The Presentation of Gold Medals and Addresses of Congratulation to the Institution.

AN International Conference on the World's Life-boat Service was held, in connexion with the Centenary of the Institution, on 1st and 2nd July, in the Council Chamber of the Westminster j City Hall, which had been kindly lent j to the Institution by the Worshipful i the Mayor of Westminster. j Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management, pre- sided, supported by the Hon. George Colville, the Deputy-Chairman, and other members of the Committee of Management. The Institution was also represented by Mr. George P. Shee, M.A. (Secretary), Captain H. F. J. Rowley, C.B.E., E.N. (Chief Inspector of Life-boats), Commander Thomas Holmes, R.N. (late Chief Inspector and Acting Deputy-Inspector of Life-boats), Mr. J. R. Barnett, O.B.E., M.I.N.A.

(Consulting Naval Architect), Mr. Felix Rubie, M.I.N.A. (Surveyor of Life- boats), Mr. Arthur F. Evans (Surveyor of Machinery) and the District In- spectors of Life-boats.

The Board of Trade was represented by Captain H. F. Aplin, R.N., and Captain Rundle, R.N., of the Mercantile Marine Department.

The delegates from the foreign Life- boat Societies were :— HOLLAND.

Noord-en-Zuid Hollandsche Redding- Maatschappij. (The North and South Holland Life-saving Society. Founded 1824.) Mr. P. E. Tegelberg, President.

Mr. H. de Booy, Secretary.

Captain D. H. Doeksen.

Zuid-Hollandsche Maatschappij tot Red- ding van Schipbreukelingen. (The South Holland Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked. Founded 1824.) The Right Hon. A. A. Baron Sweerts de Landas Wyborgh, Vice-President.

Mr. C. D. Julius, Secretary.

UNITED STATES.

United States Coast Guard. (Life-boat Service, established 1848.) Commander Harold D. Hinckley.

DENMARK.

The Royal Danish Government Life-boat Service, established 1852.

Captain Jorgen Frederick Saxild, Ministry of Marine.

Norsk Selskab Til skibbrudnes Redning.

(Norwegian Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked. Stations established by the State 1854. Society founded 1891.) Captain Klaus Eeimers.

Captain Ottar Vogt, Secretary.

SWEDEN.

The Royal Swedish Government. (Life- boat Service, established 1855.) Mr. Edvard Lithander, Member of thRiksdag, and Vice-President of the Swedish Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked.

Mr. Albert Isakson, M.I.N.A., Chairman of the Life-boat Committee of the Swedish Shipping League.

Svenska sallskapet for raddning of skeppsbrutne. (Swedish Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked. Founded 1904.) Commander Otto Stenberg, President.

Captain Sten Isberg SecretaryLa Societe Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages. (The Central Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked. Founded 1865.) M. le Vice-Admiral Le Bris, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Member of the Committee.

M- Granjon de Lepiney, Secretary.

M. le Commandant Le Verger, Chief Inspector of Life-boats.SPAIN.

Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento de Naufragos. (Spanish Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked. Founded 1880.) Vice-Admiral the Marques de Casinas.

Captain Felix Bastarreche.

JAPAN.

Teikoku Suinan Kinsaikai. (The Imperial Japanese Life-boat Institu- tion. Founded 1889.) Count Kozo Yoshii, President.The Life-boat Societies of German (founded 1865) and Portugal (founde 1892) were unable to send representa tives, and the Breton Life-saving Societ (founded 1873) and the Humane Societ of the Commonwealth of Massachusett (founded 1785) had both appointed repre sentatives who, at the last momenl were unfortunately prevented from com ing to England.* Of these Life-boat Services, all art maintained by voluntary organization (in some cases with a grant from the State), except those of the United State and Dsnmark, where the Life-boats are a State Service, while in Sweden there is both a State Service and a Voluntary Service.

The Mayor of the City of Westminster (Mr. EDGAR HORNE), by whose courtesy the Council Chamber had been placed ai the disposal of the Conference, greetec the delegates in the following speech :— Sir Godfrey Baring and Gentlemen I am here as Mayor of the City of West- minster to welcome you to the hall, and to say how delighted we are, the citizens of Westminster, that you should have honoured us by coming here, and how much pleasure it has given us to put our Council Chamber at your disposal.

I think all of us in Westminster realize the wonderful work which is done by the Life-boat Institution, and many of us, who have travelled thousands of miles by sea, recognize the perils that you struggle to alleviate. I know that you have the support and the good wishes of all in the splendid work which you have done for so many years. You have a long programme to deal with now, 'and I will not take up more of your time except formally to express the delight it has given us to have you here, and our best wishes for all good fortune in the future.

(Cheers.) Sir GODFEEY BARING, Bt.: I am sure I am expressing the universal feeling of the Conference when I say how deeply we appreciate Your Worship's presence here at the commencement of our pro- ceedings on this unique occasion. Mr.

Mayor, if I may say so very respectfully, you are an old friend of the Life-boat Institution. You have always afforded * For particulars of the Belgian Life-boat Service, see page 186.

us the utmost help and support in your capacity as Mayor of the City of West- minster, and, indeed, in your private capacity as a citizen of this country.

We feel that the Conference is opening under most auspicious circumstances when you have given us a few minutes of your valuable time to welcome the delegates, and when you have allowed us to meet in this beautiful hall under such very pleasant surroundings. It is my privilege to offer you the most respectful and most cordial thanks of this Conference for your great kindness and courtesy to it. (Cheers.) Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Royal National Life-boat Institu- tion, then took the chair, and read a «legram which had been received from 3.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., the Institution's President :— " Please convey to those present at the International Conference which opens to-day my best wishes for a very successful meeting.

" EDWARD P." To this telegram the following reply was sent:— " The representatives of the Life- boat Services of Great Britain, United States, France, Spain, Japan, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway most gratefully and respectfully acknow- ledge the telegram of welcome received from Your Royal Highness. They re- cognize the deep personal interest which Your Royal Highness, as Presi- dent of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, takes in this great work which is done by the Life-boat Ser- vices of the world for humanity and the amity of nations, and we would assure Your Royal Highness that we, in this Conference, encouraged by your gracious interest, will leave nothing undone, which the exchange of ideas can do, to make the Life-boat Service of the world more perfect than it is.

" GODFREY BARING, Chairman." The CHAIRMAN : I should then like o read a telegram which I propose to end to H.M. the King on behalf of this onference. It runs as follows :— " The representatives of the Life- boat Services of Great Britain, United rl States, France, Spain, Japan, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, as- sembled in conference for the further- ance of the efficiency of the Life- saving Service which they carry out for the seafarers of the world, send respectful greeting to H.M. the King, the Patron of the Royal National Life-boat Institution/in the knowledge that the work on which they are engaged has his warm sympathy and support." The delegates unanimously expressed their pleasure at this proposal, and the telegram was despatched. Shortly after- wards the following reply was received from Buckingham Palace :— " As Patron of the Royal National Life boat Institution, I have received with much pleasure the message from the Chairman and foreign delegates assembled to celebrate the Centenary of the Institution.

" It must be a matter of satisfaction to all who are interested in this impor- tant movement that representatives from so many countries are meeting in conference to promote the noble work of life-saving at sea.

" I rejoice that the Prince of Wales succeeded me • in the position of President of a Society, of which I am proud to be Patron, and which has, for upwards of one hundred years, provided, through voluntary support, a Service honoured by every maritime people and linking all nations in the chivalry of the sea.

" May all success attend your deliberations ; and I pray that God's blessing may be vouchsafed to all brave men who risk their lives in the humane and heroic work of the Life- boat Services of the world.

" GEORGE R.I." The CHAIRMAN : I should wish my first words at this very important Conference—I do not propose to detain you with a long opening speech— to be of the most cordial welcome to those gentlemen whom we are privileged to see here to-day. Our celebrations, and they are very impor- tant as far as we are concerned, woulc have lost half their significance and al] •heir grace if we had not been privileged jo welcome the representatives of foreign life-boat Societies and foreign Govern- ment Life-boat Services. We, have ooked forward to this week with great nterest, and the special point of interest las been that we were going to have ;his Conference, and have the great jenefit of your advice and help and experience in discussing and determining matters which affect the efficiency of ;he Life-boat Service. We know, and ;his makes our gratitude all the more sincere, that many of you gentlemen lave come here at very great personal nconvenience, and have travelled many miles to be present. May I just mention in this connexion that Count Yoshii, representing the Japanese Life-boat Service, has travelled 11,000 miles to t e here with us on this occasion, and we are deeply grateful for this most wonder- ful exhibition of his sympathy, and his desire to assist the Life-boat work throughout the world.

I could not help feeling yesterday, when I had the privilege of going with Admiral Sturdee round the splendid Life-boats moored on the Thames, what a wonderful display that was of the International Life-boat Service. I am, of course, only a humble layman, but to my inexperienced eye it seemed that each boat was a model of what a Life-boat should be. Each seemed designed to make the Life-boat Service in each particular country as efficient as it possibly could be.

During the course of this Conference there is to be submitted by Count Yoshii a suggestion that we should do our utmost at this Conference to impress upon the world the urgent necessity of providing Life-boats where there is any considerable traffic on the sea. I think our aims, as representing the Life-boat Services of the various countries, ought to be to secure the establishment of a Life-boat Service at each point of danger, as far as this can be done, in the world, so that under any circumstances sailors of all countries may take heart from the knowledge that there are in close prox- imity to them Life-boatmen with strong h-.nds and warm hearts who are willing t risk their own lives to help those in danger on the sea. (Cheers.) There were received by the King at tions. A ship of country " A " is Buckingham Palace yesterday (June wrecked on the coast of country " B," 30th) seven of our Gold Medallists. All I and very soon the whole country had been awarded the medal for parti-1 resounds with what has been done, and cular deeds of valour. This medal is j the gallantry displayed in that saving our supreme decoration, and it is only j of life. The rescued men and their awarded for conspicuous gallantry. If I may so express it, it is the Victoria Cross of the Life-boat Service. But while I dwell with pleasure on the honour done to these men, I hope, gentle- men, that you will not think that I am claiming any pre-eminence in gallantry for our own Life-boatmen. I am sure that in every maritime country in the world there are a number of men who have rendered heroic services in saving life at sea. The whole of our Services depend upon the personnel of our Crews.

If we cannot rely upon the bravery and skill of our Life-boatmen, all our Societies, Committees, Sub-Committees and organizations would be a hollow sham. It all comes down to the bedrock relatives are sure to talk about the work of the Life-boatmen of country " B " who, they will say, " Can't be such a bad lot of fellows." Surely this sort of thing must have a remarkable effect on international relations. (Cheers.) I want now to thank you once again most warmly for your presence, to wel- come you most sincerely to our country, to solicit your advice and assistance in this Conference which we are now commencing, and finally to assure you that when these celebrations are over we in this country shall return to our work encouraged, inspired and strengthened by your sympathy, by your good wishes and by your prayers.

(Cheers.) allow me to read out the text:— To the Royal National Life-boat fact that we have to rely upon the seamanship, gallantry and devotion of! Mr- EDVARD LITHANDER (Member of the Life-boatmen of the world. And that |tlle Riksdag, and Vice-President of the gallantry has never failed. Even we, who j Swedish Society for Saving the Ship- are so closely associated with the Life-1 wrecked) : As a representative at this boat Service, I wonder if we realize the I Conference of the Royal Swedish Govern- conditions under which its work has to ment I nave tne honour and pleasure be performed, while the public, I think, to present an Address from the Govern- sometimes loses sight of what is | ment, and, Mr. Chairman, will you kindly demanded of a Life-boatman. He is asked, perhaps in the middle of the night, in the face of a frightful gale of Institution.

wind or other awful climatic conditions, | « Gentlemen,—On the occasion of the at a moment s notice, to leave every-1 ceiebration this year of the centenary thing he holds dear m the world to go of the Ro j National Life-boat Institu- out and rescue those who are in peril; on and perhaps lay down his life in the cause of humanity. He is moreover not! THE RoYAL SWEDISH GOVERNMENT asked to save the lives of his relations representing a nation, seafaring as well or friends, but of absolute strangers, as Great Britain, desires to transmit a (Cheers.) i cordial message of sincere congratula- I wonder if we ever reflect upon the j tion.

remarkable international aspect of the " During the course of time a very Life-boat Service. Our men have saved large number of Swedish sailors have the lives of foreign sailors, and foreign j been rescued from mortal danger through Life-boatmen have many times saved j the intervention of the Institution.

Profoundly conscious of the indebted- ness in which Sweden remains to all those Britishers, whose courage and self- sacrifice have saved the lives of Swedish English lives. What a remarkable effect that must have on the relations between the people of the various countries.

Suppose, for instance, that country " A " has had strained relations with country j men, thus preserving them for their " B." Politicians have perhaps been country and their families, the Royal responsible for international complica- Swedish Government rejoices to seize the opportunity, which now presents itseli, of expressing its own and the nation's high appreciation of and grati- tude for the inestimable services ren- dered by the Institution to humanity.

" The Royal Swedish Government ventures to express the hope that the Institution will long continue to carry out its humane work for the benefit of all seafaring nations.

" I have the honour, Gentlemen, to be your obedient servant, " NILS WOHLIN, Minister of Commerce." Will you allow me, Mr. Chairman, to add to these words an expression of the pleasure and gratitude which I felt yesterday, when as a representative of a nation expressing its thanks for the services rendered, I had the privilege of meeting and shaking hands with, the Gold Medallists the Chairman has referred to, and I am sure those feelings are shared by my colleagues. (Cheers.) Mr. Lithander then handed the Ad- dress to the Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN : May I say on behalf of the Committee of Management how deeply we appreciate this presentation, and that we shall ever keep it and cherish it amongst our most valued possessions. The presentation has acquired additional grace by the charm- ing words which have been addressed to us by the Swedish Government. We thank you most sincerely.

Commander OTTO STENBERG (Presi- dent of the Swedish Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked) : The Swedish Life-boat Society presents its compliments to the Royal National Life- boat Institution, and has the honour of presenting an Address in humble recogni- tion of the services rendered to humanity and as an expression of its admiration for the work done by the Institution.

Commander Stenberg then read the following Address :—• " Founded by men trained in the strenuous School of Life, by them gradually developed, and by them main- tained, the Royal National Life-boat Institution has for a century constituted a sure safeguard for seafarers of all nations who, in inclement weather, have approached the shores of Britain.

" In ever-increasing numbers and in Boats which are constantly being im- proved; the Institution's Life-boatmen carry on their ceaseless struggle with the elements in the service of humanity.

" The energy and determination, the sound judgment and good seamanship of these Crews have been, in the majority of instances, crowned with success.

" We gratefully salute your noble Institution and your brave Crews.

Swedish seamen bear ungrudging wit- ness to' your self-sacrificing efforts, your invincible heroism and your beneficent activities.

" GOTHENBURG, 2(M June, 1924.

SVENSKA SALLSKAPET FOR RADDNING AF SKEPPSBRUTNE " OTTO STENBERG, Chairman.

" STEN ISBERG, Secretary." (Cheers.) Commander Stenbeig then handed the Address to the Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN : May I offer the Swedish Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked also OUT, most sincere thanks for this beautiful presentation.

We shall place it amongst our treasures, and we deeply appreciate your kindness in making it.

Mr. P. B. TEGELBERG (President of the North and South Holland Life- saving Society): It is not a very remarkable coincidence that the same bright idea is borne in the brains of different minds at the same time. We in Holland had the same idea.

We have just heard from the Chair- man that your Gold Medal is only given in cases of very exceptional valour. In Holland we thought that the British Life-boat Institution had done such splendid work for 100 years, and that the deed was so remarkable that we were entitled to hand to the Royal National Life-boat Institution our Gold Medal which we give to people who have done great service to our country.

It is not an easy matter to keep up the standard of an organization during 100 years, always in first-rate condition, and as a token of our admiration of the work done by the British Life-boat Institution I herewith present the President of the Institution with our Gold Medal.

(Cheers.) Mr. Tegelberg then handed the Gold Medal to the Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN : We are really over- whelmed by the kindness of these presentations. We had no idea that we should be privileged to receive this much prized Gold Medal. We have our critics in this country, and I wish that the speech which has just been made could be circulated throughout the country.

It would do us more good than anything that has been said for many years past.

We thank you most cordially.

The Eight Hon. A. A. BARON SWEERTS DE LANDAS WYBORGH (Vice-President of the South Holland Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked) : Honour- able President, Gentlemen. As repre- sentative of the South Holland Society for the Saving of the Shipwrecked it is for me, as Vice-President, indeed, a great honour to congratulate your Institution on the completion of its first century—a hundred years wherein numberless lives of every nation have been saved from a certain death ; wherein men have been given back to their wives, children have been spared from becoming orphans.

As a matter of fact such an extra- ordinary Centenary is worthy to be celebrated.

In the beginning of the marvellous and highly interesting book by Major A. J.

Dawson, " The Story of a Century of Heroic Service," there is a captain that says, " Is there any more" splendid organization in the world than the Royal Life-boat Institution ? " and I myself—as belonging to the Committee of Manage- ment of a foreign Life-boat Society—I am very pleased to state I fully agree herewith, not knowing, indeed, any benevolent society that has done such work, has done so much for our fellow creatures as your Institution.

But, besides this, I wish to point out another great merit of your Institution, that your Committee of Management have always been prepared to assist your sister societies by placing your great experience in saving the shipwrecked at their disposal.

The South Holland Society was also founded in 1824, about nine months after your Institution, and we have always been in the most friendly contact with your Institution. Whenever we have wanted to know what your experi- ence was of a certain class of boats, your Committee have always given us the most complete information. When our Society had decided to build a Steam Life-boat, it was again the Committee of your Institution who gave us parti- culars, with the result that the boat was built in England to our perfect satis- faction, and has saved hundreds and hundreds of lives. I profit from this occasion to thank your Committee for your everlasting and cordial friendship.

The South Holland Society has four medals to award to those singled out for special distinction, one of bronze, one of silver, a small golden medal, and the large golden medal, which, up to the present, has only been awarded twice.

At the last meeting of the Board of Directors it was unanimously decided to offer, on the day of the celebration of your Centenary, to your Institution this golden medal and diploma, in order to pay homage to the brilliant way in which the Institution accomplishes the humane and world-wide task of providing and maintaining the Life-boat Service for the benefit of the seafarers of all nations.

Baron Sweerts then read the Diploma.

" de Zuidhollandsche Maatschappij Tot Redding Van SCHIPBREUKELINGEN Rotterdam deems it an honour to award its GOLDEN MEDAL to the Royal National Life-boat Institution on the occasion of the hundredth anni- versary of its foundation, in order to pay homage to the brilliant way in which the Institution accomplishes the humane and world-wide task of providing and maintaining the Life-boat Service for the benefit of the seafarers of all nations.

" Rotterdam, 2nd July, 1924.

" SWEERTS, Vice-President.

"C. D. JULIUS, Secretary."May I present these in the name of my make use of your improving of our May I most grate- Society. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN ; fully accept this beautiful presentation on behalf "of the Royal National Life-: own apparatus. Therefore, in a truly boat Institution. Our Committee Room : brotherly spirit and with the utmost will be enriched with these presentations, joy, do I convey to the Royal National and I hope they will remain there long Life-boat Institution my most heartfelt after we have ceased our work, and that homage, wishing a long and prosperous for many hundreds of years they will be life to the great work of maritime succoTar, regarded with pride and real esteem.

We thank you most gratefully.

At the opening of the afternoon session on the first day Vice-Admiral LE which you carry on with such magni- ficent success.

On behalf of the Societe Centrale de Sauvetage de France and of its President, Vice-Admiral Touchard, who was deeply BEIS, of La Societe Centrale de Sauvetage j sorry to find himself unable to be here des Naufrages, made the following to-day among you, and entrusted me speech: "Whoever deals with life-saving, j with the great honour of representing and wishes to do so to good purpose him, I beg to thank Sir Godfrey Baring, should consider before anything the the Hon. George Colville, the distin- wonderful spectacle offered us by the guished Secretary, George Shee, and the coasts of Great Britain." Thus spoke, Committee of the Royal National Life- in 1866, one of the founders of the boat Institution, for calling upon us to Societe Centrale de Sauvetage de France, partake in the celebration of this glorious I wish to repeat the selfsame words Centenary. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN : I am sure my col- eagues on the Committee of Manage- ment will very much appreciate and be deeply touched by the kind words which the Admiral has used in that address which he has read to us, and in thanking lim for what he has said, I should like to assure him that the recollection of French co-operation, which we have received in our work, will always be one of our most precious memories, and I hope we shall go on co-operating in our work of Life-saving for many years to come.

At the opening of the second day of the Conference, Captain JORGEN SAXILD, of the Danish Ministry of Marine, before reading his paper on the financial arrangements of the Danish Life-boat Service, made the following speech: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, with your permission I will take the liberty before I commence the reading of my paper to say a few words only indirectly con- nected with it.

Before leaving Denmark my people asked me to present the compliments of the Danish Life-boat Service to the British Life-boat Service. We are fighting the same enemy, and when we over there stand so well armed for the to-day, because they are as true and as much to the point as ever.

During the festivities of the Centenary of your Institution, to which you were so considerate as to invite us, another than myself must have enlarged upon the course of your glorious history. I wish to admire chiefly your steadiness of mind and tenaciousness, both pre- eminently British qualities, which enable you to pursue your effort in spite of all drawbacks, until you have reached the goal you are aiming at. Besides, you never forget that making no headway is as bad as losing ground; therefore, you never fail to improve your Life- boats, year after year, so as to make them matchless life-saving engines.

Neither can I help mentioning the indomitable bravery of your Crews under all circumstances. I remember one case, almost as old as your Institution, and yet never forgotten in France, when the crew of the Life-boat of St. Ives, twice capsized and yet sticking to their task, managed to save the sailors of a French schooner stranded on Hayle Bar.

I also would wish to praise very highly, as it deserves, the liberal spirit with which you deal with associations similar to your own outside Great Britain. You have never made any progress in build- struggle it is to our British companions j tion we simply cannot find the words, that we have to address our thanks, not Richer and warmer still are the feelings only for what we have learnt, but also in many homes where the activity of the for the gallant proofs of courage and! British Life-boat Service has meant endurance, which have been shining husband, son or brother saved from a examples to us in our work. We have always followed in your track. But we were slow to start, and not until five years after the day when Sir William Hillary was brought to his last rest at St. George's Cemetery, Isle of Man, did we found our Life-boat Service. Since then we have carefully watched your progress. That progress has been set out in your history, now published on the occasion of your Centenary, and from this one gets an idea of how enormous has been the development of your activities. This splendid book not only gives you dry facts about every- thing relating to the British Life-boat Service. It contains reports more exciting that you can read in the most thrilling novel, and also tells about tragedies that will bring tears to your eyes. Who will ever forget the account of the disaster at Whitby, on 9th Feb- ruary, 1861, when the crew of the Life- boat, after having saved the men from six wrecked ships, found a heroic death, not a ship's length from the quay, when trying to save life from a seventh schooner. And who will ever forget the saving of the crew of the Indian Chief, in 1881, by the Ramsgate Life-boat 1 Better men than these to man the Life-boat do not exist throughout the whole world; and they are the type of the British Life- boatman. But all their courage, effici- ency and readiness for death would have been of little use if they had not had boats they could trust against the powerful surf. And of what use would it all have been if the Service had not been properly organized so that men and boats were ready just at the moment they were needed ? Your Institution has performed an enormous task in procuring this security. It has not only set at work this tremendous apparatus, but has kept it working for 100 years.

The efficiency and energy that has been required cannot be described, it must be left to the imagination. I think, gentle- men, we have all admired you in silence, and when we now at last have" an opportunity of expressing this admira- cruel death. Your Institution has not always had an easy task. It has had difficulties to face, but it has never lacked the right men at the wheel, and these men have succeeded in carrying the Institution to such a point of efficiency that it now stands better armed than ever before to serve the noble task to which it put itself 100 years ago. (Cheers.) During the Conference the following telegrams of congratulation were re- ceived from abroad :— " Sincere congratulations on Century. Glad express our goodwill on this occasion.—Officials of Imperial Japanese Life-boat Institution." " The Humane Society of the 1 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, | established in 1785, send to the Royal j Life-boat Institution their respectful admiration and congratulations on this the Life-boat's Centennial celebra- tion.

" WILLIAM CALEB LOSING, President." " We beg you to accept our sin- cerest congratulations and best wishes on occasion of your century.—Maat- schappij tot Redding Van Drenke- lingen, founded in 1767.

" Pouw, Chairman.

" VAN EDEN, Secretary." " Our heartiest good wishes for your Centenary. — German Life-boat Society." Since the Conference concluded, the Institution has been presented with the Gold Medal of the Spanish Life-boat Society, accompanied by the following Diploma:—• " SPANISH LIFE-BOAT SOCIETY.

(Under the Patronage of H.M.the Queen.) GOLD MEDAL DIPLOMA awarded to the British Roya] National Life-boat Institution for the rescue of the crews of all the Spanish vessels effected by it during the hundred years which have elapsed since its foundation.

Madrid, July 20th, 1924.

The President: THE DUKE OF T'SEBCLAES.

The General Secretary; PEDRO DE Novo Y COLSON.

Since the Conference, the Institution has been approached for help by the Latvian Life-saving Society, with its headquarters at Riga. It is a volun- tary organization, and has taken over the Life-boats of the Imperial Russian Society. Of nineteen stations which were maintained by the Russian Society on the 200 miles of the Latvian coast, only four now remain, and they are in a more or less damaged condition. The Imperial Russian Society, which was founded in 1874, was also a voluntary organization, although it received a grant from the State. In this connexion it is of interest to recall that the Central Life-saving Base of the Soviet Govern- ment of Russia approached the Institu- tion in 1921, and was supplied with information of the developments made in the British Life-boat Service since 1914. The technical papers read at the Conference, and the discussions which took place on them, are fully reported in a separate pamphlet entitled, " Inter- national Conference on the World's Life-boat Service."*.