CAISTER, NORFOLK.—The large Life- boat on this station, having become through frequent use, unfit for further service, has been replaced by a new boat, which, like the one it superseded, has been named the Covent Garden, in acknow- ledgement of the handsome collection made each year on behalf of the Institu- tion through the co-operation of the Stewards of the special Life-boat Fund promoted amongst the tradespeople and others connected with Covent Garden Market. The Life-boat which had thus worn itself out in the performance of its mission of mercy, had, since it was first placed on its station in 1865, been afloat on service 135 times, and been the means of saving no less than 484 lives from different shipwrecks. The new boat, which is 42 feet long and 11 feet 4 inches wide, was built by Messrs. Beeching Brothers of Great Yarmouth. It is con- structed on what is termed the " Norfolk" plan, being one of the large sailing- boats to be found on the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts, where they are much appreciated. They have been used at Yarmouth and Lowestoft for more than half a century. The launch of the new Life-boat from the builder's yard at Great Yarmouth on the 3rd of Nov. last, was very successful. A large number of the local residents attended on the occasion, and a deputation from the Committee of the Covent Garden Life-boat Fund, 'con- sisting of Messrs. H. B. BUCK, C. DENTON, A. DICKSON, S. J. PALLANT, and J. WEBBER (Hon. Sec.), went specially from London to take part in the proceedings.

Mr. WEBBER in suitable terms handed over the boat to the keeping of the Yarmouth and Caister Branch of the Institution.

The gift was accepted by the Mayor, who said that the gallant crews who manned the Life-boats at Caister would, he knew from long experience, be always ready to launch the Life-boat when their services were required. The Rev. E. G. H. MUBBELL, honorary secretary of the Caister Branch, having offered 'up a prayer that the blessing of God might at all times attend the boat and its crew, the Mayoress proceeded to name the boat the Covent Garden, and the new craft glided into the water in gallant style, amid the cheers of the spectators, after which it was taken round to the Britannia Pier in tow of a steam-tug, and sailed to its station.

Although the weather was too fine to test the properties of the Life-boat, the crew were much pleased with its appearance, and their expectations as to its good sea- going qualities have since been fully real- ised, the boat having been out on several occasions in stormy weather to the rescue of shipwrecked crews, when its behaviour gave every satisfaction to the crew.

CARDIGAN.—The Life-boat station at St. Dogmael's, near Cardigan, has been completely renovated by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, a new boat, house and slipways having been provided at a large expense. Mrs. LEIGH CLARE, of Broughton, presented, through the Man- chester Branch, the handsome contri- bution of £650 to the Institution on be- half of this station, in memory of her late husband. The boat, which is one of the 34 feet, 10-oared class, is named, in accordance with her wishes, the Lizzie and Charles Leigh Clare. It was exhibited in Manchester before being sent to Car- digan, and on the 16th of Oct. last, was publicly named and launched. On this occasion, the boat was manned by a crew from the Blackpool Life-boat Station, and drawn through some of the princi- pal streets of the city by six fine grey horses, which were lent for the day by Messrs. Thompson, M'Kay, and Co. The band of the Ardwick Industrial School accompanied the procession, and the un- usual sight attracted large crowds of people all along the route. In the neigh- bourhood of the Eochdale canal, where the ceremony of naming the boat took place, there was an immense concourse of spectators, who, notwithstanding the in- clement weather, crowded the wharfs, canal boats and even the tops of the warehouses. The boat was placed in position, ready for launching, in a part where the canal is wide enough for the purpose. The Rev. E. HEWLETT, one of the honorary secretaries of the Man- chester Branch, opened the proceedings with prayer, after which Mr. ROBERT WHITWORTH, one of the honorary trea- surers said he had been asked to present that beautiful boat to the Institution on behalf of Mrs. LEIGH CLARE, in memory of her late husband. He felt sure the work which the boat would perform would be a noble one, and one which would amply repay Mrs. LEIGH CLAEE for the money she had expended on it. The Manchester Branch had sent a large number of Life-boats to different parts of the coast, and 720 lives had been saved by these boats. This alone was ample recompense for the time and money which had been devoted to the work.

Commander C. LA PEIMAUDAYE, E.N., one of the district inspectors, formally accepted the gift on behalf of the Institu- tion. The new boat, he said, was intended to replace one given by the Manchester Branch more than twenty years ago, and named the John Stuart; it was stationed in Cardigan Bay, and had been the means of saving 53 lives. There were 274 boats under the control of the Institution, nearly all of which had been given by corporations or private individuals. The money needed for the maintenance of the boats and the payment of the crews also, was provided by voluntary contributions. In conclu- sion, he thanked the people of Man- chester for the support they had given the Life-boat Institution during the last twenty years.

Mrs. S. L. HELM then named the boat, saying, "Let this Life-boat henceforth bear the name of " The Lizzie and Charles Leigh Glare," and may God speed her in the noble work of saving human life." Mrs. HELM then cut the rope which held the boat upon its carriage, and it glided into the water amid the hearty cheers of the vast multitude of onlookers.

The crew rowed about in the canal for some time, and a number of them jumped into the water to give their colleagues an opportunity of illustrating their method of rescuing persons in danger of drown- ing. The boat was also turned over, in order that its power of self-righting might be seen.

A vote of thanks to Mrs. HELM having been passed, on the motion of the Kev.

Canon WOODHOUSE, seconded by Mr. T. HARKER, the proceedings terminated. The boat was afterwards taken by rail to Bristol and thence by water to Cardigan.

On arriving there on the 23rd of October, the boat was tried.by its own crew in the presence of a large number of spectators, when its behaviour gave great satisfaction.

MARGATE AND WITHERNSEA. — These stations have been furnished with new Life-boats, bearing the same names as the ones they replaced. The Margate Life boat—the Quiver—is 37 feet long by 9 feet wide, and rows 12 oars, double banked.

This boat, as well as the one it replaced, and two others, were presented to the Institution, by the readers of The Quiver magazine. The Withernsea Life-boat, which is named the Admiral BOMS, is one of the 34 feet, 10-oared class. The first boat was given to the Institution by the Victoria Club, as a memorial to the late Admiral Ecus.

NEWPORT, PEMBROKESHIRE.—The new Life-boat station which has been formed by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, at Newport, Pembrokeshire, was publicly inaugurated on Tuesday, the 27th May, last. Great enthusiasm was shown in the town and neighbourhood, the streets of Newport were draped with flags, and a great concourse of all classes assembled on the occasion. The Life-boat is 37 feet long, 8 feet wide, rows 12 oars double- banked, and possesses the usual cha- racteristics of the boats of the Institu- tion as regards self-righting, self-ejecting water, &c., which were fully demonstrated on the occasion of its harbour trial in the Limehouse Canal, London. , A very handsome building has been erected at Cwmdewy for the reception of the boat from the designs of the Institution's architect. The cost of the Life-boat and equipment has been defrayed from the " Clevedon " Life-boat Fund, amounting to 5001., raised by Mrs. LAVINGTON, of Bel- grave House, Clevedon, and her friends and pupils. It had at first been con- templated that the " Clevedon " Life-boat should be stationed at Clevedon; but after full inquiry by the Institution, it was found that it was quite unsuitable as a Life-boat station, and the Committee then decided to appropriate Mrs. LAVING- TON'S collection to the Newport new Life- boat establishment. Mrs. LAVINGTON was unable to be present at the first launch of the Life-boat, and the ceremony of naming was kindly undertaken by Miss BOWEN, daughter of J. B. BOWEN, Esq., of Llwyngwair, the President of the Newport Branch of the Institution. On the afternoon of the 27th May, a pro- cession was formed at the Cross, New- port, consisting of the Mayor, the Rev.. JAMES JENKINS in his robes, repre- sentative deputations from the Ivorites, Odd Fellows and Foresters, bearing their regalia and decorated with scarves, and the volunteer crew of the Life-boat in blue jerseys and red caps. Accompanied by the Newport brass band the procession marched to Llwyngwair and escorted Mr. and Miss BOWEN to the Life-boat house, their carriage being drawn into the town by the boat's crew. The pro-ceedings were commenced by a speech from Commander LA PRIMAUDAYE, B.N., District Inspector of Life-boats to the Institution, in which he explained its object and working, and concluded by formally transferring the management of the new Branch to the Local Committee.

Mr. BOWEN, in reply, tendered a hearty welcome to the Life-boat, and requested the Inspector to convey their best ac- knowledgments to the Institution, and their gratitude to the donor of the Life- boat, the gift of which was very much appreciated by the locality. Dr. HAVARD, Chairman of the Branch, spoke in similar terms. Prayers were then offered up by the Eev. EVAN JONES, Eector of the Parish, and, after the singing of some Welsh hymns, Miss BOWEN ascended the platform which had been erected, and performed the ceremony of naming by dashing the customary bottle of wine at the bows of the boat and naming it The Clevedon. The Life-boat was then launched into the sea, amid much cheering, and the coxswain and crew were instructed in its management and the use of the gear by the District Inspector. The boat appeared to meet with general approval.

The sister Life-boat from the adjoining station, Fishguard, was brought over by its crew, to welcome the new comer.