SWANAGE, DORSET.—In the month of January, 1875, a shipwreck took place on the Peveril Ledge, off this place, and it was only with difficulty, and by incurring much risk, that the crew were saved through the exertions of the Coast- guardmen in their boats—it being im- practicable to convey the intelligence of the wreck to Poole, the nearest Life-boat Station, until some time had elapsed.

Thereupon the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT IN- STITUTION offered to form a Life-boat Station at Swanage, in the event of the local residents being prepared to extend their co-operation to the under- taking. The gift was readily accepted, and a large Life-boat, 35 feet long, 9 feet wide, and rowing 10 oars double-banked, was accordingly provided for this station.

A substantial and commodious house has been erected for the Life-boat on a con- venient site, kindly granted for that purpose by the EARL OF ELDON. A stone launching slipway, in front of the house, has also been constructed for the use of the boat. The Life-boat and its equip- ment were presented to the Institution by S. J. WILDE, Esq., of London, on behalf of his aunt, the late Miss M. K. WILDE ; that lady, having requested Mr. WILDE, 444 THE LIFE-BOAT. as her residuary legatee, to make the gift of a Life-boat to the Society. The boat, in accordance with the desire of the deceased lady, is named the Charlotte Mary, after two sisters who had pre-deceased her, and with whom she had lived in close affection for more than sixty years. The public inauguration of the new Life-boat Station took place on the 16th Sept. last under the superintendence of Capt. WARD, E.N., Inspector of Life-boats to the In- stitution, RICHARD LEWIS, Esq., Secretary to the Institution, being also present.

There was a large gathering of spec- tators on the occasion, many of whom attended from Poole, Bournemouth, and different towns and villages in the dis- trict; the Life-boats from the adjoining stations, Poole and Kimeridge, were also present in the bay, and took part in the practice which followed the launch of the new boat. Prior to that ceremony, J. C. ROBINSON, Esq., Patron of the Branch, who, with G. BUKT, Esq., the President, and other gentlemen, had rendered every assistance in its formation, addressed those who had attended, and expressed the satisfaction of himself and the local residents at the formation of the new Life-boat Station, and said that he felt sure the crew would fully perform their duty with the Life-boat at all times.

Mr. WILDE having also made some re- marks, and explained the nature of the gift of the Life-boat, Mr. LEWIS and Capt. WARD returned thanks on the part of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION to Mr.WILDE and Ms co-executor, JAMES RYDER Mow ATT, Esq., Mr. LEWIS remarking that so auspicious a day as they were then favoured with augured well for the fatnre success of the Life-boat. He also bore testimony to the gallantry of the Life- boatmen on our shores, who never hesi- tated for a moment in manning those boats, however furious the gale might be and the danger they might have to en- counter in the performance of their noble work. After Mr. BURT had also expressed the gratification of the people of Swanage at receiving the Life-boat, the Rev B. D. TRAVERS offered up prayer on its behalf; Mrs. WILDE then named the boat, and it was at once launched in excellent style amidst the cheers of the spectators, two volleys being fired by the Coastguardmen and the Artillery Volunteer Corps. The rowing and sailing powers of the Life-boat were then tried, in conjunction with the other two Life-boats, and the new boat was put under a crane and capsized twice to demonstrate the powers of self-righting, self-ejecting water, dec. The Coastguard afterwards went through the usual practice with the Rocket Apparatus, and showed how it is used in saving life from ship- wreck.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The No. 1 Life-boat on this station, which had been there thirteen years, and had saved 23 lives on different occasions, had been extensively injured by coming in contact with-floating wreckage when out on ser- vice, and it has been replaced by a very fine Life-boat, 37 feet long, and 9 feet wide, rowing 12 oars double-banked, the boat being furnished also with a new transporting carriage. The expense of the boat and equipment has been defrayed ; from the " Civil Service " Life-boat Fund, ! and the boat is named the Charles Dibdin, after the well-known naval song-writer and his descendant, the zealous Honorary Secretary of the Fund, which has now provided two fine Life-boats for the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. Their first Life-boat, named the Civil Service, is ' stationed at Wexford, and has done some ! noble- services, having saved altogether 89 persons shipwrecked on that dan- gerous coast. His Royal Highness the DUKE OF EDINBURGH is the Patron of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund, and there are upwards of 2,600 gentlemen in dif- ferent Government departments contri- buting towards the support of their two Life-boats. A very imposing demonstra- tion took place at Tynemouth on the 12th ,' June last, on the occasion of the public ; launch of the Life-boat, under the super- intendence of Capt. C. GRAY JONES, B.!N., ; Second Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats, ' the ceremony of naming being performed by Miss ADAMSON, sister of the Major of Tynemouth, and Mr. DIBDIN being present ' as the representative of the donors. A procession of boats from the men-of-war and training ships, including the Life- ' boats of the Shields Life-boat Society, ; received and followed the new boat when launched. On its return the boat; was capsized opposite the pier to demonstrate ' the self-righting property, the crew re- maining in the boat and going round with it when it was upset. The mem-bers of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade rendered every assistance on the occasion, and after the proceedings with the Life-boat were over they gave an illustration of the mode in which the Rocket Apparatus is used in saving life on occasions of shipwrecks close to the land; they also showed the use of the Life- I saving Dresses similar to those in which Capt. BOYTON crossed the. Channel, the BOARD OF TRADE having furnished them | with several some time since, when they ! were first brought to England by the in-  ventor, Mr. C. S. MERHIMAN of New York,  WATCHET, SOMERSET.—The Society has | formed a Life-boat Station at this port, the shipping trade of which is increasing every year, while wrecks are occasionally taking place in the neighbourhood, and there is a long distance between the Lyn- mouth and Burnham Life-boat Stations on either side of Watchet. In all pro- bability the boat will also be able at times to go to the aid of vessels on the distant banks when the Burnham Life- boat could not do so. The whole expense of the new Life-boat establishment was defrayed by Mrs. JOSEPH SOMES, of Annery House, North Devon; the boat, in accord- ance with her desire, being named the Joseph Somes, after her late husband, who was formerly M.P. for Dartmouth. The site for the commodious and ornamental house built for this Life-boat was provided through the liberality of the DOWAGER COUNTESS OF EGREMONT. The boat is a 33-feet 10-oared one, and is furnished with a transporting carriage. It should be mentioned that both boat and carriage were granted a free conveyance from Bristol to their station by the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company. The inaugu- ration of the new Life-boat establishment took place on the 29th July last, under the superintendence of the Second As- sistant-Inspector, the inhabitants giving a very hearty reception to the boat. The town was extensively decorated with flags, flowers, ornamental inscriptions, &c., several triumphal arches being also erected in honour of the Life-boat; which, on its carriage, was drawn from Wiliton rail- way station through the town, by way of Orchard Wyndham, in the midst of an imposing procession, which comprised numerous seamen, members of the Ancient Order of Foresters and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the band of the North Somerset Rifle Corps, and a large number of private conveyances. On arriving at Watchet, the boat was placed at the top of the Town Slip, and the Rev. W. J. NOBLE then offered up prayer for its success, after which E. S. SAXTON, Esq., in the name of Mrs. SOMES, formally presented the Life-boat to the Institution, Capt. C. GRAY JONES, R.N., and the Rev.

ROBERT POOLE, having acknowledged the gift in suitable terms, the usual ceremony of naming was performed by Mrs. SOMES, and the boat was launched into the sea and put through various evolutions by the crew. The whole proceedings were witnessed with much interest by a large concourse of spectators.

CRESSWELL, NORTHUMBERLAND. — The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has for- warded a new Life-boat to Cresswell, where the crew of a fishing coble perished some months since in a storm, and where it had been suggested that a Life-boat might advantageously be placed, as the fishermen had frequently encountered con- siderable risks in their own boats, both by going to .vessels in distress, and when overtaken by gales of wind on their fishing-grounds. The Life-boat is 30 feet long, 8 feet wide, and rows 8 oars double- banked; it possesses the usual valuable characteristics of the self-righting boats, and is furnished with a transporting and launching carriage, and full equipment of valuable stores. A substantial and commodious house has been erected for the boat and carriage on a convenient site granted for that purpose by the Lord of the Manor, A. J. BAKER CRESSWELL, Esq., who also kindly gave the dressed stone for the building. The Rev. J. E. LEEFE and other friends also rendered every assistance in the organisation of the Cresswell Life- boat establishment. The whole cost of the station was defrayed by THOMAS HACKWOOD, Esq., of Sydenham, Kent, and the boat, at his request, is named the Old Potter. The first launch of the Life- boat took place on the 21st August last, under the superintendence of the Second Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats. Prayers iaving been offered up by the Rev. J. E. LEEFE, the Assistant-Inspector, in a few appropriate remarks, then handed the boat over to the Local Committee, after which Miss CRESSWELL named it in the customary manner. A number of willing j hands were then put to the wheels of the ! carriage, first and foremost amongst them ' being the wives of the fishermen who man the Life-boat, and quickly the boat was launched and taken for its first trip | on its native element. We may here briefly add that the Old Potter Life-boat I has already rendered most valuable ser- , vices in saving the crew of IS men and 3 | passengers from the steamer Gustaf, of Gothenburg, which stranded off Cresswell ' on the 6th of January last.