CLACTON-ON-SEA.—The NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a Life-boat Establishment at this new and rising watering-place on the coast of Essex— the local residents being very desirous to AND NEW LIFE-BOATS.

be provided with that means of saving life from shipwreck, that part of the coast being fringed with outlying banks, and there being no other Life-boat between Harwich and the Thames. An excellent site was given for the Boat-house in a prominent position, and a very handsome and commodious building has been erected thereon by the Institution, from the de- signs of C. H. COOKE, Esq., F.E.S., B.A., the Honorary Architect. The Life-boat sent to this Station is 34 feet long, 8£ feet wide, and rows 10 oars double-banked; it is provided with a transporting carriage.

Both boat and carriage had a free con- veyance granted to them by the Great Eastern Railway when they were des- patched to their destination. The expense of this new Life-boat Station has been met from the munificent gift voted to the Institution by the English Freemasons for the establishment of two Life-boat Stations in perpetuity, in testimony of their loyal gratification on the occasion of the safe return of their Grand Master, H.R.H. the PRINCE OF WALES, from his tour through India. Their other Life- boat is placed at Hope Cove, on the coast of Devon. The public inauguration of the Clacton Life-boat Establishment took place on the 10th July last, in the pre- sence of a large concourse of people, with full masonic honours, the day being ob- served as a general holiday at Clacton.

Lord SKELMERSDALE, Deputy Grand Master of Freemasons, and a numerous party specially came from London to take part in the proceedings. The first work of the day was the holding of an especial Pro- vincial Grand Lodge; after which a pro- cession to the Boat-house was formed by the Masons, who were clad in their regalia, and accompanied by the Mayors and Cor- porations of Colchester, Ipswich, Harwich, and Maldon, the local Life-boat Committee, and others. The Life-boat, mounted on its transporting carriage, was a prominent feature of the procession. On arriving at the House, two memorial stones were laid by Lord SKELMERSDALE and RICHARD LEWIS, Esq., Secretary of the Institution.

The procession was then re-formed, and the Life-boat was taken to the beach, the band of the 11th Hussars playing appro- priate music. On reaching the shore, Lord SKELMERSDALE addressed the numerous spectators, and spoke of the great value of the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. Mr. LEWIS also made an address on the occasion. He remarked that the PRINCE OF WALES had long been a warm friend of the Institution; and that the Freemasons were on this occasion performing a work of charity which extended beyond their own borders, and which reflected the highest credit on the philanthropy of the Craft. After some appropriate remarks from the Grand Chaplain, and the singing of the hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save," the consecration of the Life-boat in masonic fashion, with corn, wine, and oil, by the Deputy Grand Master, was performed.

The boat was then named by Miss WOOL, and successfully launched, under the superintendence of Admiral WARD, Chief Inspector of Life-boats to the Institution, amid loud cheers. The scene at this mo- ment, with the crowds on the cliffs, the pier, and the shore, was very pretty. A luncheon followed, which was jointly pre- sided over by Lord SKELMERSDALE and Mr. LEWIS. It may be added that this Life-boat Station was in working order some time before it was practicable to arrange for a public inauguration, and, as we mentioned in the last number of the Life-boat Journal, the Boat was called out on service, and was happily instru- mental in saving a shipwrecked crew, some weeks prior to the public ceremonial just described.

HOPE COVE, DEVON.—The other Life- boat given by the Freemasons in honour of the PRINCE OF WALES has been sta- tioned at Hope Cove, on the coast of Devon, at which place the Institution had decided to form a Life-boat Establishment, it being the best situation for commanding Bigbury Bay, where shipwrecks occa- sionally take place, and there being plenty of fishermen on the spot who were fully prepared to man the Boat whenever its services were needed. The Establishment has been organised with the assistance of the Committee of the Salcombe Branch, who have also undertaken its manage- ment in the future. The Life-boat pro- vided for the Station is 35 feet long, 9 feet wide, and rows 10 oars double- banked. A handsome and substantial House has been built for its reception, on a convenient site kindly granted by the Earl of DEVON. On the 13th June last the Freemasons in the West of England arranged a public demonstration at Kings- bridge in connection with the dedication and launch of this Life-boat. The main streets of the town were decorated with triumphal arches, flags, &c., and the occa- sion was made a general holiday. For- tunately the day was very fine, and a large number of persons, in addition to the Freemasons, came into Kingsbridge from the neighbouring district to attend the interesting ceremony. The proceedings commenced by the holding of a special Grand Lodge meeting, after which the Feeemasons walked in procession to the parish church, and took part in a brief ser- vice. Afterwards the Life-boat, mounted on its transporting carriage, and drawn by eight horses, was escorted through the town to the Quay, where the ceremony of the day took place, in the presence of between 3000 and 4000 spectators. The Freemasons having taken up their posi- tion close to the Life-boat, P.G-.M. the Rev. J. HUTSHE, in a short and loyal speech, formally presented the Boat, in the name of the Grand Lodge of England, to Ad- miral WARD, as representing the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and to Mr. ROBERT HURKELL, Chairman of the Local Committee. Acting in conformity with the ancient usage of the Order, the Provincial Grand Master scattered corn over the Life-boat, at the same time fer- vently hoping that the Great Architect of the Universe would bless it and its crew in its work of mercy. The sprinkling of wine over the Boat by D.P.G.M. METHAM, of oil by P.P.G.S.W. ROGERS, and of salt by P.G.C. the Eev. E. A. LESTER, followed; after which Admiral WARD said he had the great honour, on the part of the Insti- tution, of receiving the Boat from the hands of the Provincial Grand Master of Devon and the Freemasons of England.

He spoke of the PRINCE or WALES as one who had endeared himself, by his straight- forward, honest, English character, to the hearts of all with whom he had been brought into contact, both at home and abroad. Mr. HUHBELL, on behalf of the Local Committee, expressed their appre- ciation of the wisdom of the Institution in placing the Life-boat at Hope Cove.

D.P.G.M. METHAM followed with an eloquent oration, after which a hymn, composed for the occasion, was sung; the Provincial Grand Chaplain offered a special prayer; and then Mrs. HCYSHB named the Life- boat in the following words:—"I name this boat the Alexandra,; may God bless her in her work of mercy, and her crew also." Immediately afterwards the Boat was most successfully launched, and glided into the water amid loud cheering. The Coxswain and crew were much pleased with their Boat when she was tried on another occasion in a gale of wind and high sea.

NAIRN, N.B.—On the application of the local residents, the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a Life-boat Esta- blishment at Nairn, for the protection of the crews of vessels which may be wrecked or in distress on either side of the Moray Firth. The Life-boat considered most suitable was one 34 feet long, 8J feet wide, and rowing 10 oars double-banked.

It is furnished with a transporting car- riage, and is named the Caulfield and Ann, NOVEMBER 1, 1878.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

40S its cost having been met from a legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late C. T. LLOYD WILLIAM'S, Esq., of Cheltenham, and Gwernant, Cardigan, for a Life-boat to be so named. The usual ceremonial on the occasion of the first launch of the boat at its Station took place on the 9th March last. The launch was con- ducted under the superintendence of Captain SAKGEAUNT, K.N., Life-boat In- spector, and in the course of his remarks to those assembled on the occasion he referred to one function which that Life- boat, like many others, might have to perform, viz. the succouring of fishermen whose boats are overtaken at sea by sudden gales, rendering it impossible for them to reach the shore unaided except at very great risk of life. He pointed out that there was a peculiar fitness in the Life-boats being used to save the lives of those to whom the Institution was largely indebted for manning its boats throughout the kingdom, while those who are on shore, the wives and families of the men afloat, could not fail to feel in stormy times a certain amount of security when they know there is a Life-boat at hand, able, if properly handled, to save life even when compelled to leave their property at the mercy of the wind and sea. After some further observations, he handed over the Boat to the care of the local Com- mittee. The gift was acknowledged in suitable terms by Provost LESLIE, Chair- man of the Branch. The Kev. Dr. WRENFORD then offered up an appropriate and solemn prayer for a divine blessing to rest upon the undertaking. Lady DUNBAR of Boalt having named the Boat, it was launched and taken out to sea, where the crew were instructed in the various details of its management.

ACKEKGILL, N.B.—Several shipwrecks with loss of life having taken place at different times in the neighbourhood of Ackergill, near Wick, the local residents applied to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT IN- STITUTION to form a Life-boat Establish- ment on that part of Sinclair's Bay, and gave their cordial assistance to the humane undertaking. On the recommendation of the Chief Inspector of Life-boats, after visiting the locality, the Institution took immediate steps to carry out that request.

G. DUFF DUNBAE, Esq., of Hempriggs, readily granting the site of ground required for the Life-boat House, from which posi- tion the Boat can be conveyed on its carriage to all parts of the Bay. There not being a large body of fishermen on the spot, a Life-boat of the smaller class has been provided for the Station, it being 30 feet long, 8 feet wide, and rowing 8 oars.

The cost of this Life-boat Establishment was defrayed from a munificent contri- bution presented to the Institution by Miss A. BOWEB, of Lessness Heath, Kent, and the Boat, in accordance with her wishes, has been named the George and Isabella,. The Life-boat and carriage were despatched by railway to Wick, and on the 14th March last they were taken from that railway station and drawn through the town in a procession, which, was led by the Artillery brass band, and which comprised Freemasons attired in proper masonic style, the members of the different trades with their banners, Naval Keserve men, fishermen, numerous bagpipers, &e.

On arriving at the sands at Beiss, the ceremony of naming was performed by Mrs. D0ir DUNBAR, and the Boat was afterwards launched and put through various evolutions. The Rocket Company also demonstrated the use of their appa- ratus in saving life from shipwreck. A public dinner afterwards took place at Wick to celebrate the inauguration of the new Life-boat Establishment..