EVERY reader of the LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL will remember how the whole civilized world was appalled at the sad news of the wreck of the s.s. Berlin at the mouth of the Hook of Holland on the 21st February, 1907, when so many precious lives were lost; and, furthermore, how everybody was filled with admiration at the splendid bravery of the crews of the Life-boats of the South Holland Lifeboat Society in their gallant efforts, crowned in a measure with success, to rescue some of the drowning passengers and crew. Rewards and recognitions were awarded by our King and his Government, and the Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at a special meeting promptly called together sent the following appreciative resolution to the President and Chairman of the South Holland Life-boat Society :— " That the Committee of Management of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION desires to place on record its admiration of the gallant and splendid bravery of the crews of the Life-boats belonging to the South Holland Life-boat Society, in their repeated efforts, under the most dangerous circumstances—crowned at last with success—to save life on board the wreck of the s.s. Berlin, at the mouth of the entrance to the Hook of Holland, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President and Chairman of the South Holland Life-boat Society." Our readers will, we feel sure, be interested by the following details connected with the history and organization of the South Holland Life-boat Society, which may be considered as a sort of child of our Institution, inasmuch as j from the beginning the Committee have i sought advice and information from our headquarters.

The Society was established as a Voluntary Association, like our own Institution, in 1884, but whilst it is supported by voluntary contributions it receives each year a subsidy from the Dutch Government. The working of the Society is however not in any way controlled by the Government, but is | managed by a Committee as in our own ; case. At the close of 1906 the Dutch I Life-boat Society possessed twelve Life- | boats, one of which is a Steam Life-boat built in England some years ago on the ! lines of the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION'S I Duke of Northumberland stationed at 1 Holyhead. Of the remaining eleven j Life-boats eight are self-righting and three are non-self-righting. The crews are volunteers as with us, and they receive, speaking generally, payments and allowances according to the work they do. When the crews succeed in rescuing life by means of the Life-boats j a special rate of pay is granted and a • smaller scale of pay is allowed if no life [ is saved. In this particular the practice differs entirely from that in our own service where the payment is the same for launches on service, whether they result in the saving of life or not. The crews are also allowed to salve property as well as life in certain given circumstances.

The income of the South Holland Society from all sources in 1906 , was £3,010..