HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The Life-boat stationed in 1868 at Boss Links, Holy Island, has recently been replaced by a new one, 31 feet long, 7£ feet wide and towing 10 oars, double banked. It possesses all the latest improvements, as well as the other characteristics of the boats of the Institution in the way of self-righting, self-ejecting water, &c. Like all the modern self-righting Life-boats built by the Society, should this boat be upset, it will at once right itself, even if all the crew are holding on to it and the soils are set. The cost of the boat and equipment has been defrayed by the Trustees of the late Miss A. M. BEDFORD, of Pershore, Worcestershire, and in accord- ance with their request it is named the Bedford. On the way to its station the Bedford was exhibited at York on the 1st April last. It was drawn through some of the principal streets of the city, manned by a crew brought from the coast for the occasion, and was after- wards launched into the river and capsized to demonstrate its self-righting and other powers.

Prior to the launch the Dean of York (Dr. PUKEV GUST) addressed a few words to the large concourse of spectators, in which he called attention to the inestim- able services rendered by the Life-boats on our coast and to the heroism so frequently displayed by the crews in their endeavours to save life. In the evening a meeting in furtherance of the objects of the Institution was held in the saloon of the Yorkshire Fine Art Institution, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of York, Mr. Alderman P. MATTHEWS, when the AUGUST 1,1891.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

625 of two circular tubes forming the hulls, their dimensions being about 3 feet in diameter amidships, tapering to 8 inches at the stem and stern, and connected by means of iron bands at these parts and at Institution at Liverpool. The length over all is 35 feet, and the beam 10 feet, exclusive of a wooden fender which runs all round the boat. The hulls are con- structed of mild steel plates -j inch in intervals throughout the length. Ex- perience has suggested, however, that this form of construction can be improved, and the new boat has been built from designs prepared by Mr. CHARLES H. BELOE, M. Inst. C.E., the hon. secretary of the thickness; these are formed to the re- quired shape, and galvanised. The fram- ing consists of steel angle bars 1 in.

by lj in. by £ in., spaced at 21 in.

centre to centre. The hulls, instead of being circular, are more of a boat-shaped section amidships, and, instead of tapering to points at each end, they diminish until their minimum diameter is 1 ft. 9 in. at the bow and 1 ft. 6 in. at the stern, taper- ing aft more than forward in order to afford a better delivery for the water which accumulates between them, while at the bow and stern they are curved round until they meet, thus forming one homogeneous structure, instead of two separate hulls, as in the former boats.

This mode of construction adds materially to the buoyancy of the boat at the bow and stern. To diminish friction through the water, the space between the hulls is kept as free as possible from all obstruc- tion ; and in order to strengthen the boat light lattice girders are placed between the undersides of the thwarts and the floor, whereas in the other boats the arch frames which were necessary to connect the tubes offered a serious impediment to the progress of the vessel. The boat is divided into eighteen watertight com- partments, so that in the event of one compartment being injured the floating capacity would be very little interfered with. Each compartment is provided with a manhole for access to enable it to be cleaned and painted. Two centre- boards are fixed to each hull, thus ma- terially improving the sailing qualities of the boat, which pulls fourteen oars—seven on each side. Stanchions fitted with ridge ropes run round the boat as an additional security to the crew. As this boat has to depend entirely upon sails and ' oars for propulsion, provision has been made for admitting water ballast into the central compartment of each hull, and powerful pumps are provided, by which the compartments can be emptied in a few minutes. This is the first tubular boat that has been fitted with water ballast, and from the success that has attended the adoption of water ballast in the ordinary Life-boats of the Institution it is hoped it will prove equally advantageous in the tubular. A similar boat, but of larger dimensions, was built some two and a half years ago from Mr. BELOE'S designs, and stationed at New Brigh- ton. She has been frequently tried in severe weather, including the great gale of November last, and the decided superiority of this design over the original tubular has been amply proved.

A new and commodious boat-house has been erected for the reception of the Life- boat, its transporting carriage and gear, from the designs of the Engineer and Architect of the Institution, Mr. W. T. DOUGLASS. The Life-boat is named the Caroline Richardson, in memory of the widow of the original designer of the tubular Life-boat, whose son, Mr. H. T. RICHARDSON bequeathed a munificent legacy to the Institution for the construc- tion and permanent maintenance of this boat and another named after his late father.

BLAKENEY, NORFOLK.—The Institution has recently sent a new Life-boat to Blakeney, on the Norfolk coast, to take the place of the Life-boat on that station which, was placed there many years ago.

The new boat, which is one of what is known as the "Cromer" type of Life- boat, is 35 feet long, 10J feet wide and rows 14 oars, double-banked. It was built by Messrs. BEECHING BROTHERS, of Great Yarmouth; its cost has been de- frayed from a legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late Mrs. BURROUGHES, of South Norwood, London, and it is named the Zaccheus Durroughes after her deceased husband in compliance with her LONGHOPE AND 8TROMNESS. These tWO Life-boat Stations, which are the most northerly ones under the management of the Institution, situated as they are in the Orkney Islands, have been furnished with new boats to take the place of smaller ones which had become obsolete. Very strong tides and heavy seas have to be encountered in these parts, and accord- ingly powerful sailing boats have been provided for these stations, each being furnished with sliding keels to increase the stability and weatherly qualities of the boat whilst in deep water, without sacrificing the flat floor and light draught so necessary when in shallow water.

Each boat is also fitted with three water- ballast tanks, which contain about one ton of water, and are fitted with plugs and pumps, by means of which water can readily be admitted or pumped out—these are intended for use in the event of the drop keels having to be slipped.

The Longhope boat is 39 feet long, and 9 feet wide; the Stromness Life-boat is 42 feet by 11 feet. The cost of the former boat and its equipment has been defrayed from a legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late Mrs. STANNAH, of Balham, and, in accordance with the wishes of the testatrix, the boat is named the Samyntas Stannah. The Life-boat at Longhope performed admirable service in March last during a heavy gale accompanied by a tremendous sea, when she was instru- mental in saving the crew, numbering 22 men, of the wrecked Steamer, Victoria of Snnderland; she was unable then to return to her station, and had to take refuge in Widewall Bay, where she was detained by stress of weather for two days.

The Stromness new Life-boat was given to the Institution by the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds (Ashton Unity) Friendly Society, and named the Good Shepherd. It was taken to Greenock on the 16th May last on the occasion of a demonstration connected with the Annual Meeting of the Order. About 3,000 persons, chiefly Shepherds, walked in pro- cession from the esplanade through the main thoroughfares of the burgh to the James Watt Dock, where the new Life- boat was launched. The proceedings were begun by the 1st Renfrew Rifle Band playing the "Old Hundredth" Hymn, at the close of which, the Rev.

JOHN BABCLAY, of the West Parish Kirk, offered up an impressive prayer. Mr.

GEORGE CROMAR, the Chief Shepherd, in an appropriate speech, then presented the boat, on behalf of 95,000 brethren connected with the Order, to the Insti- tution, which was represented on the occasion by Mr. REPPEL H. FOOTS, Dis- trict Inspector of Life-boats, who acknow- ledged the gift in suitable terms. The numerous spectators were also addressed by His Worship the Provost of Greenock, ex-Provost BINNIE, and Mr. NEWSAN, Deputy Chief Shepherd, and the cere- mony of naming was then gracefully per- formed by Mrs. GEORGE CROMAR, imme- diately following which the launch took place and was in every way successful.

BALLYCOTTON, GILES' QUAY, AND KINGS- TOWN.—New self-righting Life-boats of the modern type have been forwarded to all of these stations on the coast of Ireland, in the place of others sent there many years since. They are respectively, 37, 34, and 37 feet long, and 8 feet wide, rowing 10 oars, double-banked, and are all provided with sliding keels and water ballast tanks. The cost of the first named Life-boat and its equipment was defrayed by Mr. T. P. HEABNE, of Leadenhall Street, whose name the boat bears. The other two were provided from legacies be- queathed to the Institution by the late Mr. CHARLES POOLEY, of Cheltenham, and Mr. ANDREW PICKARD, of Leeds, and their names are the Providence and the Hannah Pickard.