Belfast Lough.

i The Annual Meeting, which was | largely attended, was held on 16th January, the chair being taken by the Lord Mayor, Sir William Coates, Bt., D.L. The financial statement for the | year ending 30th September, 1921, I showed that a sum of £766 had been ! raised, as compared with £776 in 1920, and of this sum £678 had been remitted to the Institution. The report also pointed out that in no part of the British Isles was there a larger proportion of Motor Life-boats than round the Irish coast, and that the upkeep of these boats was considerably more than the amount which Ireland annually contributed to the funds of the Institution. In moving the adoption of the report the Lord Mayor said that good as was the result of the work in 1921, still more might be done by carefully organised appeals.

He referred especially to the great success, in such towns as Manchester and Birmingham, of the collections among the employees of works and factories, and appealed to the heads of the works and dockyards in Belfast to give their workpeople an opportunity of contri- buting to the Life-boat Cause. This appeal was supported by the Very Rev.

T. G. Collins, B.D. On the proposal of Sir Robert Kennedy, K.C.M.G., seconded by Mrs. M'Mordie, M.P., the Lord Mayor was elected President and the Countess of Shaftesbury was elected President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. In the course of his speech the Lord Mayor expressed the regret of the meeting that Sir Godfrey Baring. Bt., Deputy Chair- man of the Committee of Management, had been prevented by the bad weather from attending the meeting. He had got as far as Carlisle, but had been unable to come further.

Dublin.

The Annual Meeting was held on 17th January, the chair being taken by Mr. Andrew Jameson, who was supported by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Manage- ment, Sir Maurice Dockrell, M.P., and the High Sheriff, Alderman Hubbard Clarke. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was pre- sented to the meeting, showed that the record amount of £872 had been raised as compared with £813 in 1920. This successful result was due to the work of the Special Effort Committee and the Ladies' Committee as well as to the generous support which the Branch had received from the city merchants. In moving the adoption of the report the Chairman mentioned that the Life-boat Day had raised over £500, while sub- scriptions amounted to only £300. He made a special appeal for an increased number of annual subscribers. Sir Godfrey Baring, in the course of an address on the work of the Institution, expressed the Committee of Manage- ment's earnest and sincere thanks for the efforts made on behalf of the Life- boat Service in all parts of Ireland, especially in Dublin.

Cork.

A meeting was held on 18th January, with Mr. A. P. Sharman Crawford as Chairman. Among those present were a number of prominent local supporters of the Institution, and Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Management. The Honorary Secretary, Mr. Donegan, pointed out that while in 1918 the Branch had raised a sum of £285 the total sum collected during the following three years had only been £52, and the Chairman said that the failure was due to the terrible conditions prevailing in Cork. They had not lost their keenness for the Cause, but it had been altogether impossible to carry out the work while they had been living practically in a state of war. He hoped, however, that there were brighter times ahead, and that they would then be able to reor- ganise the Branch, and give the Life- boat Service the same help as in the past. They all enormously appreciated the work of the Institution. They looked upon it as an international Institution.

It had saved lives and ships irrespective of nationality, and for that reason should be supported by everybody and by all nations. In the course of an address on the work of the Service, Sir Godfrey Baring assured the meeting that the Irish coast had not been neg- lected by the Institution. Out of its twenty-six Life-boats no fewer than six were Motor Boats, and the claims of Ireland would be similarly recognised in the future, for the Institution realised the importance of the Irish coast. He appealed to the Branch to revive its activities and to give the Institution the same generous support as in the past.

Mr. G. Crosbie, in supporting a vote of thanks to Sir Godfrey Baring, pointed out that the Life-Boat Institution spent more in Ireland than it collected, and hoped that in the future Ireland would contribute as much as the Life- boat Service in Ireland cost the Institu- tion. Ireland had never collected more than £3,000 in a year, while the yearly cost of maintaining the Irish Stations was about £5,000. In conclusion, a special appeal was made by the Chairman to the merchants and shipowners of Cork who, he thought, did not realisethe enormous value of the Life-boat Service to the Mercantile Marine.

Banff and Macduff.

The Annual Meeting, which was largely attended, was held on 20th January, the chair being taken by the Chairman of the Committee, ex-Provost Walker. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, showed that £33 had been raised as compared with £31 in 1920. Mr. Findlay, of Whitehills, in the course of the meeting, handed the Secretary a cheque for nearly £10, being a contribution to the Branch from the fishermen of Whitehills, and also pro- posed that a Life-boat Day should be held in the district during the summer.

Supporting this suggestion, the Chairman said that whether or not it was decided to retain a Life-boat at Banff he hoped the people in the district would continue to give the Institution their generous support. The officers were re-elected, and a number of new names were added to the Executive Committee. During the War the Banff and Macduff Station was closed, owing to the fact that the majority of the able-bodied fishermen were on service with the Fleet, and before the annual meeting, the Execu- tive Committee met to discuss the diffi- culty which had existed, since the end of the War, in finding a crew.

Coventry.

On 26th January, at a special and largely attended meeting of the Branch, presided over by the Deputy Mayor (Councillor J. I. Bates), Alderman A. H.

Drinkwater was presented by Mr. Her- bert Solomon, the District Organising Secretary for the Midlands, on behalf of the Committee of Management, with a Gold Badge in recognition of his very valuable co-operation for many years as Chairman of the Branch. In making the presentation Mr. Solomon said that a great deal of the success of the Life- boat Cause in Coventry was due to Alderman Drinkwater's personal efforts, and pointed out that his work for the Institution was only one part of a long career of public service. In reply Alder- man Drinkwater expressed his thanks to the Institution for its recognition of the work done in Coventry, and to Mrs.

Walter Beamish and the members of the Ladies' Committee. Mr. Liggins, the Honorary Secretary, then made a sur- prise presentation of two silver photo- graph frames to Mrs. Drinkwater in recognition of all that she had done to help the work of the Branch.

Plymouth.

A meeting was hold on 1st February for the purpose of forming the Plymouth Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and the follow- ing resolution, proposed by Lady Albertha Lopes and seconded by Mrs.

Roe, ' was carried unanimously :— " That, in agreement with the desires of the Prince of Wales (President) and of the Royal National Life-boat Institu- tion, this meeting resolves to form a Plymouth and District Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and to do all possible to enrol members. Further, it is hoped that the women of this historic seaport will do their uttermost to support and show their high appreciation of the truly national and humane work of the Royal National Life-boat Institution." Admiral Hutchison, the Chairman of the Branch, gave an account of the Institution's work. The Mayoress, Mrs.

J. F. Winnicott was elected Vice-Presi- dent, the Committee was chosen, and Mrs.

Roe undertook the duties of Honorary Secretary of the Guild. The Mayor, being unable to be present, sent a message, that he would give the Guild all the support in his power. Among those present were Lady Browning, Lady Humphreys, Mrs. Mullins and Mrs.

Hutchison, besides many other ladies who have already given the Life-boat Service much help by their work on Life-boat Days.

Oxford.

The Annual Meeting was held on 3rd February in Christ Church Hall, the chair being taken by the Earl of Jersey, the High Steward of the City of Oxford.

Among those present were the Dean of Christ Church, the Mayor and Mayoress of Oxford, the Archdeacon of Oxford, the Master of Balliol, the Warden of New College, Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, Father Austen, S.C., Mr. J. A. R. Mar- riott, M.P., Sir George Dash wood, Bt., [and Mr. George F: Shee, the Secretary [ of the Institution. The report for theyear ending 30th September, 1921, which was presented to the meeting by Miss Alice Marshall, the Honorary Secretary, showed that the sum of £1,236 had been raised, an increase of £64 on the previous year. During the year 140 names of new contributors had been added to the list. The Branch was fortunate in having the services of 300 honorary workers. Of these 293 were collectors, by whose efforts the sum of £790 had been obtained. In moving the adoption of the report Sir Dudley de Chair said that, as Admiral commanding the Coast-guard, he had had special opportunities of seeing the work of the Life-boat Service, and, from that special knowledge, was able to pay a tribute to the perfection with which the Service was equipped and the ability with which it was organised. There were few, even of those who knew the sea and its various moods, who realised the difficul- ties and dangers of the men who manned the Life-boats, or of the Coast-guard who kept their lonely watch on the cliffs of Great Britain, right from the north of Scotland to Land's End. The two Services worked together for the protec- tion of all seafarers, for it was from the Coast-guard that the Life-boats most frequently received the warning that a vessel was in distress. Father Austen, in seconding the adoption of the report, spoke of the deep interest which, in spite of the fact that it was an inland town, the City of Oxford took in the work of the Life-boat Service. He quoted the saying of a French politician, " It is a well-known fact that in every Englishman's heart there is a ship," and said that he would adopt and alter that phrase and say that not only was there in every Englishman's heart a ship, but there was, or ought to be, a Life-boat also. Mr. George F. Shee, in moving a vote of thanks to the Dean and Govern- ing Body of Christ Church for the Hall, paid a tribute of admiration and respect to the endurance and self-sacrifice with which the Honorary Secretary of the Branch devoted herself to the work of the Institution.

On 22nd February a matinee in aid of the funds of the Branch was held in the Town Hall. The matinee was under the patronage of H.R.H. the Duke of York, K.G., and of H.R.H. Princess Beatrice, the Princess herself being present at the performance. Among those present were Sir George and Lady Mary Dashwood, Lady Warren, Lady Baring, the Mayor and Mayoress of Oxford, Miss Minnie Cochrane and Mr.

Victor Corkran, C.V.O. (in attendance on Princess Beatrice), Colonel S. Waller, C.V.O., Miss Alice Marshall, the Hono- rary Secretary of the Oxford Branch, and Mr. George F. Shee, Secretary of the Institution. The play performed was entitled " By Shakespeare's Fireside," and had been specially written for the occasion by Mademoiselle de Bergerac, who was also responsible for its produc- tion. The long cast included a number of members of the Oxford University Dramatic Club, the part of Shakespeare being taken by Mr. Ivan Christopherson of Worcester College, while Anne Hath- away was played with much charm by Miss Muriel Dashwood.

Bradford.

The Annual Meeting of the Branch was held on 7th February, the chair being taken by the Lord Mayor, Mr.

Thomas Blythe. The annual report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was presented to the meeting by the Assistant Secretary, Miss Nora Grainger, showed that the sum of £2,288 had been raised, as compared with £2,852 in 1920. To this total the works collections had contributed only £25, and it was felt that this sum was scarcely worthy of the workpeople of Bradford, j Thanks to the excellent help of Lieut.- Colonel Gadie and Sir Henry White- ! head, the appeal for a special sum of j £10,000 to build a City of Bradford Life- boat, to be stationed at Spurn, had made good progress, and altogether £3,700 of it had been raised. In moving the adoption of the report, the Lord Mayor said that he thought that, of all the excellent Institutions in the city, the Life-boat Institution was the noblest because of the vastness of the dangers against which it protected human beings.

In seconding the motion Sir William Priestley said he hoped that the Branch would not depend on any one particular form of effort, and trusted that the list of annual subscriptions would beincreased. He thought it ought to be higher than £268, and he hoped that, in the course of 1922, the special fund for £10,000 would be completed.

Swansea.

The Annual Meeting of the Branch was held at the Guild Hall on 8th Febru- ary, and a special appeal was made for contributions to the Glamorgan Fund of £20,000, which it is hoped to raise in order to present to the Prince of Wales the two Motor Life-boats now being built for The Mumbles and Barry Dock. The appeal for this fund, which was issued by the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Plymouth, in December, 1920, had, owing to the serious state of trade, only raised up tc the present £2,700. The Mayor of Swansea made a special and urgent appeal for the remaining £17,000. He said that he hoped that, for the credit of the county, it would be possible to raise the whole of the sum during the present year, and that until this had been done it would not be possible to invite the Prince of Wales to come down to launch the Boats.

Ciacton-on-Sea.

The Annual Meeting was held on 10th February, Dr. J. Coxhead Cook pre- siding, in the absence, through serious illness, of the Chairman, Mr. G. B. Field- gate. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was pre- sented to the meeting, showed that a much larger sum had been raised in 1921 than in 1920—£426 as compared with £297. This very gratifying result was due to the holding of several special efforts, a whist drive, a dance and a football match, and also to an increase of over £60 in the subscription list.

Special reference was made to the work of Mrs. Coleman, who very energeti- cally organised the Life-boat Day with much success, and also to the work of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Dorey.

The cost of the maintenance of the station for the year was £551. The Officers and Committee were re-elected en bloc, and it was decided to refer to it the selection of a small Executive Com- mittee.

Port of Liverpool.

The Annual Meeting was held on 14th February, the chair being taken by the Lord Mayor. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was presented to the meeting, showed that £4,583 had been raised, as compared with £8,298 in the previous year, this latter figure including £3,612 in response to the special Motor Life-boat Appeal.

The adoption of the report was proposed by the Lord Mayor and seconded by Sir Maurice Cameron, K.C.M.G., of the Committee of Management, who grate- fully acknowledged, on behalf of the Committee, the debt which the Institu- tion owed to the Liverpool Branch. He pointed out that during the last three years the Branch's contributions had totalled nearly £20,000, and that was exclusive of the sum of £8,000 from two Liverpool donors towards the cost of the new Motor Life-boat which was being built for New Brighton. Sir Maurice dwelt especially on the need of increasing the list of annual subscribers, since this would increase the assured income of the Institution, and, in referring to the meagre support received from the ship- ping companies, said that in 1920 two- thirds of their contributions had come from Liverpool. A special vote of thanks to the members of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, congratulating them on their splendid achievement in collecting £1,600, was moved by Sir Francis Danson and seconded by Mr. Charles Livingston, the President of the New Brighton Committee.

City of London.

The Annual Meeting was held on 15th February at the Mansion House, the chair being taken by the Lord Mayor.

Among those present were the Lady Mayoress, Mr. J. G. Howell, C.C. (the Chairman of the Executive Committee), Lord Avebury (Honorary Treasurer), Captain Sir Herbert Acton Blake, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. (the Deputy Master of Trinity House), Colonel R. A.

Johnson, C.B.E. (the Deputy Master of the Mint), and the Hon. George Colville.

The annual report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, showed that a sum of £8,284 had been raised as compared with £8,858 in the previous year. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Howell said he thought that, in view of the special conditions of thetimes, the Branch could feel, even with the fall in its income, that it had had a successful year's work. He made a special appeal to the Shipping Firms, City Guilds, and Business Houses to support the Institution, and expressed the hope that the Stock Exchange and the Corn Exchange would replace the two boats which had once borne their names, but which had now been with- drawn from the coast as obsolete. The adoption of the report was seconded by Sir Herbert Acton Blake, and the honorary officers and the Committee were re-elected.

Berwick.

The Annual Meeting was held on 16th February, the chair being taken by the Mayor. The statement of accounts for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was submitted by the Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Younger, showed that the sum of £122 has been raised as compared with £123 in 1920.

Lieut.-Colonel C. L. Eraser, Honorary Secretary, in his general report on the work of the Station during the year, made a special appeal for a " back-bone " of regular subscribers of 20s., 10s., and 5s. He also mentioned that it was proposed to make a special effort to increase subscriptions by forming a Ladies' Life-boat Guild. In view of the difficulty of getting the attendance of members at meetings of the Committee some suggestions were made, and these were referred to the Committee itself for consideration.

Manchester.

The Annual Meeting was held on 21st February, the chair being taken by the President of the Branch, Sir William Milligan. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, showed that the record sum of over £5,570 had been remitted to Headquarters. Of this sum £1,083 had been contributed by dona- tions and subscriptions ; £1,530 by the Life-boat Day; £1,196 by places of amusement, including a matinee which raised £820 ; and £812 by works collec- tions. The efforts of the Ladies' Life- boat Guild raised no less a sum than £875, and it was hoped to increase this amount in future years. In moving the adoption of the report Sir William Milligan reminded the meeting that the Institution would celebrate its Cen- tenary in 1924, and said that he hoped that a great effort would be made during the next three years to enable the Branch to increase its contribution in the Centenary year to £10,000. He knew of no charity which made a deeper appeal than the Life-boat Service, and the responsibility of seeing that it was adequately supported was all the greater because the only alternative would involve the surrender of the great prin- ciple of voluntary administration. The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. H. A. Hailwood, M.P., and a vote of thanks to the officers and other workers was proposed by Lady Sheffield.

A cordial welcome was extended by the Branch to Sir E. F. Stockton who had succeeded the late Sir Edward Broad- hurst as Honorary Secretary.

B ir mingh am.

The Annual Meeting was held on 2nd March, the chair being taken by Sir William Bowater, in the unavoidable absence of the Lord Mayor. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, showed that the Branch had raised £1,451, as compared with £2,036 in 1920.

In moving the adoption of the report Sir William Bowater announced that a Birmingham citizen had presented a sum of £5,000 to the Institution for the con- struction of a Motor Life-boat, and expressed the hope that this gift would encourage the generosity of others. The donoi, Mr. H. S. Thomson, explained that the gift was made from a family fund, of which he was executor, and it had been decided to give this sum to the Institution because the family felt that there was no charity which better deserved generous support. The Life-boat was to be a gift in memory of his son who died in Palestine on active service. The Lord Mayor was elected President of the Branch, the Officers and Committee were re-elected, and the following officers of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild were also elected :—The Countess of Plymouth, President; the Lady Mayoress, Lady Bowater. Lady Brooks, Vice-Presidents ; and Mrs. Lewis Crump and Mrs. E. Smith, Honorary Secre- taries.Lytham.

The Annual Meeting was held on 3rd March, the chair being taken by Mr E. W. Mellor, J.P., Chairman of the Committee. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was presented to the meeting by Mr, John Pearson, the Honorary Treasurer, showed that £177 had been raised as compared with £387 in 1920. Speoia reference was made to the excellent work of the Ladies' Committee and also of the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, Mr. C. A. Myers. The officers were re-elected.

Torquay.

The Annual Meeting was held on 6th March, the chair being taken by the President, Commander Milne, R.N.

The statement of accounts for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was presented to the meeting by the Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. C. Slade, showed that the sum of £296 had been raised as compared with £342 in 1920.

It was felt that this was a satisfactory result, and special mention was made of the indebtedness of the Branch to Mrs.

Towell and other ladies who had helped to collect over £170 on Life-boat Day.

The Honorary Secretary mentioned the increasing difficulty which was found in launching the Boat owing to the removal of large stones from the beach, and it was decided that the Committee should meet the Institution's Inspector and discuss the matter with him.

Leeds.

The Annual Meeting was held on 7th March, the chair being taken by the Lord Mayor (Mr. W. Hodgson), who was sup- ported by Commander Sir Harry Main- waring, Bt., B.N.V.R., representing the Committee of Management. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was presented to the meeting by Mr. 3. Arthur Batley, the Honorary Secretary, showed that the Branch had raised £1,303 as compared with £2,098 in 1920, the decline being due to the severe trade depression. There had been a decrease in subscriptions of £30.

The Lord Mayor proposed the adoption of the report, and Sir Harry Main waring,, in seconding, expressed the warm thanks of the Committee of Management for the! generous support which the Institution received from Leeds. He also suggested that the city might possibly follow the example of Bradford, which was raising a special sum of £10,000 to provide a new Motor Life-boat, to be named after the city, and placed at the Spurn Station on the Yorkshire coast. The officers of the Committee were re-elected, and Mrs.

Leigh and Mrs. J. Marshall were elected Chairman and Treasurer respectively of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

Walton-on-the-Naze.

The Annual Meeting was held on 10th March, with Mr. A. F. Fitter, the President of the Branch, in the chair.

The annual report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was pre- sented to the meeting, showed that the sum of £206 had been raised as compared with £208 in 1920. The officers were re-elected, and a number of gentlemen were added to the Committee. The meeting was followed by a dinner, at which the President entertained the members of the Committee, the Crew and other guests, numbering altogether nearly sixty. In the course of the even- ing the President presented to Mr. A. B.

Greenwood, Honorary Secretary of the Branch, the Binoculars which had been awarded to him by the Committee of Management as a slight appreciation of his valuable services to the Life-boat Cause for the past ten years. The Presi- dent then presented a silver Cigarette Box and an illuminated Album to Mr.

J. F. Graham, on behalf of the Com- mittee of the Branch, in recognition of bis untiring work as Joint Honorary Secretary.

Darlington.

The Annual Meeting was held on 13th March, the chair being taken by the Mayor, Councillor T. M. Hinde. The annual report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, showed that the ium of £137 3s. Wd. had been raised, as iompared with £212 Os. 2d. in 1920, and of this sum £120 10s. had been sent to headquarters. The report stated that the miners' strike and the consequent closing of the works in the town seriously nterfered with the work of the Branch.

The Mayor was elected President, and other officers of the Committee were re-elected.Swindon.

The Annual Meeting was held on 12th April, the chair being taken by the Mayor. The report for the year ending 30th September, 1921, which was pre- sented by Madame Dockray, the Hon- orary Secretary, showed that a sum of £215 had been collected. The report was adopted, and thanks accorded to Miss M. E. H. Wright on her resignation from the Honorary Treasurership of the Branch.

Hastings.

A Special Meeting was held on 13th April, the chair being taken by the Mayor, Alderman W. James Fellowes, J.P., for the purpose of making a special presentation to Mr. James Coleman, a local fisherman, who had rescued two boys from a dangerous position on the rocks in 1920 at considerable risk to himself. For this exploit the Institution had awarded him £12, and, later on, in view of the exceptional circumstances of the rescue it was decided also to present him with a Barometer. In making the presentation, the Mayor expressed to Mr. Coleman the gratitude of the town for his fine action. Lieu- tenant Hayes, the District Inspector of Life-boats, referred to the very efficient way in which Coxswain Plumer main- tained the Boathouse, and expressed the thanks of the Committee of Manage- ment to Mr. J. G. Anson, the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, and to Mrs.

Anson for the valuable work which they had done for the Life-boat Service in Hastings.

Wigan.

In March, 1921, a special meeting was held, at which it was decided to revive the Wigan Branch, and the report of the first year's working was presented to a meeting which was held on 13th April last, the chair being taken by Mrs.

J. A. Parkinson in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor. The report, which was presented by the Honorary Secretary, Councillor D. Cowser, stated that a Life-boat week had been held during last summer, which included a display of films, collections in all the cinemas and a carnival. As a result a sum of £108 had been raised. In addition to this special effort an appeal had been issued by the Mayor which had brought a number of annual subscribers to the Branch, and several Churches and Chapels had made special collections.

The report concluded by expressing the grateful thanks of the Branch " for the whole-hearted support given to it by every section of the town, both religious and political." Fishguard.

A meeting was held on 21th April, at which the Chairman of the Local Com- mittee, Mr. J. C. Bowen, J.P., presided, for the purpose of presenting to Cox- swain J. Howells the Certificate of Service awarded to him by the Com- mittee of Management on his retirement after eleven and a half years as Coxswain.

Captain E. Sharp, who had known Coxswain Howells for over twenty-two years, paid a special tribute to the way in which he had performed his duties.

He was still one of the most vigorous men present, but as he was getting on in years he had felt that the time had come to pass on his duties as Coxswain to younger hands. In returning thanks Cosxwain Howells recalled that it was through Captain Sharp that he first became associated with the Life-boat Service. One Sunday afternoon the Boat was going out on service, there was no Coxswain available, and Captain Sharp called on him to take charge of her. The Honorary Secretary of the Branch, Mr. M. L. Nicholls, announced that five applications had been received for the post of Coxswain, and, after dis- cussion, it was decided to appoint Cap- tain Thomas D. Lewis, at present serving as Chief Officer of the s.s. Brighton.

NOTICE.

Owing to lack of space reports of many meetings of Branches are held over until the next number of The Life-Boat, which will be published in November, 1922..