for service 50 times when their aid was not ultimately required.

The Committee have for the second consecutive year thankfully to report the important fact that notwithstanding the large number of Life-boatmen who went out in the Life-boats in 1905 on service, in dangerous weather, not a man lost his life when on life-saving duty.

The total number of lives for the saving of which the Institution granted rewards in 1905 was 550; of these 397 were saved by Life-boats and 153 by shore-boats and other means, in addition to which the Life-boat crews were instrumental in saving 27 vessels and boats.

The following table furnishes the ' Year. So. of Lives. ; o isss firm details of the services during each 1889 627 month of the year :- Number ions of Life- 190D- boat Launches January . . 69 February . . 26 March . . . 69 April . . . 33 May . . . 12 June . . . i 14 July . . . 5 August . . i 13 September . 12 October . . ; 20 November . 50 December. . j 50 Total. . ! 373 1890 765 i 1891 736 ! 1892 1.056 essels T, Lives I and » j 1893 598 Saved Boats Sa h v v ed 1894 790 by Life- Saved " * 1895 709 ' b0at8' bbyoa4fe- & 1896 461 1897 662 1898 756 G9 4 6 Year. No. of Lives.

1899 609 1900 865 1901 490 1902 455 1903 709 1904 528 1905 550 Total 45,439 32 — 50 Rewards. — The rewards bestowed by 23 g g the Institution in 3 1 8 lives from shipwreck ~ ~T Q and gallant efforts 1905 for rescuing or for praiseworthy to do so, and in 13 3 _ recognition of other excellent services 10 2 26 rendered to the cause, included 5 Silver -LQ2 g g Medals and one Clasp, 13 Binocular 27 i 2 32 397 27 153 The grand total of lives for the saving of which the Committee of Management have granted rewards since the foundation of the Institution on the 4th March, 1824, has been 45,439, each year's number being given in the subjoined tabular statement : — Year. No. of Lives.

1824 124 1825 218 1826 175 1827 163 1828 301 1829 463 1830 372 1831 287 i| 1832 310 1833 449 1834 214 1835 364 1836 225 1837 272 1838 456 1839 279 1840 353 ! 1841 128 : 1842 276 1843 236 1844 193 1845 235 1846 134 1847 157 1848 123 1849 209 1850 470 1851 230 1852 773 1853 678 |! 1854 355 i: Year. No. of Lives.

1856 473 1857 374 1858 427 1859 499 1860 455 1861 424 1862 574 1863 714 1864 698 1865 714 1866 951 1867 1,086 1868 862 1869 1,231 1870 784 1871 882 1872 739 1873 668 1874 713 1875 921 1876 600 1877 1,048 1878 616 1879 855 1880 697 1881 1,121 1882 884 1883 955 1884 792 1885 555 1886 761 Glasses, 6 Aneroid Barometers, 21 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 11 Certificates of Service framed, and 9,850Z. 9*. 2d. in money grants, including pensions, gratuities, and compensation for personal injuries or loss sustained in the Service.

On the completion of the year the Institution had granted in all in rewards and recognitions since 1824, 99 Gold Medals and Clasps, 1,212 Silver Medals and Clasps, 63 Decorations, 370 Binocular Glasses, 15 Telescopes, 66 Aneroid Barometers, 1,776 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 174 Certificates of Service framed, and 257,513Z. in money.

Aneroids. — In 1905 there continued to be a fair demand for the well-known Aneroid Barometers supplied by the Institution, at about a third the retail price, to the masters and owners of fishing boats and small coasters. 77 were issued to fishermen and 14 to coasters, making a total of 91 for the year, and a grand total of 4,813 since 1882, when the provision of the instruments was . ... , j iniLiaDeo.

Electrical Communications on ike Coast.

— It is with extreme satisfaction the Committee are able to report that during the past year definite steps were taken by the Government to provide some of the Light-vessels on the east and southeast coasts with wireless telegraphy.

For many years the Institution has been urging that action should be taken in this direction, feeling assured that the employment of this method of communication, so superior to any other yet used, will tend in no small degree to more prompt and ready assistance being rendered to distressed and shipwrecked crews.

Local Committees.—Very cordial and grateful acknowledgments are due from the Committee to each and all of the Branch honorary officials and to any who have given them help. Without the important co-operation which is year by year received from local sources it would be impossible to carry out efficiently the objects of the Institution.

The ready co-operation constantly given by the Post Office and H.M.

Coastguard has been, and is, greatly appreciated.

To the Press of the country is also due a hearty expression of thanks for its powerful and most needful advocacy.

Life-boat Saturday. — The Central Committee of the Life-boat Saturday Fund are to be congratulated on the continued success of their generous efforts to secure from the masses an adequate recognition of the important Life-saving work carried on by the Institution.

Nothing daunted by the badness of the times with which they have had to contend, they have persevered in their endeavours to obtain for the Institution increased financial support, and unstinted praise is due both to them and to the Life-boat Saturday Committees, as well as to the Ladies' Auxiliaries throughout the country, for their enthusiastic zeal and earnest work.

Inventions. — During the year the Committee have as usual received many inventions and proposals from those wishing to add to or to render more efficient the existing Life-saving appliances.

All these have been fully considered and carefully examined. A welcome is at all times given to any inventor who approaches the Institution with a desire to increase its efficiency.

Finances.—The total amount received by the Committee of Management in 1905, in subscriptions, donations, dividends, etc., and including the handsome sum of 17,527Z. 4s. Id.

received from the Life-boat Saturday Fund, was 77,120Z. 4«. 4d., an increase of 4,702Z. Is. 3d. as compared with the corresponding total for 1904. To this amount must be added the sum of 36,886Z. 19s. 5d. received in legacies, of which 17,8052. 12s. Id. was for specified purposes and special trusts.

The Committee of Management would remind the public that the Select Committee of the House of Commons, when reporting so favourably in 1897 on the management of the Institution, expressed the view that it was undesirable that those wishing to benefit the Institution should in any way " earmark " their benefactions, as they were of opinion that it would be better for the cause not to fetter the Committee by so doing.

The total expenditure in 1905 was 85,298Z. Os. lief. This amount included 33,540Z. 14s. 3d. for building, equipping and repairing Life-boats, Life-boat transporting carriages, Life-boat houses and slipways ; also experiments with motor Life-boats; 15,837Z. 7s. for subsidies for non-self-supporting stations, branch payments, aneroids for fishermen and coasters, life-belts and other stores and the store-yard; 24,630Z. Is. 5d. 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 for injuries and to the relatives of deceased Life-boatmen, pensions and other retiring allowances to coxswains, bowmen 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, office expenses and legal charges in respect of leases and bequests.

Every item of receipt and expenditure has as usual been examined and verified by Mr. Albert W. Wyon, Chartered Accountant, of the firm of Messrs. Price, Waterhouse & Co., 3 Frederick's Place, Old Jewry, E.C.

The Committee of Management have to remind the public that the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION receives no financial support whatever from the Government, but that it is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions.

In order that its important work may continue to be carried on with efficiency it is absolutely necessary that a very large sum should be provided annually for the purpose.

Having regard to the excellent results which have been obtained during the past 81 years—and are still being obtained — the Committee would confidently and earnestly call on all to give them a helping hand and thus to show practical sympathy for a cause which is at once humanitarian and national.