DORNOCH FIRTH, SUTHERLANDSHIRE.— In January, 1886, the Local Residents made application to the Institution to form a Life-boat establishment on the shores of Dornoch Firth, a shipwreck having oc- curred there in the previous month, and several having taken place there before then. They pointed out the dangerous nature of this coast, with its numerous and shifting sandbanks and sudden squalls, and that several lives had been lost which might have been saved by a Life-boat. After making full inquiry the Committee decided to organise the pro- posed Life-boat Establishment, and they placed the new boat and carriage on the station, in the latter part of September, in readiness to meet any shipping casual- ties that might occur on the arrival of the equinoctial gales, without waiting the completion of the house and launching slipway which have since been constructed.

The cost- of the boat, which is of the 34-feet 10-oared class, has been met from a special gift, received from an anony- mous donor, under the initial " D," for a Life-boat to be named The Daisie, and placed on a new station before the 1st October, 1886. In the presence of a large gathering of people from Dornoch, Embo, and the surrounding districts, the boat Went out for its first cruise on the 29th September, and afterwards returned to the point chosen for its resting-place, about a mile from the westward of Embo.

Nearly 100 fishermen assembled at the rail- way station, and the boat having been un- loaded from the trucks and put upon its carriage, under the superintendence of the District Inspector of Life-boats, Lieut. BEDDOES, R.N., the men quickly worked the drag ropes, and, with a hearty cheer, and bagpipes playing, it was soon under way. Six powerful horses were after- wards yoked to it, and with the assistance of the men, amid great enthusiasm, it was conveyed to the " Poles," where, under the supervision of Mr. KIDD, forester to His Grace the DUKE OF SUTHERLAND, it was decorated with wreaths and flowers.

On arriving at the receiving house, Dor- noch, the crew of twelve men took their positions in the boat, cheers welcoming them from the inhabitants at the west end of the town. An arch spanned the road, bearing the motto " Welcome, Daisie," and flags floated from the cathedral spire, the castle, the court-house, jail, and other buildings.

Prior to the launch the District In- spector of Life-boats publicly handed over former boat is 37 feet long, 8 feet wide' and rows 12 oars; the latter is 34 feet long, and pulls 10 oars double banked.

A new transporting and launching car- riage was provided for each boat. The cost of the Lytham Life-boat, which is named The Charles Biggs, was defrayed from a legacy bequeathed to the Insti- tution by the late Miss L. M. BIGGS, of St. John's Wood, London. The Mary- port boat is named The Civil Service No. 5, it being the fifth Life-boat pre- sented to the Institution by the Civil Ser- vice Life-boat Fund raised by CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq., F.E.G.8. It took part in the Lord Mayor's Show on the 9th November last, manned by the crew of The Civil Service No. 4 Life-boat at Walmer, and was much admired and cheered. The the boat to the care of the Local Com- mittee, and Bailie NBILL, on behalf of the inhabitants, expressed their sincere thanks for the very handsome gift which had that day been presented to them.

Miss SUTHERLAND, of Skibo, then for- mally named the boat The Daisie, after which, amid hearty cheers, it was launched into the water, and pulled round in a fairly heavy sea, sufficient to test its sea-going qualities, which were in every respect satisfactory, to its station near Embo. The boat is to be known as the Dornoch and Embo Life-boat.

LYTHAM AND MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND.

—The Life-boats on these stations have recently been replaced by new boats possessing all the latest improvements, including water ballast fittings. The Lytham new Life-boat was publicly launched at its station on the 29th No- vember last. It was this boat which was shown at the Liverpool International Exhibition and received a Gold Medal, and which within a fortnight of being put on its station rendered such good service to the crew of the unfortunate ship Mexico, as described on page 213.

On the occasion of the inaugural launch, the District Inspector of Life-boats, Lieut.

TIPPING, E.N., said that the Institution had the greatest confidence in the Lytham crew, who had done good work in the past, and would, no doubt, do more with their new Life-boat. In acknowledging the gift, the Rev. H. B. HAWKINS, Chairman of the Local Committee, said that he was sure that the boat would lose nothing in the hands of the crew.

At the same time the Branch accepted it with all humility; they did not know how soon it would be called out, still they knew that the crew would faithfully discharge whatever duty they might be called upon to perform. The Rev. GREGORY SMART having offered up prayer, and the hymn for those at Sea having been sung, the ceremony of naming was performed by Lady ELEANOR CLIFTON, after which the launch took place, and the boat was tried under oars and sails.

The inauguration of the new Life- boat at Maryport took place on the 2nd December. After the boat had been escorted through the town in procession the usual ceremony was gone through, Mrs. SENHOUSE, the Lady of the Manor, under- taking the duty of naming the boat.

ISLE OF WHITHORN.—This station, on the west coast of Scotland, has also been supplied with one of the new 34 feet 10-oared Life-boats, supplied with a trans- porting carriage, in the place of the former boat and carriage. The expense was met by a contribution from the late Captain HENRY LEIGHTON, of Glasgow, by the hands of his sister, Miss A. LEIGHTON, of that city. The inauguration of the new Life-boat on the 17th of November last will long be remembered locally as a notable day in the annals of the isle, the inhabitants having made great prepara- tions to give the boat a hearty welcome, and having turned out in great force on the occasion, the day being kept as a general holiday. A procession was formed at the railway station, and the Life-boat, drawn by nine fine horses, handsomely decorated, was escorted to the isle, on ar- riving at which, the Bight Hon. The Earl of GALLOWAY, Patron of the Branch, called upon the Rev. J. C. MCTAGGART to offer up prayer, after which, Lieut. BEDDOES, K.N., District Inspector of Life-boats, handed the boat to the charge of the Local Committee. The gift was acknowledged by Lord GALLOWAY, and the Donor, Miss LEIGHTON, then named the Life-boat the Henry and John Leighton, after her two brothers. The boat was afterwards run down to the water's edge and launched off the carriage into the sea amidst the cheers of the spectators.

THE CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND.— At the annual meeting of the committee of this Fund, held on the 19th Jan., and presided over by Mr. W. H. HAINES, of the House of Lords, the Hon. Secretary, Mr. CHARLES DIBDIN, reported that during the past year the fund had presented to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU- TION a fifth Life-boat, which, after having formed a part of the Lord Mayor's Show in November last, had been placed at Mary- port, on the coast of Cumberland, where she is much prized by the inhabitants.

It was further stated that the Civil Ser- vice Life-boats had been instrumental in saving 189 lives and three vessels, and it was decided to issue an appeal to the Civil Service to endow the new boat.

The Committee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have on former occasions expressed their high appre- ciation of the kind and generous sym- pathy shown by the gentlemen in the Civil Service with the Life-boat work during the past twenty years. They now have pleasure in calling attention to the gratifying fact that at the present time there are no less than 9,639 sub- scribers to this special fund, nearly every office and department under the Crown being represented in the contribution list.

PRAYERS IN STORMY WEATHER.—It is often a source of strength to seamen battling for life against the violence of the elements, to know that in churches and chapels on shore prayer is being offered np on their behalf. The Act of Uniformity Amendment Act of 1872 enables congregations in the National church to thug join together in interceding for sailors; and the Missions to Seamen has published a special service of intercession for those at sea, which is sanctioned by the Archbishop of Canter- bury and twenty-seven of the English bishops for use in the churches in their dioceses in stormy weather, or on other occasions, whilst single collects from the special service can be added to the ordinary worship. About 35,000 copies of this little service-book have been issued, and single copies will be sent gratis to any clergyman applying for one to the Secre- tary, Missions to Seamen, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.