CAISTER, NORFOLK. — The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION replaced, in October last, its life-boat on this station by a new boat, the old one having become thoroughly worn out, and unfit for further service. The latter life-boat has rendered excellent service during the eighteen years she has been afloat, and, since 1858, has rescued 133 lives from a watery grave, in addition to bringing several vessels safely to port. The new boat is one of the finest sailing life-boats on the eastern coast, and is 43 feet long and 12 feet wide. She is used principally to go off to wrecks on the outlying sand-banks. The cost of the boat was collected amongst the artizans of Birmingham, and she is named the ' James Pearce, Birmingham, No. 2,' Mr. Pearce having been one of the first promoters in that town of the Life-boat Fund, which has resulted in two boats being presented to the Institution. A demonstration took place at Great Yarmouth on the 25th October, on the occasion of the first launch of the boat from the builder's yard. A deputation from Birmingham attended on the occasion, and were much gratified with the whole proceedings. Previous to the launch, R. STEWARD, Esq., Mayor of Yarmouth, thanked the deputation for the gift of the people of Birmingham, and for coming such a distance to see the life-boat launched. In reply, J. A. LANGFORD, Esq., one of the deputation, said,— The idea of this life-boat originated with an intelligent working man now present, who bore the name which they were about to give to the boat— JAMES PEARCE—and nearly the whole of the money, with the exception of two or three large subscriptions, had been raised by the mechanics and artizans of Birmingham. When this matter was taken up by them it was repeatedly said— "What had they to do with raising life-boats 1 As inhabitants of an inland town, a town in the very heart of England, they knew nothing of the dangers of the coast, and therefore let them leave them to those who did: they had enough to do to attend to their own charities ! But those who originated this idea thought that the very fact of their residing so far from those dangers, and being never exposed to them, was the strongest argument that they could use to come to the assistance of others who lived on the coast, and were accustomed to encounter its perils ; and, inasmuch as they all profited by the trade and commerce of this great country, and as communication was so "rapid between one place and another that it was impossible one town could be considered independent of the interests and prosperity of any other town in the kingdom. Shakespeare had described England as "A precious gem set in a silver sea ;" but those who resided on its coasts, and more particularly on this coast of Norfolk, oftentimes found its sea anything but a silver one, and were exposed to perils of which the dwellers in the inland districts could form but a faint conception.

Therefore it was that the inhabitants of Birmingham felt called upon to provide a life-boat. Their ambition at first was not very great; they thought if they raised one boat it would be sufficient for the NATIONAL LIFB-BOAT INSTITUTION—an institution, he observed, which deserved the best support of every town in England, for the good it had done as calculated by the thousands of lives it had been effective in saving through its lifeboats, and which ought to receive the subscription of every man who could afford one. The people of Birmingham having raised one boat, felt they could raise another. And here he might refer to a remark made by the Mayor, that the donors had probably never seen a life-boat launched. Happily on the 29th of November last the first boat was drawn In procession, gloriously got up and admirably carried out, through the principal streets of Birmingham. It was then launched in a large pool, which the ambitious called a lake—in the presence of something like 100,000 spectators. It was then put through its evolutions, and afterwards exhibited in a tent where it was visited by almost every one of the 350,000 inhabitants of Birmingham. Twelve months had not elapsed from that time, when, by the industry, providence, and earnest labours of a considerable number of working men, they were enabled to present another life-boat to the Institution.

He earnestly hoped that the Society would continue to maintain its great hold on the sympathy of the British public—that it would ever stand prominently forward as the great NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION supported by voluntary contributions—and that it would never be fettered by a Government or Parliamentary subsidy, which in too many cases implied control and inefficiency. He had the most hearty satisfaction in presenting this second life-boat to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION in the name of the three gentlemen who accompanied him, the committee, and the donors ; and he expressed an earnest hope that this boat might be as prosperous in the future and as effective in saving life as that which it now replaced.

The life-boat was subsequently launched, the mayor's daughter, Miss STEWARD, performing the ceremony of naming the boat; and a party of ladies and gentlemen took a trip in the boat down the river. While the life-boat was proceeding to its station, the crew observed the schooner Maria, of Hull, in distress on the Scroby Sands, and were fortunately successful in taking the vessel to a place of safety. It was blowing very heavily at the time, with a cross sea.

HAYLING ISLAND.—The Institution has formed a life-boat station on Hayling Island, off the coast of Hampshire, where it was thought a life-boat would be occasionally useful. It may be remembered that a wreck took place on the Woolsiner Sandbanks, off this island, in January last, when 2 poor fellows perished, and the other 3 men only were saved by Major FESTING and 12 fishermen, putting off at the peril of their lives, in an open boat to effect the rescue. The Society has now placed there, in a substantial life-boat house erected on the south shore of the island, a new 32-feet 10-oared life-boat, provided with a transporting- carriage. Messrs. LEAF, SONS, and Co., of London, liberally gave 550?. to pay the expense of this life-boat establishment, and at their request the boat is named the Olive Leaf. A free conveyance was readily granted to the life-boat and carriage to Havant by the London and South Western Railway Company, in September. The lifeboat was drawn thence on its carriage to its station, and on the following day a public launch of the boat took place, in the presence of a number of spectators, and was, in every way, a success. The BISHOP OF CHICHESTER attended on the occasion, and consecrated the boat; and in the course of his remarks, said, the name of the boat was significant of its mission of mercy, and he expressed a hope that the boat might realize in future times all the wishes they entertained for its good success on that dangerous coast. Subsequently, on the 10th October last, the life-boat was taken to Portsmouth, where a public display and launch of the boat took place. Since then the boat has rendered good service to wrecked vessels.

ABERDOVEY, NORTH WALES.—The Institution has just stationed a new 32-feet lifeboat, rowing 10 oars, and a transportingcarriage, at Aberdovey, in the place of a small boat and carriage formerly there, and which were not found entirely suited to the locality. The cost of the new boat was raised in the county of Berks, through the exertions of CHARLES STEPHENS, Esq., Banker, at Reading; Capt. A. BUTLER, R.N., of Wallingford ; and other friends. The boat is named the Royal Berkshire. On the way to her station, in September last, the life-boat was taken to Reading, when C. J.

BUTLER, Esq., the Mayor, publicly presented the boat to the Institution. The Secretary of the Institution returned thanks on behalf of the Society, and afterwards, in the evening, delivered a lecture, " On the Life-boat and its Work," to the visitors to the Industrial Exhibition then held in the Town Hall. The Great Western and Cambrian Railway Companies readily gave a free conveyance to the life-boat and carriage over their lines. On the arrival of the boat at her station, the people of Aberdovey turned out in large numbers to welcome her, and a procession took place with the life-boat to the river, when Mrs. GRIFFITH, the wife of the Rev.

J. GRIFFITH, performed the ceremony of naming; and the boat was afterwards launched and tried, when she gave great satisfaction to its crew.

CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN.—The lifeboat on this station having been found to be affected with dry-rot, has at once been replaced by a 32-feet 10-oared life-boat, provided with a transporting-carriage. The Institution is indebted to the commercial travellers principally of the Midland Counties and the North of England, who have collected the cost of this life-boat, as well as another boat, chiefly through the exertions of R. AFFLECK, Esq., of Manchester, and W. BISHOP, Esq., of Boston. This boat is named the Commercial Travellers' No. 2.

The life-boat and carriage were taken in procession through the streets of Sheffield, and were afterwards exhibited in the Botanical Gardens to thousands of spectators.

After a brief address from the mayor, and an appropriate prayer by the Rev. CANON SALE, D.D., Mr. BISHOP formally presented the Institution with the life-boat, which was afterwards named by Miss JESSOP, daughter of his Worship'the Mayor of Sheffield. In the evening, a banquet was given, to celebrate the event, when fresh stimulus was imparted to the fund for raising the cost of the life-boat " Sheffield" A free conveyance was readily granted to the boat and carriage to Sheffield by the Midland Railway Company, and thence to Liverpool by the continuous railway companies. The Isle of Man Royal Mail Steam-packet Company also took the boat from Liverpool on similar liberal terms to the island.

SHOREHAM, SUSSEX. — The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has just taken this life-boat station under its management, and has completely renovated the establishment, having placed there, in a new and commodious boat-house, a 33-feet life-boat, rowing 10 oars, which boat will be usually taken out of the harbour to wrecks in tow of a steam-tug. The cost (30CW.) of this new life-boat and its equipment is the gift to the Institution of Miss ROBERTSON, of London, through STEPHEN CAVE, Esq., M.P., and the boat, at her request, is called the Ramonet. A free conveyance was readily granted to the life-boat to its destination by the Brighton and South Coast Railway Company.

The life-boat was publicly named and launched at Kingston, on the 1st November, Mrs. SMITH, the wife of the Vicar of Shoreham, naming the boat amidst much applause. The boat was then exercised, and gave much satisfaction to the crew.

ANSTRUTHER, N.B.—The Institution has just founded a life-boat station at Anstruther, on the coast of Fifeshire, where the fishermen were very anxious to have a life-boat for service to shipwrecked vessels, as well as to fishing-boats, which might be overtaken by storms, and, in running for shelter, might get blown to leeward of the pier, and be wrecked. They subscribed 601. amongst themselves towards the expense of a lifeboat.

The Institution has accordingly sent there a fine 32-feet 10-oared life-boat and transporting-carriage. A benevolent lady (Miss H. HARVIE), resident in Cheltenham, has given 600?. to pay the cost of the lifeboat establishment, and desired that the boat might be named the Admiral Fitz-Boy, in commemoration of the scientific efforts of the late Admiral to discover the law of storms, with the benevolent view to diminish the loss of life on our coast. The life-boat and carriage were readily conveyed, free of charge, to their destination by the Great Northern and continuous Railway Companies. A grand demonstration took place on the arrival of the life-boat at Anstruther on the 18th November, the day being observed as a holiday in the town. A procession took place through the principal streets to the West Beach, where the christening and launch of the life-boat took place, after a prayer had been offered up by the Rev. A. GREGORY. In the afternoon, a public dinner was given to celebrate the occasion. In the course of the proceedings, Mr. OLIPHANT said—He was sure the toast which he had to propose would meet with a cordial response. It was, the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. The very name of the toast conveyed the idea that this Institution was one of great advantage to the country. All such institutions were established for good, and none for evil; but among all these various institutions for good, none stood so prominently forward, or was of such magnitude, as the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. It was wholly national, and all who chose to go on the sea were liable to partake of its benefits. How often had they seen ships and boats go to sea, with bright skies and calm weather, suddenly overtaken by violent storms and lowering tempests, and they knew well that in many instances men can do little or nothing for themselves in such cases. But this Institution, to be available in such times of need, furnished life-boats to go and rescue the lives, and he might almost say, accomplish the salvation, of persons placed in such peril. He understood that hundreds of lives were saved during last year by means of these life-boats. That alone was an evidence of the great good done by this Institution.

One more completely adapted for the noble object could not be found, and its adaptation and readiness to meet the life-boat necessities of our coast must merit the praise of every one. He felt certain that in no place could such an Institution be more cordially appreciated than in this district, as the proceedings of that day testified, and which would be felt so long as the reception of the Admiral Fitz-Roy was not forgotten.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. — The Institution has just placed a second lifeboat on this important station, in the vicinity of the Black Midden Rocks, on which the ill-fated S.S. Stanley was wrecked in November, 1864, with great loss of life. It had been suggested that' a life-boat might be placed on this spot, as it might often be made available when the other Tynemouth life-boat could not be taken over the hill to be launched in the same position : the Institution has consequently sent a 32-feet 10- oared life-boat and carriage to this station.

The expense of the boat has been defrayed from a. fund raised in the towns of Pontefract and Goole, by A. HALE, Esq., and other friends; and the boat is called the Pomfret and Goole. The boat and carriage were, as usual, kindly granted a free conveyance to their destination by the Great Northern and North-Eastern Railway Companies, and, on the way, were publicly exhibited at Pontefract and Goole. The lifeboat was taken last month in procession through these towns, and launched at each to exhibit to the subscribers the properties of their boat. She was named by Lady HOUGHTON, in behalf of Pontefract, and by Mrs. WELLS, on the part of Goole, and at both places large crowds of persons assembled to witness the novel proceedings, and exhibited the greatest interest in the boat.

[We are compelled by want of space to defer giving an account of the new life-boats recently sent to Whitburn, Bacton, Cetnlyn, Hauxley, Kewbiggin, Selsey, and Courtown.