— The NATIOHAI, •ION has formed another Life-boat establishment on the coast of Essex, for the better protection of the shipping which crowds the channels lead- ing to the Thames. The Life-boat had only been placed on its station at Walton- on-the-Naze a few weeks when it was called out to a wreck OE the Long Sand, and the crew had the great satisfaction of saving twenty-ive shipwrecked men, as described on page 475, In deciding to organise this additional Life-boat sta- tion the Committee thought that it was highly probable that the boat would fre- quently render good service to vessels in distress on the Gunfleet and other dan- gerous sandbanks on this part of the coast. The nearest Life-boats to Walton are about seven miles distant either way, Harwich lying to the north and Clacton to the south of this station. The Walton Life-boat is 8T feet long and 9 feet wide, rows 12 oars double banked, and is provided with a transporting-earriage.

The boat-house has been erected on a site close to the sea-front, granted to the Institution for & long term at a nominal rent by EGBERT WASHES, Esq., Chairman of the Local Committee. A slipway has been constructed from the house to the beach, along which the boat is taken on its carriage when it has to be launched.

The funds to build the new Life-boat were presented to the Institution by the Dramatic Club of the Honourable Artillery Company, which, as is well known, is the oldest regiment of Her Majesty's Yolun- teer Forces, having been revived as far back as 1610. H.E.H. the PKWCB on- WAI.BS, K.G., is its " Captain - General and Colonel," and the DOSE OF POBTLAND the Lieutenant-Colonel. The public in- auguration of this new station took place on the 18th of November, and was ia every way successful. The townspeople were determined to show their hearty appreciation of the gift to the locality, and the place was decorated from one end to the other, scarcely a house, however small, being without a flag or a device of some sort, while gome of the decorations were of a most extensive and imposing j character, including triumphal arches, ] Venetian masts with shields and flags, j flowers, evergreens, &e. When the im- portant day arrived, crowds flocked into the town from all quarters, while the ordinary and special trains bronght large contingents of visitors, and the streets were thronged throughout the day. The DUKE OF POBM.AND, the BABONESS Bot- SOVEB, and a guard of honour numbering about ISO men of the Honourable Artil- lery Company, accompanied by the full band of the Begiment, arrived by train from London shortly before mid-day, and were received at the railway station by the Committee of the Walton Branch of the Institution, represented by the President, Sir JOHN H. JOHNSON, the Chairman, BOBZBT WABNEB, Esq., and the Honorary Secretary, Kev. J. T. COOKK. A proces- sion was then formed, and proceeded to the Life-boat Station for the purpose of launching the new boat. The scene was a most imposing one, and cheers rung the air as the cortege passed through the streets. The lead was taken by the county constabulary; next came the band from Mr. Warner's Foundry, followed by the Clacton Life-boat, The Albert Edward, which had been specially brought by road for the occasion, drawn by six horses.

The boat was gaily decked with flags, an 2 on its stern was a record board showing the gallant services the Clacton Life-boats have rendered during the past seven years in saving no less than ninety-six lives. Next came defefchments of the Coastguard from Harwich, Clacton and Walton, the Walton Life-boat Committee, the Demonstration Committee, and the District Inspector of Life-boats, Com- mander CABTEB, B.N. The new Walton boat followed, drawn by six horses, gaily decorated with flags and garlands of flowers, and manned by the crew with their oars tossed. Then came the Com- mittee of the Honourable Artillery Com- pany's Dramatic Club, the rear being brought up by the Company's Band, the guard of honour under the command of Captain BBBBAMT, and private carriages containing the DDKK OF POBTLANB, the BABONBSS BOMQVEB, Sir JOHN JOHNSOH, and other ladies and gentlemen, the Duke's carriage being escorted by sixteen mounted troopers of the Loyal Suffolk Yeomanry, under the command of Sir FEBRUARY 2, 1885.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL.

465 CLAUDE DE CBESPIGNY, Bart. On arriving j at the Boat-house, the Vicar and Honorary j Secretary, the Eev. J. T. COOKE, offered up a prayer invoking God's blessing upon j the boat and crew, and upon the generous donors, after which Sir JOHN JOHNSON | made some introductory remarks. Major McKENziE then called upon the DUKE OF | PORTLAND to hand over the Life-boat to the I Institution in the name of the Eegiment, which His Grace proceeded to do, stating that it had given Lady BOLSOVEB and himself much pleasure to come to the launch, and expressing a hope that the Life-boat would be most useful in saving human life, and might add prosperity to the town of Walton. The District In- i spector returned thanks on behalf of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and placed the Boat in the care of the Local Committee. Sir JOHN JOHNSON and Mr.

WABNEB, in responding on behalf of the Branch, stated that they had the greatest confidence in the gallant men who were to work the boat, and they were confident that they would do their duty thoroughly at all times. The well- known hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save," was then sung, after which Lady BOLSOVEB came forward and said, "I name this boat The Honourable Artil- lery Company, and I hope and trust and I pray that, manned by its ' Storm War- ! riors,' it may always be successful in j saving' human lives." Amid deafening ; cheering her ladyship dashed the pro- ' verbial bottle of wine against the side of ! the boat, which' was then successfully j launched, and the crew were put through i the usual exercise. A luncheon at the i Assembly Booms followed, when the toast j of " Success to the BOY. AL NATIONAL LIFE- i BOAT INSTITUTION " was most enthu-1 siastically received. In the evening the ! Life-boatmen were entertained at dinner.

Between 11 and 12 o'clock that night the boat was called out on active service by signals from the Sunk Lightship.

The crew promptly responded, and on proceeding to the Sands they were in- formed that signals of distress had been seen in a south-westerly direction. All attempts to find the vessel were, however, I unsuccessful, and in all probability she ! was fortunately able to extricate herself j from her perilous position without re- j quiring the help of the Life-boat, which returned to its station at 7 o'clock in the : morning, after having been afloat for seven hours. The coxswain and crew expressed themselves as much pleased with the excellent behaviour of the boat.

WHITEHAVEN, CUMBERLAND.—The Life- boat on this Station has been replaced by one of the modern type of the following dimensions, viz., 34 feet by 8 feet, fitted with a water-ballast tank in the after part, and rowing ten oars, double-banked.

A new transporting carriage accompanied the boat. The whole expense of the change has been met by the generous donor of the former Life-boat, Miss LEICESTER, of Bayswater, and the new boat is named after fier late mother, The Elizabeth Leicester. It was launched for the first time at its Station on the 8th October last, under the superintendence of the District Inspector of Life-boats, Lieut. TIPPING, B.N. After it had been taken in procession through the principal streets of the town, it was placed on the beach, and a short religious service was held, after which it was named in the customary manner by Miss LOWTHER, of Morseby House, and launched. The crew having been exercised, the Life-boat was then placed under a steam crane and cap- sized twice, to show its self-righting and self-emptying properties, and subse- quently, after it had been tried under sail, the crew expressed themselves as much pleased with all they had seen of their new craft.

NORTH SUNDEELAND.—The Life-boat on this Station has been replaced by a new one, better suited to the local require- ments. The change was effected in Sep- tember last, and the expense of the same was defrayed from the legacy left to the Institution by the late Miss ISABELLA BEWICK, of Gateshead. The bequest in question was directed to be applied in stationing and maintaining a Life-boat on tho coast of Northumberland, to be called The Thomas Bewick, out of respect to the memory of her late father, the renowned artist and wood-engraver, who died in 1828, and who first distinguished himself as an artist by his cut of "The Old Hound," which he sent to the Society of Arts in 1775, and for which he was awarded the first prize for wood engrav- ing. The new Life-boat is 34 feet long and 8 feet wide, and is fitted with four 2 F 3 466 THE LIFE-BOAT JQTTKNAL.

2,1885, tanks for water-ballast. The ceremony of naming was performed by Miss OBDB, of Shorestoa Hall, on the 20th December last, ia the presence of numerous specta- tors, after which the boat was launched and tried by the oiew, who were after- wards entertained at a supper provided by the indefatigable Local Honorary Secretary, Major MABSHAKD.

FILET, YORKSHIRE. — A new 34-feet, ten-oared Life-boat, fitted with water- ballast tanks, and furnished with a trans- porting carriage, has been placed at Filey.

As in the case of the old boat, the cost of the new Life-boat, carriage, and equip- ment has been defrayed by R. W. HOLLOST, Esq., of Holgate Hill, York, formerly Lord Mayor of that city. On the 13th Sep- tember last the new boat, drawn by six powerful horses, was taken in procession from the railway station to the sands, when the Vicar of Mley, the Key. A. N.

COOPBB, offered up a prayer for its success.

Mr, HO&LON then made the presentation of the boat, and performed the ceremony of naming it The Hollow, the Second, after which it was touched, and the crew went through the usual exercise. The launch was a good one, and the men were loud in their praises of the Life-boat. At night they were entertained at the Crown Hotel, Mr. HoitOH, the Yiear, and several other local gentlemen being present.

The Committee have complied with the urgent request of the Life-boatmen at this station, and pro- vided them wife a new boat on the plan of one stationed there prior to 1858, which was a great faYourite with them.

It is 35 feet long and rows 14 oars, double-banked, being four more than were pulled in the self-righMng boat which it supersedes. It was built by Messrs. Beeching, of Great Yarmouth, from the local designs. The new Boat is not a self-righting one, but it has a wafer-tight deck with self-acting valves of gun-metal, also ventilating hatches, and is fitted with air-cases along the sides and under the deck, some of the latter being packed with cork to serve as ballast. It is pro- vided with a transporting carriage similar to those supplied to the other boats of the Institution. The expense of the new boat and equipment was defrayed from a legacy left to the Institution by the late Miss ANN EQDBLI, of Alnwick, to enable it to provide two Life-boats. As she did not direct that her boats should bear any special names, it was decided to give to the Cromer new Life-boat the name borne by its predecessor, i.e., The Benjamin Bond CcOMl. The 29th September last was the date fixed for the inauguration and launch of the boat, and much interest was manifested in the proceed- ings that took place on that occasion, most of the local residents being present, as well as a large number of visitors from different parts. Prior to the launch. Sir T. FOWXI& BOSTON, Bart, delivered an address explaining the circumstances which led. to their having the Life-boat presented to the locality, and said that all who had to do with the boat would enfleavour to make it a credit to Cromer and to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT IKSTFIB- TION. EDWABD BIBEBBCK, Esq., M.P., V.P., Chairman of the General Com- mittee, in presenting the boat to the town on behalf of the Institution, ex- pressed an earnest hope that it would give entire satisfaction to the crew, and that they would ever be ready, as in the past, to respond to the call of duty.

He also conveyed the warm acknowledg- ments of the Central Committee to the Local Committee, and their zealous Honorary Secretary, Mr, W, CL SANDFOBD for their continued valuable co-operation.

The Eev. I1. FITCH, Yiear of Cromer, having offered up prayers for the success of the boat, S. HOABB, Esq., and BEKJAMIH BOHB CABBBLL, Esq., addressed those present, and the latter stated that it gave his mother and himself great pleasure to attend the launch, especially as they were honoured by the boat being named after his father, who had given the former Life-boat and provided the house for its reception. Mrs. BOND CABBBM, then named the boat in the orthodox fashion, after which it was launched successfully, amid the hearty cheers of the spectators and the ringing of the ehurch bells; the band at the same time playing " Bule Britannia." There were on board, in addition to the crew and the Local Honorary Secretary, Sir FOWELI. BCSTOH, Mr. EDWABD BIBKBSCK, and the District Inspector of Life-boats, Commander CABTEH, E.N.

How ISLAND, NOBTHBMBEBLAND,—The other Life-boat presented to the Institu- FEBBTJABY 2,1885.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL.

467 tion by the late Miss EGDELL, referred to in the preceding notice of the Cromer Life-boat, has been stationed at Holy Island in the place of the No. 1 Boat on that station, which had been instrumental in saving ninety-four lives, and •which was so much damaged while present at a wreck. The opportunity has been seized to perpetuate the renowned name—the Grace Darling—borne by the boat thus replaced. The new Life-boat, which is 34 feet long, 8J feet wide, and rows ten oars double-banked, had its trial trip on the same day as the Cromer boat, under the command of Lieut. T. H. WILLOTJGHBY BEDDOES, E.N., District Inspector of Life- boats, when both the Inspector and crew expressed themselves highly pleased with the beautiful model and fine sailing qualities of the boat..