Additional Stations and New Life-Boats
CAHORE, Co. WEXFORD.—The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has recently for- warded to the coast of Wexford a new Life-boat, which has been stationed at Cahore, in the place of the former Boat. It is 34 feet long, 8 feet wide, rows 10 oars double-banked, and possesses the usual characteristics of the Boats of the Insti- tution in regard to self-righting, self- ejecting water, &c. It is provided with a transporting carriage, which is also ad- mirably adapted to its purpose. The expense of this new Life-boat and equip- ment has been met from a munificent gift to the Institution by the Misses BROOKE, in memory of their late brother, JOHN BROOKE, Esq., Q.C., through JOHN RICHARDSON, Esq., Q.C., of Dublin and Clones, the Life-boat being named the John Brooke.
NEW BRIGHTON.—It having been thought desirable to have a second Tubular Life- boat on this important Station, one has been specially built and placed there, its cost being presented to the Institution, through the Liverpool and New Brighton Branch, by Messrs. JOHN HAY & Co., of Liverpool. The Boat, at their request, has been named the Stuart Hay ; it is 40 feet long, 8 feet 10 inches wide, and rows 12 oars double-banked; it was placed on its Station in October 1878.
It may be mentioned that the Institution has also provided the crew with a semi- Life-boat, 24 feet long and 6 feet 9 inches wide, rowing 6 oars single-banked, and provided with air-cases under the thwarts, to enable them to go out to the Tubular Boats, which are kept moored afloat, the men having often incurred risk during blowing weather in boarding the Life- boats from the landing-stage at New Brighton in an ordinary shore-boat.
KINGSTOWN, IRELAND.—In May last a new Life-boat was placed on this Station, the Boat being 37 feet long, 8£ feet wide, and rowing 12 oars double-banked; its cost was defrayed from a legacy to the Institution by the late Miss ANDERSON, of Leamington, supplemented by a gift from her niece, Mrs. GOFF. The Boat, which is named the Hector, in accord- ance with the wishes of the donors, was publicly launched at its Station on the 24th of May, under the superin- tendence of one of the Inspectors of Life- boats to the Institution, in the presence of a very large crowd of spectators.— Prior to the launch, the Rev. G. W. DALTON, M.A., of Glenageary, offered up a short prayer for the success of the Life- boat, and the Hon. Mrs. CROFTON, wife of the Harbour Master and Local Branch Honorary Secretary, named the Boat in the customary manner. The crew were much pleased with their new Life-boat.
DROGHEDA, IRELAND.—The No. 1 Life- boat on this Station—kept at the north side of the mouth of the River Boyne— has recently been replaced by a new 34 feet 10-oared Boat, specially designed to meet the requirements of this part of the coast, so as to be easily launched on the flat beach extending from Clogher Head to the Boyne. It is hoped that this Life- boat may thus do away with the necessity of the present No. 2 Boat crossing, or attempting to cross, a dangerous bar on occasions of shipwrecks in that direction.
A suitable carriage has been provided for the new Boat. Like the one it super- seded, this Life-boat is named the Old George Jrlam of Liverpool.
KIRKCUDBRIGHT, N.B.—The small Life- boat stationed here has been replaced by a 32 feet 10-oared Boat and carriage, the expense of which has been defrayed from a legacy to the Institution by the late Dr. MACKIE, of Greenock, for a Life-boat for this part of the Scotch coast, the Boat being named the Mackie. It was placed in the charge of the Local Committee by one of the Inspectors of Life-boats of the Institution on the 29th of May last, and the crew, after trying the Boat, expressed every satisfaction with its behaviour and capabilities.
TRALEE BAY, IRELAND.—On the appli- cation of the local residents, the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a Life- boat Establishment in Tralee Bay, near the Coastguard Station at Outward Fenit, from which place it is hoped the Boat may be made available on the occasion of shipwrecks in Ballyheige Bay, in ad- dition to being ready for service when required in Tralee Bay. The Life-boat provided for this Station is one of the 34 feet 10-oared class, furnished with a transporting carriage. The Boat-house has been erected on a suitable site, which was readily granted to the Institution by the late JOHN HURLY, Esq., of Fenit.
The Life-boat is named the Admiral Butcher, and the whole expense of this new Life-boat Station has been presented to the Institution by E. G. BUTCHER, Esq., the eminent surgeon at Dublin, in memory of his late father and brother, as will be seen by the annexed copy of an Inscription which has been placed on a stone tablet attached to the Boat-house : "admiral Butcher Life-boat" WAS PLACED HERE, ON THE COAST OF HIS NATIVE COUNTY, BY RICHARD GEORGE BUTCHER, SURGEON, IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS FATHER, ADMIRAL SAMUEL BUTCHER, AND OF HIS BROTHER, SAMUEL BUTCHER, S.T.P., SOMETIME REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, AND LORD BISHOP OF MEATH.
' Jehovah maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."— I's. cvii. 29.
; And Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still !" — St. J/arfc, iv. 39.
The new Life-boat and carriage were despatched to their Station by steamer from London to Cork, and thence by rail- way to Tralee, a free conveyance being given them by the City of Cork Steam Ship and the Great Southern and Western Railway Companies. The public inaugura- tion of the new Life-boat Establishment took place on the 26th of June, under the superintendence of Admiral WARD, the Chief Inspector to the Institution. On that occasion Dr. BUTCHER was presented with an illuminated Address by Lieut.- Colonel CROSBIE, D.L., on the part of the people of Tralee and the surrounding dis- trict. After acknowledging it, he handed over the Life-boat to the NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION and the Tralee Branch.
The gift was suitably received by the Inspector of Life-boats, and the ceremony of naming the boat was performed by Miss CROSBIE, after which it was launched and tried by the crew, who were well pleased with its behaviour under oars and sails.