GOURDON, N.B.—On the invitation of the local residents, a Life-boat Station has been formed by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at Gourdon, a fishing vil- lage about 12 miles north of Montrose.

Shipwrecks are said to be increasing in that neighbourhood. It is also stated that the Boat will probably often be instru- mental in aiding fishing-boats belonging to Gourdon, Bervie, and Johnshaven, on their being overtaken by sudden gales of wind while out pursuing their avocations, there being no other Life-boat nearer than Montrose on the south, and Stonehaven on the north, Gourdon being about midway between those places. The Boat sent to this Station is 33 feet long, 8 feet wide, and rows 10 oars double-banked; it is provided with a transporting carriage, while a substantial and commodious House has been erected for their reception on a site kindly granted for that purpose by JAMES FARQUAR, Esq., of Hallgreen. The expense of the Life-boat Establishment has been defrayed from a legacy be- queathed to the Institution by the late GEOEGE ISLAM, Esq., of London, and the Boat, in accordance with his desire, is named the Young George Irlam. The in- auguration of the Gourdon new Life-boat Establishment took place on the 12th October last, and a most interesting de- monstration it was; the day being ob- served as a holiday, and the weather fortunately being remarkably fine, a large number of people assembled on the occa- sion. The Boat was first taken from Gourdon to Bervie in a procession which was headed by the band of the F. and K.

Artillery Militia, and which comprised the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Coun- cillors, different Lodges of Freemasons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars, the 2nd and 4th K. Artillery Volunteers, the Volun- teer Life Brigade, the Coastguard, fisher- men, and others. On returning to Gour- don, the Boat was handed over to the care of the Local Committee by one of the i Inspectors of Life-boats to the Institution, j the gift being suitably acknowledged by j the Chairman, HERCULES SCOTT, Esq., of Brotherton. Sir THOMAS GLADSTONE, Lord- Lieutenant of the county, having also addressed the spectators, the Rev. J. BROWN, Honorary Secretary to the Local Life-boat Committee, offered up an ap- propriate prayer, after which the cere- mony of naming was well performed by Mrs. FARQUHAR, and the Boat was launched and tried under oars and sails, when it gave every satisfaction to the crew.

HARTLEPOOL.—A new 33-feet 10-oared Life-boat has recently been sent to this port in the place of a Life-boat on the old plan. The expense of the new Boat and its equipment has been defrayed by Miss SARAH BARLOW, of Leicester, in memory of her late brother, after whom the Boat is named the John Clay Barlow. A most interesting ceremony took place in the old harbour on the 18th September last, on the occasion of the naming and launch of the new Boat. The Rev. JOHN BUHDON, J.P., of Castle Eden, President of the Branch, in acknowledging the gift of the Boat to the locality, said that he thought there was no more divine characteristic of charity than the present of a Life-boat, and nothing more noble in nature than a band of brave men risking life to save their fellow-creatures. He felt assured that the new Life-boat could not be in better hands than those of the pilots and fishermen of Hartlepool, who were always ready for active duty. The Rev. EDWIN SHAW having offered a prayer for the success of the Boat, the ceremony of naming was performed by Mrs. ORMSBY, after which the Boat was launched and tried by its crew. The new Life-boat has since done good service in saving a ship- wrecked crew, as will be seen by the account thereof given on p. 429 of this number of the Life-boat Journal.

DARTMOUTH.—A Life-boat Establish- ment has been formed by the Institution at this town, in the hope that the services of the Boat may be made available, in con- junction with a steam-tug, in the event of shipwrecks occurring in Start Bay; the local residents having expressed a wish, at a public meeting specially convened by the Mayor to consider the subject, that the Institution would provide them with a Life-boat. The expense of the new Life-boat Station has been defrayed by Mrs. EMMA HARGREAVES, of Cleygate, Surrey, in memory of her late daughter; and in accordance with her desire, the Boat, which is one of the 33-feet 10-oared class, is named the Maud Hargreaves. The inauguration of the Life-boat Establish- ment took place on the 23rd October last.

A procession, comprising the Mayor and Corporation, Foresters, Coastguard men, and Life-boat crew, with bands of music, proceeded through the town to the Life- boat House, where the Boat had been placed in readiness for launching. The Boat was presented by WALTER AUSTIN, Esq., on behalf of the donor, and the gift was accepted in suitable terms by Mr.

CHARLES CHALKER, President of the Local Branch. The dedication of the Boat was then proceeded with, after which the hymn " For those in Peril on the Sea " was sung.

The service proper for the occasion was read by the Rev. E. M. JOHNSTONE, assisted by the Rev. J. H. KNAPP. The religious part of the ceremony was brought to a close by the singing of the " Old Hun- dredth." The Boat was then named by Mrs. PERCY HOCKIN, the wife of the Local Honorary Secretary of the Institution, and successfully launched with the crew on board, amid the cheering of those present. In the evening, the Coxswain and crew were entertained at a dinner provided at the expense of Mrs. HAR- GREAVES.

DOVER.—A new Life-boat has been provided for this port in the place of a smaller one, which was considered not equal to the requirements of the Station.

The new Boat is 35 feet long, 9 feet wide, and rows 10 oars double-banked; it is furnished with masts and sails, and is mounted on a transporting carriage. The expense of the new Boat and its equip- ment has been defrayed from a legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late Mr. HENRY WILLIAM PICKERSGILL, E.A., after whom the Boat is named.

It should be mentioned that the South- Eastern Railway Company readily granted the Life-boat a free conveyance to its Station over their line in September last.

WITHEHNSEA, YORKSHIRE.—The Life- boat on this Station has also been replaced by a new Boat, 30 feet long, 8 feet wide, and pulling 8 oars, the cost of which was defrayed from the Victoria Club subscription, raised as a memorial of the late Admiral Eous, the Boat being named after him. The old Life-boat at Withernsea had been instrumental at different times in saving 42 lives from different shipwrecks. * DONNA NOOK, LINCOLNSHIRE. — The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has also forwarded to the coast of Lincolnshire a.

fine new Life-boat, 34 feet long, 8 feet wide, rowing 10 oars double-banked, and provided with a transporting carriage, in place of the Boat on the Donna Nook Station, the Boat-house being improved and renovated for their reception from a design by the Honorary Architect of the Institution. The expense of this new Life-boat Station has been met from a munificent gift to the Institution by Miss DIXON, of Holton Park, in memory of her late brother, E. B. DIXON, Esq., and will hereafter be known as the Richard Roadley Dixon Life-boat Establishment, Donna Nook, the Boat itself being named the Richard. The inauguration of the new Life-boat Station took place on the 13th December last, on which day the Boat was taken in procession through the principal streets of Louth, and afterwards presented to the Institution in the market-place of that town by Archdeacon ILES on behalf of the donor. The Mayor and Corpora- tion took part in the demonstration, and the Institution was represented on the occasion by one of its Inspectors of Life- boats. The Rev. E. W. CHACHOFT and Mr. GILBERT HOULDKN also attended on behalf of the County Branch and the Life- boat Station, of which they are respec- tively the zealous Honorary Secretaries.

The Boat was escorted from the railway station by the Mayor and Corporation, deputations from the magistrates, &c. and the local Volunteer Corps. The cere- mony of naming was performed by Mrs.

JAMESON, of Caistor, the donor's sister; and after a religious ceremony the Boat was despatched to its Station, amidst the cheers of the numerous spectators; and the next day it was tried by the crew, who were much pleased with their new Life-boat.

WEXFORD, IRELAND.—The Life-boat on this Station, having become unfit for further service, has been replaced by a new 10-oared one, 34 feet long and 8£ feet wide; the Boat being conveyed by steamer from London to Dublin, and thence by railway to its destination.

Like the Boat it superseded, it was pre- sented to the Institution by members of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund, through the indefatigable Honorary Secretary, CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq., F.E.G.S., and is named the Civil Service No. 1. A sub- stantial and commodious House has been erected for the new Life-boat on a more convenient site, closer to the shore, the lease of which was readily granted to the Institution, at a nominal rent, by her Majesty's Commissioners of Customs. The old Boat had performed noble work in saving 122 lives from different ship- wrecks, besides helping to rescue 3 vessels from destruction, as will be seen by the following list.

Date. Name of Vessel. Lives 1866 Oct. 19 Barque Voluna, of Liver- pool 5 Dec. 12 Ship Indus, of Maitland, N.S 2 Dec. 27 Workmen engaged on Dogger Bank ... 9 1867 Jan. 9 Smack Noah, of Cardigan 2 Mar. 23 Barque Loretto, of Liver- pool, saved vessel and 14 May 9 Brig Ayrshire Lass, of Ardrossan, saved vessel and 4 Aug. 17 Smack Robert Hudson, of 1869 „ 1870 1871 „ 1872 1873 „ 1875 „ 1877 1878 Arklow 4 May 8 Schooner Handy, of Wex- ford 4 Dec. 9 Schooner Columbine, of Wexford .... 5 Dec. 10 Smack Arbitrator, of Vexford .... 9 Jan. 5 Smack Lark, of Wexford 2 Jan. 4-6 Barque faquita, of San- tander, saved vessel and 16 May 13 Yacht Little Vorrit, of Weymouth .... 2 Aug. 24-25 Schooner Rambler, of Wexford .... 3 Sept. 5 Schooner Gem, of Wex- ford 6 April 8 Yacht Cruiskeen Lawn, ofWexfonl ... 2 Nov. 14 Brig Emily Raymond, of St. John's, N.B. . . 9 Jan. 22 Fishing lugger Mountain Hare, of Wexford. . 6 April 25 S.S. Montagu, of Liver- pool 18 Total lives saved, in addition to 3 vessels 122.