AT the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, on Saturday, the 16th day of March, The Most Honourable the Marquis of Londonderry, K.G., in the Chair, the following Report of the Committee of Management was submitted and adopted :— ANNUAL REPORT.

1907.

EVERY opportunity has been taken and in making such a very important deparevery effort made by the Committee of : ture it is absolutely necessary to exercise Management during the past year to the greatest care and caution, thoroughly test and adopt anything which might, to test the propelling power before in their opinion, conduce to the in- : adopting any engine, and the preliminary creased efficiency of the ROYAL NATIONAL ; trials must necessarily take a consider- LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. able time.

In 1906, 14 new pulling and sailing Life-boats.—The Committee, as fore- Life-boats were specially built, equipped, shadowed in their last Annual Report, ' and sent to stations requiring them on have continued to carry out very impor- various parts of the coasts of the United tant experiments with various motor Kingdom. Before any one of these engines which they have installed in Boats was taken in hand the coxswains Life-boats and the results of which j and crew were consulted, it being the have so far been encouraging. They ! uniform custom of the Institution to hope that at no distant date they provide the Life-boatmen, as far as may be able to place several thoroughly , possible, with the type of Boat in which efficient motor Life-boats on the coast, they have the most confidence. The It must be understood, however, that i Committee have found this practice to work very satisfactorily and to conduce to the well-being of the Service.

The following is a complete list of the stations to which new boats were sent:— Aberystwith .

Atherfield.

Ballantrae Cloughey .

Hayle . . . .

Hoylake .

Longhope Lynmouth Newbiggin Newcastle North Sunderland Port Eynon .

Skegness .

Youghal .

Cardiganshire.

Isle of Wight.

Ayrshire.

Co. Down.

Cornwall.

Cheshire.

Orkney.

North Devon.

Northumberland.

Co. Down.

Northumberland.

Glamorganshire.

Lincolnshire.

Co. Cork.

Early last year it was decided, on the advice of the Local Committee and the Local Authorities, with the concurrence of the Board of Trade, to withdraw the Life-boat which had for many years been established at West Hartlepool, the encroachment of the sea having of late rendered it a matter of considerable difficulty to launch ; in addition to which there are now three other very efficient Life-boats in the bay fully meeting the needs of the locality.

It having become unnecessary to retain a station at Ballywalter, the Life-boat was withdrawn in October last.

The entire fleet of the Institution comprised at the end of 1906, 273 sailing and pulling Life-boats, 4 steam Life-boats, 3 motor Life-boats, and 1 steam-tug.

Life-belts.—For some time past the Committee have been carrying out experiments with a view to introducing into the service an improved lifebelt, which, whilst possessing all the necessary qualifications of the cork lifebelt used by the Institution with such eminent success since its invention by the late Admiral J. Ross Ward in 1854, might be more comfortable and easier for the wearers. The life-belt produced by the experiments is made of kapok and is fitted closely to the body by means of straps and buckles, allowing full freedom for the arms besides affording warmth and protection.

The flotation power of the new belt is the same as that of the cork life-belt, namely, 22 Ibs. The crews of the Life-boat stations who have tried and tested the kapok life-belts have reported in the most favourable terms of them .and it has therefore been decided. to adopt the belt generally, the existing cork belts being replaced as they wear out or deteriorate.

Transporting Carriages.—New transporting carriages were supplied during the year to 11 stations.

Inspection of Life-boats.-—During the past year all the Institution's stations were very carefully and thoroughly inspected, a report of each inspection being submitted to, and considered by, the Committee of Management.

Shipwrecks.—In 1906, as in 1905, the first three months were remarkable for the frequent recurrence of gales and storms which led to much trouble on our coasts, and the Institution's Life-boats were constantly called out on service.

These launches happily resulted in the saving of many lives from shipwrecks.

The weather of the rest of the yeaiwas for the most part fine, there being only a few gales of any importance.

The heaviest gales of 1906 occurred on the 17th-21st January, when there were 12 launches of Life-boats, 31 lives being saved and 2 vessels ; and on the 19th- 22nd November, when 11 Life-boats were launched and 65 lives saved and 2 vessels.

Between the 1st January and the 31st December, inclusive, the Life-boats were launched 375 times on service, in [ addition to which crews were assembled I in readiness for service on 46 occasions, when their aid was fortunately not required.

It is with the deepest regret that the Committee of Management have to report that on the night of the 15th November last, when the Hoylake (Cheshire) j Life-boat was out on service, one of i the gallant Life-boat men was suddenly j swept overboard by a tremendous sea j and drowned. It was very dark and he could neither be seen nor heard.

The deceased man, who was only 23 years of age, was the mainstay of his j widowed mother. The Institution at once contributed £100 to the fund raised locally to buy a life annuity for her. , The number of lives for the saving of which by Life-boats the Institution granted rewards in 1906 was 595, in addition to which it granted rewards for the saving of 177 lives by shoreboats and other means. The Life-boats were instrumental in saving 46 vessels and boats.

The following table furnishes the details of the services during each month of the year :— Number 10nB of Life- 1906' boat Launches.

January . . i 64 February . . 60 March .

April .

May .

June .

July . . .

August September October November December.

35 15 24 15 7 19 16 22 47 51 Lives Saved by Lifeboats.

118 81 48 —11 10 1 36 22 13 138 117 vessels and Boats Saved by Lifeboats.

7 7 5 —4 2 1 3 2 2 5 8 JJ1V6S Sftved by Shoreboats.

2 12 ' 37 6 5 17 14 11 22 6 10 35 Total. 375 595 46 177 The 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 46,189.

Year.

1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1882 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 Life-boats.

Shore-boats, etc.

Total No.

of Lives.

124 218 175 163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 128 276 236 193 235 134 157 123 209 470 230 773 8189 NOTE.—Prior to 1853 the lives saved by Life-boats, Shore-boats, etc., were not separately recorded.

1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 97 132 75 129 132 110 227 210 288 358 417 432 532 426 783 •603 871 513 658 569 471 543 726 515 848 471 637 577 966 741 725 633 371 601 368 626 581 223 331 344 242 317 272 245 136 216 297 266 182 495 303 259 360 271 224 170 197 170 195 85 200 145 218 120 155 143 230 159 184 160 204 174 678 355 406 473 374 427 499 455 424 574 714 698 714 921 1,086 862 1,231 784 882 739 668 713 921 600 1,048 616 855 697 1,121 884 955 792 555 761 572 800 Year.

1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 Life-boats.

420 555 568 836 428 649 533 312 537 682 501 690 397 864 572 390 397 595 Shore-boats, etc.

207 218 168 220 170 141 176 149 125 74 108 175 93 91 137 138 153 177 Total No.

of Lives.

627 773 736 1,056 598 790 709 461 662 756 609 865 490 455 709 528 550 772 Total 26,807 11,193 46,189 It is interesting to note that of the 38,000 lives, for the saving of which, the Institution granted rewards between the 1st January, 1853, and the 31st December, 1906 inclusive, 26,807 were saved by Life-boats and 11,193 by Shoreboats, etc. Of the 8,189 lives for the saving of which rewards were granted between the 4th March, 1824, when the Institution was founded, and the 31st December, 1852, the majority were saved by Shore-boats, there being at that time but few Life-boats in existence.

Rewards.—The rewards granted by the Institution in 1906 for the saving of life from shipwreck on the coasts of the United Kingdom, or for meritorious efforts to save life, and in recognition of other praiseworthy services rendered, included 19 Silver Medals, and 1 Silver Clasp; 11 Binocular Glasses, 6 Aneroid Barometers, 44 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 10 Certificates of Service framed, and 9,523Z. 14s. 8d., including pensions, retiring allowances, gratuities, and compensation for personal injuries or loss sustained in the Service.

At the close of the year the Institution had granted altogether in rewards since 1824, 99 Gold Medals and Clasps, 1,232 Silver Medals and Clasps, 63 Decorations, 381 Binocular Glasses, 15 Telescopes, 72 Aneroid Barometers, 1,820 Votes of Thanks inscribed on vellum and framed, 184 Certificates of Service framed, and 267,0362.14s. Sd. in money.

Aneroids. — During the year the Institution continued to receive applications for the special Aneroid Barometers which the Committee supply to the Masters and Owners of fishingboats and small coasters at approximately one-third the retail price. The total number provided was 74 ; of which 66 were supplied to fishermen, and 8 to coasters. The total number issued since 1882 has been 4,887.

Local Committees. •— The grateful thanks of the Committee of Management are due to the Local Committees and to each and all of their honorary secretaries, treasurers and helpers, without whose ready and much-appreciated labours and help it would be impossible to carry on the Institution's work efficiently and well.

The valuable co-operation which has been extended to the service by the Postal Officials and the Coastguard has been of great importance, and has been gratefully received and welcomed.

The Committee note with grave misgiving that it is contemplated to withdraw the Coastguard from the coast, inasmuch as they not only assist to man, launch and haul up the Life-boats at many of the Institution's stations when other efficient men cannot be obtained for the purpose, but also have charge of the electrical communications on the coast for life-saving purposes suggested by the Institution and approved by the House of Commons in 1893. It is feared that such a course if adopted will be highly detrimental to the interests of life-saving from shipwreck.

The continued advocacy by the Press of the Institution's work, which has been so readily bestowed, is most thankfully , acknowledged and has been of the utmost benefit.

Life-boat Saturday.—-This movement, the main object of which is to secure the attention of all classes to the strong claims of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, has continued to make j steady progress during the past year, [ and the various Committees, both in London and throughout the country, are ; to be heartily congratulated on the success of their enthusiastic and -well-sustained efforts, which are much valued and appreciated by the Committee of Management.

The success of the Ladies' Auxiliaries has continued to be specially marked, and the result of their labours is most encouraging.

Inventions.—Numerous inventions and suggestions have been submitted to the Institution, all of which have been : carefully considered and examined by the Committee, who wish it to be generally known and understood that they are always glad to receive and consider any proposals which might, if adopted, prove useful for the purposes of the Service and possibly tend to increased efficiency.

I Finances.—The total amount received j by the Committee of Management in ! 1906, in subscriptions, donations, ; dividends, etc., and inclusive of the large j sum of 17,5271. 4s. Id. received from the Institution's Auxiliary, the Life-boat, Saturday Fund, was 72,309Z. 17s. 3d., a j decrease of 4,810Z. 7s. Id. as compared with corresponding total for the preceding year. In addition, the sum of 48,763Z. 5s. Id. was received in legacies, of which 13.953Z. 13s. 5d. was for special trusts or specified purposes. It is clear that, were it not for the great amount of help provided by legacies, the great work of the Institution could not be carried on satisfactorily and efficiently, as the amounts received from all the other sources of revenue are quite insufficient for the purpose.

The total expenditure in 1906 was 79,725Z. 10s. 4c?. This amount included 29,693Z. 11s. 6cZ. for building, equipping and repairing Life-boats, Life-boat transporting carriages, Life-boat houses and slipways; to which must be added experiments with motor Life-boats; 14,199Z. 12s. 7d. for subsidies for non-selfsupporting stations, branch outlays, aneroids for fishermen and coasters, lifebelts and other stores and the store-yard; 29,169Z. 9s. 6d. 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 deceased Life-boat men, and for injuries, for pensions, and other retiring allowances to coxswains, bowmen and signalmen; medals and vellums; also for payments to the inspecting staff. The balance was expended in printing, advertising, postage, telegrams and stationery; on salaries, rates, taxes, office expenses and legal charges connected with bequests and leases. Each 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.G.

The Committee of Management in conclusion earnestly appeal to the British public for increased financial support and that of a permanent character.

Further annual subscriptions are greatly needed and are therefore more especially asked for, whilst help of any nature is welcomed and valued. It goes without saying that unless sustained aid on a large and liberal scale is continued to the Institution, it will be impossible for the Committee to maintain and carry on its very important work in that high state of efficiency which the aim and objects of the Service demand.