Thursday, 8th January, 1914.

Sir JOHN CAMERON LAMB, G.B., C.M.G., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Read the minutes of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, Wreck and Reward, Storeyard, and Motor Sub-Committees, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the reports of the District Inspectors on their visits to the following Life-boat Stations:— Northern District.—Ballautrae, Ayr, St. Abbs, Skateraw, Dunbar, North Berwick, Eyemouth, Berwick-on-Tweed, North Sunderland, Newbiggin, Alnmouth, and Boulmer.

Eastern District.—Easington.

Southern District.—Rye Harbour and Worthing.

Western District.—Barmouth, Aberdovey, Aberystwyth, Barry Dock, Ferryside, Fishguard, Llandudno, Rhyl, Llanddulas, and Point of Ayr.

Irish District.—Helvick Head, Dunmore East, Rosslare Harbour, Kilmore, Wexford, Greenore, Fleetwood, St. Anne's, Lytham, Blackpool, Southport, Newcastle (Co. Down), Cloughey, Greencastle, and Portrush.

Presented the reports of the District Organizing Secretaries on their visits to the various Branches in their respective areas.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the previous meeting:—• THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAYLEUR £ s. d.

FUND, towards the cost of a new Motor Life-boat for Kingstown 1180 16 4 CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND (per HARRY FINCHAM, Esq., I.S.O.): Repayment of Rewards granted to Crews of Civil Service Life- £ s. d. & s. d.

boats during 1913 .265 4 6 Maintenance of Civil Service Life - boats during 1913 . . . 663 18 9 929 3 3 COVENT GARDEN LIFE-BOAT FUND (per BERT MONBO, Esq.) . . 97 18 - ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS FRIENDLY SOCIETY (annual subscription) 50 - - ANONYMOUS 50 - - LOYAL ORDER OF ANCIENT SHEPHERDS (annual subscription) , 20 3 6 Miss BARBARA GLOVER. Proceeds of American Tea. In aid of the Criccieth Branch . . . . 11 15 - Mr. F. O. BROWN (contents of Contribution Box) . . . . 9 5 - ST. PETER'S COURT SCHOOL, BROADSTAIRS. Contribution from the Boys 6911 ELVETHAM CHURCH. Offertory on Christmas Day . . . . 3 8 - —To be thanked.

Reported the receipt of the following legacies:— The late Mr. J. H. DAVIS, of Taunton (additional). . . . 1000 - - The late Mr. JAMES BUCKLEY RUTHERFORD, of Lingfield . . 500 - - The late Mrs. ELLEN TURNER, of Tunbridge Wells 200 - - The late Mr. JOSEPH WHALLEY, of Buxton 45 - - The late Mrs. ELLEN PBENDER- £ s. d.

GAST, of Youghal 27 - - The late Mr. JAMES GARDNER, of Preston 20 - - Paid 2,367Z. for sundry charges in connexion with various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 224Z. 13s. 3d. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services:— Lives Life-boat. Vessel. saved.

Girvan . . . Motor-boat Innistrahull, of Glasgow. . . . 6 Newbiggin. . Fourteen fishing cobles of Newbiggin. Stood by cobles.

North Berwick Schooner Rosendal, of Hull. Stood by vessel.

North Deal . Schooner Robert Morris, of Carnarvon. Stood by vessel.

Port Patrick . S.S. Dunira, of Glasgow 5 Redcar . . . Fishing-boat Lizzie and Ann, of Redcar . . 3 Southend - on - S.S. Mona, of Newcastle.

Sea Stood by vessel.

Boat of S.S. Ophir, of Glasgow. Saved boat and 6 Margate No. 2 Life-boat assisted to save the schooner Silvia, of Beaumaris; and Poole Life-boat saved the barge Emma and John, of London, and her crew of two.

Also voted 2,131. 4s. Gd. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat launches, assemblies of crews, etc., with the view of assisting persons on vessels in distress:—Buckhaven, Fleetwood, Helvick Head, Holy Island No. 1, Margate No. 2, Palling No. 2, Port St. Mary, Eye Harbour, Southend-on-Sea, Sunderland (North Dock), Sunderland (Motor), and Youghal.

Voted 151. 12s. Gd. to men injured in the Life-boat service at Blackpool and Selsey.

Voted the Silver Medal and an additional monetary reward to JAMES SMITH, Jun., Coxswain of the Port Patrick Life-boat, also an additional reward to the other members of the crew for their gallant services in rescuing the crew of five hands of the s.s. Dunira, of Glasgow. The vessel was totally wrecked off Port Patrick in a very rough sea on the 15th December.

Thursday, 12th February, 1914.

The Rt. Hon. the EARL WALDEGRAVE, P.O., V.P., in the Chair.

Bead and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Bead the minutes of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, Wreck and Reward, and Organization Sub-Committees, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Bead the reports, of the District Inspectors on their visits to the following Life-boat Stations:— Northern District.—Montrose (two boats), Johnshaven, Broughty Ferry, Balcary, Kirkcudbright, Maryport, and Whitehaven.

Eastern District.—Skegness, Mablethorpe, Cullercoats, Tynemouth, Cambois, Blyth, Sunderland (two boats), Seaham, Whitburn, Runswick, Staithes, Saltburn, Redcar, and Teesmouth.

Southern District.—Brighton, Ryde, Shoreham, Atherfield, Littlehampton, Hayling Island, Southsea, and Southend-on-Sea.

Western District.—St. Ives, Sennen Cove, Penzance, Penlee, Hayle, Tenby, Angle, Little Haven, and St. David's.

Irish District.—Arklow, Wicklow, Cahore, Wexford, Rosslare Harbour, Kilmore, Helvick Head, Tramore, and Dunmore East.

Presented the reports of the District Organizing Secretaries on their visits to the various Branches in their respective areas.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the previous meeting:— Mrs. LOWE, on account of a £ s. d.

Motor Life-boat for Tynemouth, to be named Henry Frederick Swan 1000 - - " ANONYMOUS BEQUEST ". . . 100 - - Mr. W.S.BBADSTREET (additional) 26 5 - Mr. JOHN T. HEDLEY (annual subscription) 25 - - Mr. W. H. A. WHARTON . . . 20 - - Mr. G. CECIL WHITAKER . . 20 - - ADELAIDE LADIES' COLLEGE, ILFRACOMBE (Balance from Annual Entertainment) . . 4 3 3 —To be thanked.

Reported the receipt of the following j legacies:— | The late Mrs. MARIAN PENDER SMART, of Tunbridge Wells, i for a Life-boat to be named Francis Gray Smart . . . 2000 - - The late Mr. GEORGE JOHN FENWICK, of Bournemouth . 1000 - - The late Mr. FREDERICK KITCHEN, of Carnarvon. Eight 100 Dollar Shares in the Caldwell Land and Lumber Co.

(additional) 166 13 4 The late Mr. THOMAS RAMSEY, of Kingston-upon-Hull. For the benefit of the Yorkshire Coast 120 - - The late BARONESS E. H. VON BUCH, of Portman Street, W.. 104 12 - The late Mr. WILLIAM McCuNN, of Largs, Scotland, for the maintenance of the Thomas McCunn Life - boat at Port Logan (on account) . . . 100 - - For the benefit of Widows and other dependent relatives of men who have lost their lives in connexion with the Life-boat service in Scotland . 50 - - The late Miss MABY MIDDLETON (per Filey Branch) . . . . 5 - - Decided to close the Killough Station.

Paid 5,1652. for sundry charges in connexion with the maintenance of the various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 288Z. 18s. 3d. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services:— lives Life-boat. Vessel. saved.

Clacton-on-Sea Schooner Mary Ann, of (Motor) Faversham . . . 6 Dungeness S.S. Pomerol, of Havre.

No. 1 Stood by vessel.

Falmouth . . Barque Hera, of Hamburg 5 Flamborough Three cobles of Mam- No. 1 borough. Stood by cobles.

Ilfracombe . S.S. Collier, of Bristol . 7 Margate No. 1 Fishing - boat Enchantress, of Westgate.

Stood by boat.

Porthdinllaen. Ketch James, of Carnarvon 4 Pwllheli . . Schooner William Martin, of Glasgow. Rendered assistance.

Spurn . . . S.S. Balvenie, of Glasgow.

Stood by vessel.

Stonehaven . Ketch Daybreak, of Peterhead. Stood by vessel.

Tynemouth Steam trawler ii?reewoW, (Motor) of Grimsby. Assisted vessel.

Walton-on-the- Brigantine Eleanor, of Naze (Motor) Yarmouth . . . . 7 Aldeburgh No. 2 Life-boat assisted to save the S.S. Salatis, of Hamburg.

Also voted 3351.19s. lid. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat launches, assemblies of crews, etc., with the view of assisting persons on vessels in distress:—Abersoch, Aranmoie, Barmouth, Blackpool, Caister No. 1, Clacton-on-Sea (Motor), Filey, Fleetwood, Formby, Gorleston No. 1, Hastings, Hayling Island, New Brighton (Steam), North Berwick, Shoreham, Winterton No. 2, and Yarmouth.

Submitted the name of SIDNEY J. HARRIS, Coxswain of the Gorleston Life-boat, to the Board of Trade for transmission to the Governors of the American Cross of Honour, as the first of the Institution's medallists, recommended by the Committee for this decoration. The Board of Governors, in 1913, expressed the desire to confer this distinction biennially upon a person, selected by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, who had in their opinion, in the last two years, rendered the most heroic service in life-saving.

Voted the thanks of the Institution, inscribed on vellum, together with a Binocular Glass, suitably inscribed, and 2/. to Captain J. D. SKINNER, of the schooner S.D.; also 21. each to the three men of the crew for putting off in the ship's boat and saving one of three men belonging to the S.S. Braeside on the 8th January. The Braeside was at anchor off Par Harbour when three men attempted to go ashore in the ship's boat.

When about a quarter of a mile from the harbour the boat was swamped and capsized in the heavy broken sea. Captain Skinner, whose vessel was in harbour, heard the men's cries for help, put off in the ship's boat and at great risk, saved one of the men, whom they found clinging to the capsized boat.

When this man had been taken into a place of safety Captain Skinner and his men again returned to make further search for the missing man, but without result. Voted 4:1. to four men for putting off in a shore-boat from Polkerris to the S.S. Braeside on the above date, for the purpose of warning the captain not to send another party ashore, and to inform him of the fate of his other men. The captain subsequently stated that if he had not been warned he would have sent another boat ashore.

Voted 31. to three men belonging to the fishing smack Godild for putting off in their skiff and, at some risk, saving three of six men belonging to the schooner Restless, of Salcombe, on the 27th January, 1914. The Restless was in collision with another vessel about three miles east by north from the Nore Light-vessel, and commenced to sink.

The crew attempted to escape in the ship's boat, but the boat capsized, throwing the men into the water. The salvors succeeded in saving three of these men, but the others unfortunately perished before they reached them. There was a moderate north-west wind at the time with a moderately rough sea.

Voted Ul. 10s. to the crew and helpers of the Sheringham Private Life - boat Henry Barney Upcher, for saving the crews, eleven in number, of four fishing-boats, and standing by another boat which was in danger, in a strong N.W. breeze and rough sea, on the 5th January.

Voted 2i. to four men for putting off in a boat and saving two children who were drifting out to sea in an open boat at Pwllheli on the 5th February; it was quite dark at the time and the sea was rough. Fortunately the salvors heard the boys' cries for help, or they would in all probability have been drowned.

Voted 4Z. 10s. to six men for putting off in a motor boat and standing by two small fishingboats which were in considerable danger and unable to return to Thurso Harbour on the 31st January. A strong W.S.W. gale was blowing and moderate risk was incurred by the salvors, who were engaged for about three hours.

Thursday, 12th March, 1914.

The Rt. Hon. the EARL WALDEGRAVE, P.O., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Read the minutes of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, also those of the Special Sub-Committees in connexion with the Fethard disaster, the appointment of a Surveyor of Machinery and ordering Life-boats; and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the reports of the Deputy Chief Inspector on his visits to Port Erroll and Southend-on-Sea.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors on their visits to the following Life-boat Stations:— Northern District.—Campheltown, Southend, Machrihanish, Girvan, Irvine, Troon, Ardrossan, Grail, Anstruther, Port Patrick, Holy Island (two boats), Cresswell, Hauxley, and North Sunderland.

Eastern District.—Robin Hood's Bay, Filey, Scarborough, Kessingland (two boats), Southwold (two boats), and Aldeburgh (two boats).

Southern District.—St. Holier, St. Peter Port, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Clacton-on- Sea.

Western District. — Ilfracombe, Appledore (two boats), Lynmouth, Weston-super-Mare, Burnham, Watchet, Minehead, Clovelly, Port Isaac, and Newquay (Cornwall).

Irish District. — Courtmacsherry, Queenstown, Killough, Courtown, Skerries, Peel, Port Erin, Ramsey, Castletown, Port St.

Mary, and Douglas.

Presented the reports of the District Organizing Secretaries on their visits to the various Branches in their respective areas.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions:— His MAJESTY THE KING (annual £ s. d. subscription) 21 - - THE CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND. Repayment of balance of rewards granted to the crews of the Civil Service Life-boats during 1913 83 16 6 M. H 30 - - Mr. J. TODHUNTEH (annual subscription) 10 10 - CROOK AND NEIGHBOURHOOD Co- OPEBATIVE SOCIETY, LTD. . 10 - - Mr. A. SHAKESBY. Collected by dog " Help" in Filey and Scarborough 5 - - —To be severally thanked.

Reported the receipt of the following legacies:—• The late Miss MARY ANNE LAPWORTH, of Warwick. . . . 501 - 10 The late Mrs. ELIZA FITTON, of Newcastle-on-Tyn . . . . 287 7 4 The late Mr. JOHN OLIVER SURTEES, of Liverpool . . . 180 - - The late Mr. P. W. N. LLOYD, of Bromley, Kent (additional interest) 15 1 4 The late Mr. STEPHEN BELL, of Stockton-on-Tees . . . . 10 - - Voted the best thanks of the Institution to Mr. B. SINCLAIR MACDONALD for his past valuable services as Honorary Secretary of the Thurso Branch, which office he has just resigned.

Also voted the best thanks of the Institution to Alderman DAVID WADE, J.P., in recognition of his good services at Bradford.

Also specially recognized the good services, extending over many years, of the -following Honorary Secretaries of Branches of the Institution : — Mr. W. B. WILLIAMS, Barry Dock, Mr. W. W. PETHEBICK, Bude, The Rev.

T. HORSFALL, Cresswell, and Mr. M. 0. FROWDE, Weymouth.

Appointed Mr. ARTHUR EVANS, M.I.A.E., Surveyor of Machinery.

Decided to close the Port Erroll Station indefinitely.

Paid 5,9902. for sundry charges in connexion with the maintenance of the various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 689Z. 10s. id. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services:— Lives life-boat. Vessel. saved.

Broughty Ferry Schooner Dalmaris, of (Motor) Goole. Stood by Cresswell . . Ship Arctic Stream, of Glasgow . . . . 6 Donaghadee . . Schooner Kate, of (Motor) Castletown. Rendered assistance.

Dungeness No. 2 Steam Tug Liniers, of Buenos Ayres . . 11 Schooner Sarah Ann, of Fowey. Stood by vessel.

Dunmore East . Fethard Life-boat . 2 Hope Cove . . S.S. Jane Rowe, of Gene. Stood by vessel.

Lowestoft . . Trawler Wave Crest, of Lowestoft. Stood by vessel.

Trawler Comrades, of Lowestoft. Stood by vessel.

Newbiggin . . Ship Arctic Stream, of Glasgow. . . . 13 Newhaven . . Schooner Maria, of (Motor) Fowey. Rendered assistance.

Plymouth . . Schooner Erna, of Bremen . . . . 5 Rosslare Harbour Schooners A lice T. and Perseverance, of Wexford. Landed 8.

Wexford . . . Schooner Memco, of Christiania . . . 7 Fethard Life-boat . 3 Lowestoft Life-boat assisted to save the trawler Active, of Lowestoft; Margate No. 2 Life-boat assisted to save the schooner Cimbria, of Tromso, and seven; and Palling No. 2 Life-boat rendered assistance to the ketches Lord Alcester, of London, and Spartan, of Montrose.

Also voted 734Z. 4s. 2d. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat launches, assemblies of crews, etc., with the view of assisting persons on vessels in distress : — Aldeburgh No. 1, Appledore No. 1, Aranmore, Barry Dock, Cahore, Caister No. 1, Cloughey, Dunbar, Dungeness No. 1, Falmouth, Fethard, Gorleston No. 2, Groomsport, Johnshaven, Kilmore, Kingstown, Lyme Regis, Minehead, Padstow No. 2, Palling No. 2, Penlee, Piel (Barrow), Ramsey, Saltburn, Sennen Cove, and Winterton No. 1.

Voted 11. 10s. to a man injured in the Lifeboat service at Aldeburgh.

In connexion with the Fethard Life-boat disaster on the 20th February, a full account of which appears on pages 144 to 146, the Committee made the following special awards:— Silver medals and votes of thanks on vellum to Commander THOMAS HOLMES, R.N., Chief Inspector of Life-boats; to WALTER POWER, Coxswain of the Dunmore East Life-boat; to JAMES WICKHAM and WILLIAM DUGGAN, the two men who put oft in the small boat from the Wexford Life-boat for the purpose of saving the endangered men. Also the second service clasp and vote of thanks to EDWARD WICKHAM, Coxswain of the Wexford Life-boat.

A vote of thanks on vellum and a Binocular Glass to Mr. GEORGE L. BASSETT, Honorary Secretary of the Fethard Branch; a vote of thanks on vellum and 101. to Captain BUSKER of the tug Wexford; a vote of thanks on vellum and 31. to each of the five survivors of the Fethard Life-boat crew; an aneroid and a letter of thanks to D. PALMER, who took considerable trouble to procure the rockets with which communication was effected with the island; also letters of thanks to the Honorary Secretaries of the Dunmore East and Wexford Branches for their useful cooperation on this sad occasion.

The Committee also made extra monetary rewards to the crews of the Dunmore East, Kilmore, and Wexford Life-boats, and a monetary grant to each member of the crew of the Wexford tug. To the fund raised by the Dublin Branch for the relief of the dependent relatives of the Life - boatmen drowned the Committee voted the sum of 2000Z., and sent a further sum of 501. to the Branch to provide for their immediate necessities.

Voted the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum, together with an additional monetary reward, to WATSON BROWN, Coxswain of the Newbiggin Life-boat, and to WILLIAM BROWN, Coxswain of the Cresswell Life-boat, also an additional monetary reward to each of the crew of both boats for their meritorious services on the 22nd February, in saving the crew of nineteen hands of the ship Arctic Stream, of Glasgow.

Also voted an additional monetary reward to the crew of the Lyme Regis Life-boat for a long and meritorious service on the 15th February.

Voted the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum, together with a sum of 21. each, to JOHN SHORT, WILLIAM GARDNER, and CHARLES SMART, for putting off in a boat and saving, at considerable risk, the master of the steamer Miown, which foundered in a very heavy sea, off Shoreham, on the night of the 12th February. The Miown foundered very | suddenly while it was dark, and the captain and engineer took refuge in the rigging, but the remainder of the crew, seven in number, were unfortunately lost. During the night the engineer was swept away and drowned.

I At daybreak the steamer's masthead, with a man clinging to it, was observed, and the salvors at once put off in a small boat, being exposed to the dangers of a heavy sea while rescuing the sole survivor of the wreck.

Voted 21. to four men for assisting the coble George and Albert and her crew of four hands, off Whitby, on the 2nd March. The coble was disabled in a strong off-shore breeze, owing to her rudder having been damaged, and it was necessary for the salvors to tow her into harbour. They incurred slight risk in doing so.

Voted 21. 5s. to three men for putting off in a boat in Courtmacsherry Harbour and : rescuing four men who were on a sandbank, ; which was becoming submerged by the flood tide. The men had gone off in a boat and j landed on the bank for the purpose of fishing, and while there their boat broke adrift. Seven men landed on the bank, but three swam ashore. Of the remainder only one, named JOHN MADEN, could swim, and he stopped with his comrades to render assistance. The Committee rewarded Maden's meritorious conduct by presenting him with 10s.

Wednesday, 18th March, 1914.

The Annual General Meeting of the | Governors and friends of the ROYAL NATIONAL I LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was held this day at the Whitehall Rooms, Hotel Metropole, S.W., the Rt. Hon. the EARL OF SELBORNE, K.G., in the Chair.

The Chairman having alluded to the great and national character of the operations of the Institution, the Annual Report (which is published in May) was presented to the meeting.

The meeting was also addressed by Col. the Rt. Hon. JOHN E. BERNARD SEELY, D.S.O., j M.P., Dr. GEORGE R. PARKIN, C.M.G., the Norwegian Minister (M. PAUL B. VOGT), Sir GODFREY BARING, Bart., M.P., and the Hon. GEORGE COLVILLE.

The officers for the current year were chosen, and a resolution was moved, seconded and carried unanimously, placing on record the meeting's hearty appreciation of the Coxswains and crews of the Institution's Lifeboats, and gratefully acknowledging the valuable help rendered to the cause by the Local Committees, Honorary Secretaries, Honorary Treasurers, and Ladies' Auxiliaries.

Recipients of medals during the year 1913 attended the meeting and were presented to the Chairman.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.

The officers' names and the resolutions will be found on pages 137-8.

NOTICE.

The next number of the LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL will be published on the 1st August.