100 years ago It will doubtless be in the memory of many of our readers that the Report read at the last Annual Meeting contained the important information that Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., the Chairman of the Institution, on behalf of the Committee, had moved a resolution in the House of Commons that a complete system of electrical communication should be provided by the Government between all Coastguard stations, and signal stations on the coasts of the United Kingdom; also that where there were no such stations, that the postal telegraph offices should be so connected, with the view to the earliest possible information being given to the local life-boat authorities of the services of the Life-boats in their charge being required; also that an address might be presented asking that a Royal Commission might be appointed to consider the desirabilty or otherwise of electrically connecting the rock lighthouses, lightships, etc.,with the shore for the same purpose...

The work comprised in the first part of the resolution, viz., the connection of coastguard stations, signal stations and postal telegraph offices was taken in hand con amore by the officials of the Post Office as soon as the Treasury had provided the necessary funds, and has been pushed on with a zeal and energy worthy of the cause for which it was undertaken,i.e., the rescue of life from shipwreck...

The parts of the coast on which to establish the communications were selected with reference to the number of wrecks occurring in the locality, as well as the difficulties that presented themselves in giving prompt notice to the Life-boats that their services were required. Some little time must naturally elapse before the full value of these communications, can be demonstrated, but already they have proved of service in calling out boats 14 times; it augers well for the value and future usefulness of the system should another of those distressing casualties occur - as they have from time to time done hitherto - entailing lamentable loss of life through inability to summon either the Life-boat or rocket apparatus, or possibly both, stationed in the neighbourhood, to the rescue.

The second part of our subject, viz., electrical communication with light-houses, light ships, etc., is from a "life-saving" point of view, if possible of greater importance than the first part, for two reasons; first, because the only possible alternative channels of communication with the shore are so very liable to be cut off just when most required, i.e.,in fog, thick weather and gales of wind, that they cannot be considered reliable.

This will be the evident to us when we remember that the distances of some light-vessels from the land entails the signal from the outer one being repeated by one, and sometimes two intervening light-vessels before being made within reasonable distance of the shore...

The only other means of giving warning to Life-boats is by smacks or other vessels, either proceeding at once to give information on seeing the wreck, or in the ordinary course on getting into harbour for shelter.

Fatal delay has already occurred more than once from this want of reliable communication and may do so again any day..