Annual Meetings : Station*.

CLACTON.—On 2Ist February, Dr.

J. Coxhead Cook, Chairman of the Branch, presiding. The report for the year ended 3Qth September, 1924, showed that £200 had been collected as compared with £262 in the previous year. The maintenance of the Station for the year had cost £351, and the report pointed out that since Clacton has had a Motor Life-boat, the cost of maintaining the Station was from £200 to £250 a year more than before. An appeal was made for increased support.

During 1924 the Boat had been out on service five times. The record of the Station since it was established in 1878 is 552 lives rescued from ship- wreck and 41 ships helped to safety.

DUBLIN.—On 30th March, Mr. David Barry, O.B.E., presiding. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that £1,206 had been collected as compared with £829 in the previous year. The Chairman pointed out that on three Irish Stations alone the Institution had spent in the past year or was about to spend in the present year, over £20,000, and said that, though there was a notable increase in the amount collected, the people of Dublin, and of the whole of the Jrish Free State, should give still more generously to the support of the Service.

KINGSTOWN.—On 23rd March, Mr.

H. E.. Tweedy, Chairman of the Branch Committee, presiding. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that the Branch had collected £223, as compared with £166 in the previous year. Even with this increase the Branch did not raise as much as it cost to maintain the Motor life-boat stationed at Kingstown. The best methods of making a special effort still further to increase the contribution of the Branch were discussed.

NEWCASTLE (Co. Down).—On 30th March the Itev. 0. Woodward, M.A., Chairman of the Branch, presiding.

The report for the year ended 30th Sep- tember, 1924, showed that £76 had been collected as compared with £69 in the previous year. The Chairman pointed out that the Newcastle Station had been established longer than any other in Ireland except Arklow, and in view of the greatly increased cost of the Life-boat Service, he felt that it was everyone's duty to contribute to it.

ST. ANNES.—On 6th February, the report for the year ended 30th Sep- tember, 1924, showed that the Branch had collected £469 as compared with £211 in the previous year. During the year the maintenance of the Station had cost £183 and the Branch had been able to remit £288 to the Institu- tion. Reference was made to the Honorary Life Governorship to which the Institution had appointed Sir Charles Macara, Bt., the Chairman of the Branch, in recognition of his signal services to the Life-boat cause.

SOUTHPORT.—On 13th March Mr.

T. H. Gregson in the chair. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that the Branch had collected £616 Os. 2d. as 'ompared with £586 15s. lOd. in the previous year. Of this sum, over £58 had been collected at the Boathouse. The thanks of the Committee were expressed to the Ladies' Life-boat Guild and the Crew for their help in making the Centenary Celebra- tions of the Station a great success.

The report also announced that, on account of the silting up of the channel, which prevents the Boat from being launched at low tide, the Institution had decided that for the future South- port would be regarded only as a half- tide station. Since this meeting was held, the Institution has been reluc- tantly compelled to close the Station altogether, on account of the inseparable difficulties caused by the silting. This necessity is recognised by the Branch, and the long and deep interest shown by Southport in the Life-boat Service is a guarantee that its support will be no less generous in the future, even though it no longer has a Life-boat Station, The Boat-house and the Boat will be left as they are, so that visitors may still be able to see them.

The Annual Meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held on 3rd April, the Mayor (Dr. Anderson) presiding in the absence of the Mayoress. The report of the Guild for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that it had raised £510 as compared with £486 in the previous year. It was an- nounced that permission to hold the azmual Life-boat Day had been obtained; and the Officers were elected.

WOBTHINO.—On 20th February the Mayor (Councillor A. Nichols, J.P.) presiding, supported by Real-Admiral T. P. H. Beamish, C.B., M.P. for Lewes, a member of the Committee of Manage- ment, Colonel A. F. Randolph, C.M.G., D.S.O., Chairman of the Branch, and Lady Louisa Cecil, Chairman of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that the Branch had collected £490 as compared with £620 in the previous year. In moving the adoption of the report, Colonel Ran- dolph spoke of the work done by the late Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. C. B.

Bowles, and the late Honorary Treasurer, Mr. J. K. Hubbard, and welcomed the new Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. N.

Collett. Admiral Beamish spoke of the gratitude of the Institution, to Worthing, both for its efficiency as a Life-boat Station and the generosity of its financial support.

Annual Meetings : Financial Branches.

COVENTBY.—On 24th February the Mayor (Alderman F. Snape), President of the Branch, in the chair. The Report for the year ended 30th Septem- ber, 1924, showed that £499 had been collected as compared with £366 in the previous year. In addition, the Ladies' life-boat Guild had collected £106 as compared with £92 in the previous year, making a total of £605. Although this was an improvement, the Committee felt that the amount was still not an adequate contribution from a city of Coventry's importance, and they asked for an increased number of annual subscribers.

The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed his pleasure in being once more connected with the Life-boat Service, for which he had worked twenty years before, and said that he was vety glad to see some of those who had then been associated with him, still carrying on the work.

In seconding the adoption of the report, Alderman Drinkwater, the Chair- man of the Branch, paid tribute to the work of the Honorary Secretary, Mr.

Lagging, and said that he was very glad ;o see that the Council had now reduced ;he number of street appeals to thirteen, of which the Life-boat Day was one.

HULL—On 31st March, the Lord Mayor (Councillor A. Digby Willoughby), President ol the Branch, in the chair.

The report for the year ended 30th Sep- tember, 1924, showed that the Branch had raised £820 as compared with £801 in the previous year. In moving the adoption of the report, the Lord Mayor said that he thought Hull ought to respond much more liberally to such a cause, and suggested that it should follow the example of Bradford, which had raised a special fund to provide the Motor Life-boat stationed on the Humber at Spurn Head. The Rev.

Martyn Roberts, Port Chaplain of Hull, said that he felt the citizens of Hull did not realise their debt to the Life-boat Service. Reference was made to the great loss which the Branch had sus- tained by the death of its late Honorary Secretary, Commander Regan.

KEIGHLEY.—On llth February the Mayor (Mr. Robert Calverley), President of the Branch in. the Chair. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that the Branch had collected £393 as compared with £279 in the previous year. This war a record collection, and the report congratulated the Ladies' Life-boat Guild on the result of its efforts. The Mayor said that he thought the Branch had every reason to be satisfied with its year's work.

LEEDS.—On 6th March, the Lord Mayor, President of the Branch, in the chair, supported by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institution, and Sir Charles Wilson, M.P., the new Chairman of the Leeds Committee.

The report f 01 the year ended 30th Sep- tember, 1924, showed that £1,873 had been collected as compared with £1,634 the previous year. Sir Godfrey Baring thanked Leeds in the name oi the Institution for its support. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Arthur J.

Batley, who had resigned the Honorary Secretaryship which he had held for fourteen years. In replying, Mr. Batley said that the revival of the Branch was due in great measure to the energies of the late Mr. J. S. R. Phillips, editor- of the Yorkshire Post. The annual contribu- tion of the Branch had been increased from under £100 to nearly £2,000, and it should never go back.

CITY OF LONDON.—On llth March, the Lord Mayor presiding. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that the revenue of the Branch was £10,385 as compared with £8,649 in the previous year, this gratify - irg increase being due to two Centenary Gifis sent in response to direct appeals from the Institution, one of £1,363 from Lloyd's and the other of £500 from Messrs. Wallace Bros. Mr. J. G. Howell, Chairman of the Executive Committee, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the Centenary gift of £10,000 which the Prudential Assurance Co.

was making for the provision of a Motor Life-boat to be stationed at Ramsgate.

A number of other Motor Life-boats were nearing completion, and he wished especially to bring this to the notice of those business exchanges in the City which in the past had provided Boats bearing their names. He suggested that if unabls to present a Boat itself, one exchange might combine with another, Lloyd's with the Stock Ex- change, and the Coal Exchange with the Corn Exchange, and give Boats to bear a double name. The Lord Mayor made an appeal for more general support, and asked the shipping companies in particular to increase their subscriptions.

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD.—On 18th February, The Lord Mayor, (Alder- man West) in the chair. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, which was presented by the Honorary Secretary, Sir Edwin Stockton, J.P., showed that £15,983 had been collected as compared with £5,170 the previous year. Of this sum £12,132 was raised by the three days' bazaar held in the summer for the purpose of providing the Motor Life-boat, to be named Manchester & Salford, which is now at its Station at Douglas, Isle of Man.

The Searchlight for this Boat was the gift of the boys of the Manchester Grammar School, and the Line-Throwing Gun the gift of the girls of the Manchester High School for Girls. The Lord Mayor, who moved the adoption of the Report, and the Mayor of Salford (Alderman Billington) who seconded it, spoke of the close association between the City and Borotigh and shipping, a fact which brought home to them the need of sup- porting the Life-boat Service. The Lord Mayor also pointed oat that Manchester had raised in 1924 a larger amount than any other part of the country, not excepting the City of London. Votes of thanks to the various Life-boat workers were passed, and the Lord Mayor presented to Mr. C. E.

Fielding a framed picture, which had been awarded to him by the Institution in recognition of Ms long and valuable services to the Life-boat cause.

MYIHOLMROYD.—On 3rd Match, Councillor F. Sager, J.P., President of the Branch, in the chair. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that £24 had been collected as compared with £30 in the previous year. The Chairman said that although the Branch had only been formed two, years, it had done very good work, and, it was a pleasure to know that, far removed though Mytholmroyd was from, the sea, there were people in it who were ready to respond to the claims of this great Sea Service.

NORTHAMPTON.—On 10th March, Mr, Charles E. H. Archer, Vice-Chairman of the Branch, presiding. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that the Branch had collected £191 as compared with £224 in the previous year. In addition to this about £950 was collected towards the County Motor Life-boat Fund. Coun- cillor W. Harvey Reeves, O.B.E., J.P., was re-elected Chairman. The resigna- tion of the Assistant Secretary, Mr. F.

Branson, due to ill-health and pressure of business was accepted with regret, and he was thanked for his services.The offer of the Right Hon. F. 0.1 Koberts, M.P., a very old friend of the Branch, ai;d a member of the Committee of Management, to become Honorary Secretary, was accepted.

OXFORD.—On 6th February, the Right j Hon. the Viscount Valentia, K.C.V.O., C.B., in the chair, supported by the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire (Mr.

G. B. Randolph), the Mayor and Mayoress, Admiral the Hon. Sir Stanley Colville, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., the Rev. L.

Q'Hea, Principal of the Catholic Workers' College, and Major Sir Maurice Cameron, K.C.M.G., a member of the Committee of Management of the Institution. The report for the year endtd 30th September, 1924, showed that £1,118 had been collected as com- pared with £1,212 in the previous year.

Admiral Sir Stanley Colville congratu- lated the Institution on having such a champion in Oxford as the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, Miss Alice Marshall and the Branch OH the wonderful contribution which it had made to the Life-boat Service. In the old days those who lived in the centre of England knew little about the sea, but that had long since changed, and inland towns were as generous as any in their contributions. The Rev. L.

O'Hea said that he looked on the Institution as a great Christian brother- hood. It -was doina a work of Christian charity, and for that very reason must be voluntary. Sir Maurice Cameron, in the name of the Committee of Management, thanked the workers of the Branch. During the meeting the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire presented prizes which had been won by two Oxford schoolgirls in the Life-boat Essay Competition in 1924.

SOUTHAMPTON.—On 19th January the Mayor (Alderman T. McDonnell), Presi- dent of the Branch in the chair, sup- ported by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Manage- ment of the Institution. The report for the year ended 30th September showed that £1,392 had been collected as compared with £732 in the previous year. Several special efforts had been made, and the Century Life-boat Day had raised over £360. Sir Godfrey Baring thanked the Branch and the people of Southampton for their response ;o the Centenary Appeal, and said how much the Institution valued the help which it received from great ports like Southampton.

WAKRINGTON.—On 25th March the Rev. the Hon. C. F. Cross presiding in the absence of the Mayor. The report for the year ended 30th September, 1924, showed that £166 had been collected as compared with £158 in the previous year.

The Officers and Committee were re- elected, and it was decided to ask the clergy of the town and district on one Sunday of the year to speak of the work and claims of the Life-boat Service.

Special Meetings.

CHESTER.—A meeting was held at the Town Hall, on llth March, for the purpose of reconstituting the Chester Branch. The Mayor presided, supported by the Mayoress, the Bishop of Chester, the Dean of Chester, representatives of the other Churches and the Salvation Array, and the Town Clerk. Mr. Edward Andrews was thanked for his services for many years as Honorary Secretary, and was elected Honorary Treasurer.

Mr. James Bennett Kennedy was elected Honorary Secretary, and Miss Hewitt Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life- boat Guild.

MACCIESFIEUX-—A meeting was held on 26th February, the Miyor (Councillor D. M, Catlow) in the chair. The Miyor explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of endeavouring to form a Macclesfield Branch. There had been a Branch some years ago, but it had been allowed to lapse, and he was very anxious that the Branch should be reconstituted, and that it should have a strong Committee and Honorary Secre- tary. It was proposed by the Mayoress, and unanimously agreed, that those present should form themselves into a Committee to reconstitute the Branch, and the. Mayoress promised to call a meeting foi the purpose of forming a Ladies' Life-boat Guild. The Mayor and Mayoress were elected Presidents, and Mr. T. W. Potts, Manager of the County Bank, Honorary Treasurer. Subse- quently a Ladies' Life-boat Guild was formed, with Miss Winifred Brown as Honorary Secretary.

POKT ST. MARY.—A Concert was given at the Town Hall on 23id March, in aid of the funds of the Institution.

Mr. F. "W. Lawson, J.P., Chairman of the Committee, took the chair, supported by Major-General Dunsterville, C.B., C.S.I., J.P., Mr. Alfred Moore, Honorary Secretary, and Mr. C. W. Leigh, late Honorary Secretary. During the inter- val General Dunsterville presented Mr.

Leigh with the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum which had been awarded to him in recognition of his valuable services for nine years as Honorary Secretary of the Branch. The Chairman then presented Mr. Leigh with a silver entree dish from the Committee of the Branch.

WHITEHAVEN.—A special meeting was held on 27th March, at which Mr. E. L.

Nansen presided, for the purpose of presenting to Alderman J. G-. Oldfield the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum in recognition of his valuable help during thirty-five years as Hon.

Secretary at Whitehaven. Among those present were the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs. Evans), Captain Mackinley, Chairman of the Branch; and Mr. W. McGfowan, Chairman of the Whitehaven magistrates. The presen- tation was made by the Mayor, and in replying Mr. Oldfield recalled that White- haren had a close, personal connexion with the founding of the Institution, as one of the resolutions passed at the original meeting in London on 4th March, 1824, was moved by Mr. Matthias Att- wood, who six years later, became the first Member of Parliament for the borough of Whitehaven. During his thirty-five years as Hon. Secretary his relations with the Committee of Manage- ment of the Institution had always been very happy, and he had had from the Institution nothing but courtesy, con- sideration and help. In a maritime community like Whitehaven he felt sure that the Institution would continue to find generous support.

Life-boat Balk.

CARLISLE.—A Whist Drive and Dance was held on 20th February in aid of the funds of the Institution, and an addres# was delivered on the work of the Life- boat Service.

EASTBOUKNE.—A Ball in aid of the funds of the Institution was given on llth February, and was a great success.

Like the Centenary Ball on 4th March last year, it was organized by Mrs.

Astley Eoberts, President of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and Mrs. Edgar Allan Brown, and was held at Devonshire Park. As at the Centenary Ball, one of the features was the uancing of the quadrille by ladies and gentlemen in the costumes of 1824. During the evening Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution, presented Mrs. Astley Roberts with a framed Vellum, signed by the Prince of Wales, recording the fact. that she had been elected an Honorary Life Governor of the Institu- tion in recognition of the splendid work which, for thirty years, she had done for the Life-boat Service in Eastbourne.

He also presented to Mr. Mark Hookham a Gold Pendant and a Eecord of the Institution's Thanks in recognition of his work for the Life-boat Cause during forty years.

EXETER.—A very successful Cen- tenary Ball in aid of the funds of the Institution was held on 19th February.

The Ball was organized by Mrs. Arthur Eeed, Honorary Secretary of the Branch, and between 400 and 500 people were present. Music was provided by three bands, including the Maurice Mayfair Four., which Mrs. Reed had arranged to come down to Exeter specially for this Ball. Loud speakers had also been installed so that some of the dancing was done to the music of the Orpheans Band, playing at the Savoy in London.

Favours were distributed from a model Life-boat, with two little girls on board, which was carried round by two members of the Exmouth Life-boat Crew wearing their red caps and belts, and a signed photograph, in a silver frame, of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty, First Lord of the Admiralty, was sold by auction.

ILKESTON. — A Fairyland Carnival Dance was held at the Town Hall in aid of the funds of the Institution on 23rd March. It had been organized by Councillor John E. Smith and Mr. John Coates, Chairman and Honorary Secre- tary of the Branch. There were over 250 people present.

LEEDS.—A Shawl Dance in aid of the funds of the Institution was held in January, organized by the Ladies' Life- boat Guild. It was attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Mr.

and Mrs. C. G. Gibson), and between 400 and 500 people were present. A number of very beautiful shawls were worn, some of them being over 100, and one 200 years old.

STOKE-ON-TRENT.-—A Carnival Dance in aid of the funds of the Institution was held on 16th January. It had been organized by the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Donald Bates. This is the second annual dance carried out by the Branch.

Presentation of Medal*.

NEWHAVEN.—The Newhaven Station was founded in 1825, and in celebration of its Centenary and of the service on 27th November last to the tug Richmere, for which Coxswain R. Payne had been awarded the Bronze Medal, and the members of the Crew the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum, a dinner was held on 27th March. In the absence, through illness, of Mr. H. J. Bannister, Chairman of the Station, the chair was taken by Mr. J. J. Lines, who has been Honorary Secretary of the Station for the past twenty-five years. The Vice- Chairman was Mr. J. J. Thyer, J.P.

I (Lloyd's Agent at Newhaven, and a j member of the Life-boat Committee), and among those present were Rear- Admiral T. P. H. Beamish, C.B., M.P.

for Lewes, and a member of the Com- mittee of Management of the Insti- tution, Mr. W. G. Sargeant (Chairman of the Urban District Council), Mr.

R. W. Dewdney (Assistant Marine Superintendent and Harbour Master), and Mr. J. Gr. Mainwood (French Vice- Consul). A letter was read from the Docks and Marine Manager of the Southern Railway expressing the grati- tude of the company " for the splendid manner in which the Coxswain and Crew carried out their rescue work during the gale on 27th November last." In the course of the evening Admiral Beamish handed to Coxswain Payne the Bronze Medal, with which he had already been decorated at the Annual Meeting of the Governors of the Institution (as described elsewhere in this issue), and to the members of the Crew the framed Vellums. In its hundred years the Life- boats of the Newhaven Station have rescued from shipwreck 289 lives and helped to safety twelve vessels. Some interesting particulars of the trade of Newhaven were given. It was crippled by the "War, but has been steadily in- creasing during the last two or three years. In 1924 over 640,000 tons of shipping entered Newhaven. The ton- nage of cargo was 278,475 tons, and the number of passengers passing through the port on the cross-Channel vessels was the record number of 274,000.

RUNSWICK.-—A special meeting was held at the Picture Hall, Hindewell, on 7th March, at which the Chair was taken by Dr. J. B. Lavenick, J.P., for many years Honorary Secretary of the Runs- wick Station, supported by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Institution. The object of the meeting was to present to Coxswain A. Tose and Second Coxswain T. Patton the Bronze Medals with which they were decorated at the Annual Meeting of the Governors of the Institu- tion for the service to the Belgian steamer Princesse Clementine, as de- scribed elsewhere in this issue. The Chairman gave an account of some of the services performed by the Runswick Station, and Sir Godfrey Baring pre- sented their Medals to the Coxswain and Second Coxswain. The members of the Crew were then presented with the monetary grants which they had been awarded for the service. A number of Life-boat films were shown, including one taken at Staithes of the Princesse Clementine and Life-boats going to her rescue, and loud and long were the cheers of a crowded house when mem- bers of the Crew, their women-folk and the inevitable dog which had got into the picture, were recognized.

Notice.

The next number of THE LIFEBOAT will fee published in November, 1925..