NEWCASTLE, DUNDRUM BAY. — The locality of Dundrum Bay, on the east coast of Ireland, has, during the last three or four years, been the site of numerous wrecks, lying as it does at the entrance of the channel between the Isle of Man and the Irish', coast, through which passes the greater part of the trade with Belfast and the other ports of the north of Ireland and with the western coast of Scotland. This Institution, accordingly, determined on stationing a life-boat at Newcastle, which was forwarded to her station in April of the present year, being conveyed gratuitously on board the British and Irish Steam Navigation Company's steamer the Foyle, as far as Dublin, and thence by a revenue cruizer to Newcastle.

This boat, built by FORRESTTS of Limehouse, on Mr. PEAKE'S design, is similar to those sent to Lyme Regis, Budehaven, and other places previously described; her dimensions being—length, 27 ft.; beam, 7 ft. 6 in., &c.

Some contributions have been made in the neighbourhood (vide page 119, No. 12.

of this Journal) towards the establishment and maintenance of this boat, conspicuous amongst which is that of the Earl ANNESLEY, M.P., who has also generously built a house for the reception of the life-boat.

A local Committee of gentlemen resident in the neighbourhood of Newcastle has been formed for the management of the establishment, of which Captain AUSTEN, R.N., the Inspecting Commander of Coastguard of the district, whose exertions have greatly contributed to the establishment of a lifer boat in the locality, is the Honorary Secretary.

SKERRIES, COUNTY DUBLIN.—To the south of Dundrum Bay, and lying between Drogheda and Dublin, is the small town of Skerries, at which place a life-boat is ready to be stationed, at the joint expense of the residents in the neighbourhood and of the National Shipwreck Institution; the former of whom have come most liberally forward with contributions, and have shown much zeal in endeavouring to supply them locally with a good life-boat (wfe.page 119, No. 12. of this Journal). An example which we trust may be emulated by their countrymen on other parts of the Irish coast.

A local Committee of gentlemen has been formed for the management of the establishment, of which HANS HAMILTON WOODS, Esq., is the Chairman, and HENRY ALEX. HAMILTON, Esq., the Honorary Secretary.

This boat was built by FORRESTTS, of Limehouse, on Mr. PEAKE'S design, and is 29 ft. in length, with 7 ft. 9 in. beam.

She is now awaiting a passage to Dublin, on board the British and Irish Steam Company's packet the Foyle, together with a carriage of an improved construction lately built for the Institution by Messrs. RANSOME and SIMS, of Ipswich, which will enable her to command the coast for several miles on either side of Skerries. A commodious boathouse has also been erected for her reception, and the establishment will be at once made complete in all respects.

The recent wrecks of the Tayleur and of the brig Agnes in this locality will probably be remembered by many of our readers as amongst those which have pointed it out as a desirable one for a life-boat station.

DUBLIN.—A life-boat has, during the present year, been stationed at Dublin, at the cost of the Corporation, for Preserving and Improving that port. She is on Mr.

PEAKE'S design, and was built by FORRESTTS, of Limehouse, under the direction of the National Shipwreck Institution.

She is 30 ft. long, with 8 ft. beam. She was conveyed to her station on board the Argus Trinity steam yacht in July last.

PORTMADOC, WALES.—A life-boat on Mr. PEAKE'S design, and built by FORRESTTS, of Limehouse, has been stationed at Portmadoc, in Caernarvonshire, by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, in lieu of one previously placed there of BEECHING'S construction. She is a 28 ft. boat; her other proportions being the same as other boats on Mr. PEAKE'S plan.

HARTLEPOOL.—A new life-boat has, during the past summer, been provided at Hartlepool; the circumstances attending the provision of this boat are of such a novel character, and, we think, so highly creditable . to her owners, the seamen of Hartlepool, as to be deserving of especial notice.

Like all the great centres of trade around our coasts, the port of Hartlepool is every winter the scene of numerous wrecks, accompanied frequently with loss of life.

Two life-boats have been hitherto stationed at Hartlepool; one on the south side, the property of the West Dock Company, who are required by Act of Parliament to provide a life-boat, and towards the support of which a small voluntary toll is paid by vessels entering the West Docks; the other, hoisted up at the north pier, is the property of the Hartlepool Life-Boat Association, and is also supported by a voluntary toll from shipping entering the port. Both these boats have been manned by the pilots only who are connected with either dock, and who, when they obtain their licenses, bind themselves to man the life-boats. The other seamen of the port are excluded, we believe, from going off in them. On witnessing the lamentable loss of life and property which occurred off their port in January of this year, which the life-boats already in existence were inadequate to prevent, they determined by their own efforts and by subscriptions amongst themselves, with any extraneous aid they might obtain, to procure a life-boat of their own; trusting that, through its instrumentality, they might often be the means of saving life. A resolution, indeed, most honourable to them, and one which we heartily hope may meet with the encouragement and success which it deserved.

A Committee of Seamen was accordingly formed to carry out the object in view, and Mr. W. L. PATTISON was appointed its secretary.

The result has been, that a Seaman's life-boat is now in being at Hartlepool, ready to add its services to those already there on the setting in of the coming winter, when we shall no doubt soon hear of its being brought into requisition.

The boat they have selected is on a new design by Mr. HAWKESWORTH, of Torquay.

She is 20 ft. long, with 8 ft. beam. She readily self-rights if turned keel up, which is effected by means of iron ballast, and by the air-cases above the deck on one side of the boat admitting water into them when the boat is bottom up, whilst those on the other side, retaining their buoyancy, force that side up, and the ballast then restores the boat to her upright position. This boat is fitted with two self-acting valves of a peculiar construction. She has also a powerful pump to assist in relieving her of water in the event of her being filled.

No sufficient trial of this boat has yet taken place in a heavy gale to enable us to speak positively of her qualities; but the seamen have tried her both under sails and oars in a strong breeze and tolerably rough sea, and they so far feel confidence in her capabilities, and feel persuaded that, from her superior form, they would be enabled to arrive at a wreck more quickly and more certainly in her than in either of the old boats.

To mark their appreciation of the public spirit of the Hartlepool seamen, the Committee of this Institution have voted them the um of 10Z., and have also presented them with a set of life-belts for their boat's crew, of the value of 10Z. 10s.

WRECK OF H. M. S. ANSON.—In our account of the wreck of this ship in a former Number of the Life-Boat Journal, we inadvertently omitted to state that we extracted it from Gilly's Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy, an omission which we now beg to acknowledge, and which affords us an opportunity to recommend the perusal of these narratives to our readers, as being deeply interesting, and affording many instances of gallant conduct, of patient suffering, and of great daring.

A cheap edition of this work would, we think, form a valuable addition to those within the reach of our seafaring population.