FURTHER evidence of the popular ap- preciation of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION and all that appertains to the saving of life at sea was furnished on Saturday, 8th August last, at Culler- coats. About ten years since the Co- operative Union gave a new Life-boat, the Co-operator No. 1, for use at that station. In the period intervening it has done a great deal of valuable work, particularly at times when sudden storms have endangered the lives of those engaged in the fishing fleet. But the craft was badly housed. Now the Co-operative -Union has come forward again to complete the work begun in 1884. The old building was demolished, and a handsome new structure has been erected on the site it occupied. The formal opening and handing over to the Eight Hon. the EARL PERCY, representing the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- TUTION, took place on the 8th August.

It was not an ideal day for an open-air ceremony. The wind was cold, and now and then drove along chilling showers of rain that penetrated even the stoutest covering. But in another respect it was appropriate for the special work in hand.

The sea was rather rough. The heavy rolling of the cobles anchored here and there in the little bay, the angry-looking waves breaking and throwing up their white crests high into the air, and the Life-boat standing on the slipway ready to be launched, gave one an idea of what might be. The scene possessed a peculiar fascination, and no one who had been fortunate enough to obtain a commanding view thought of deserting his or her position. All through the morning people were crowding into the little fishing village. Men, women, and chil- dren, despite the wet and cold, grouped themselves in solid masses at every point from which an uninterrupted view could be got.

After some selections had been played by Mr. Smith's Military Band from New- castle, a number of fisher girls grouped opposite the platform, which had been erected opposite the Life-boat house, led in singing the beautiful hymn— Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea.

And this was followed by appropriate prayers offered by the Rev. Mr. SHEPHERD.

Mr. K. H. BAILEY presided on the platform. Among the large number with him there, besides Earl Percy, were Mr.

Thomas Tweddell, Hartlepool, Chairman of the Newcastle branch of the Co- operative Wholesale Society; Mr. John Shillito, Halifax; Mr. Jas. Hall, J.P.; Dr. Lawrence Adamson, J.P.; Mr. P. J.

Messent, C.E.; Mr. Aaron Watson, New- castle ; Mr. Ed. Leeson; Dr. John Burdon; Aid. J. F. Spence, J.P.; Mr. Thomas Eule, J.P., Gateshead; Mr. Eustace W. 0. Stracey, E.N., Life-boat Institution; Mr. A. Laing; Mr. W. Crooks, Blaydon; Mr. J. Eoutledge, &c.

The Chairman referred to the interest taken in the Life-boat movement by Algernon, fourth Duke of Northumber- land, who placed the first boat at Cullercoats, and went on to detail what had led up to the presentation of Go- operator No. 1. The Union, he said, had now placed Life-boats at Cullercoats, Ilfracombe, and Thurso. When it came to the knowledge of the Northern section of the Co-operative Union that the house here was not in a good state—that it had in fact been recommended by the District Inspector of Life-boats to be replaced, subscriptions were asked for, and a sufficient sum soon raised to build a new one. It had been erected at a cost of 600?., and, including the new slip-road and cement foundations, this would be brought up to 750?. Mr. Bailey went on to give a short history of the enormous development of the co-operative move- ment, and he concluded by presenting a gold key to Mr. Tweddell as a memento, and asking him to hand the new house over to Lord Percy.

Mr. TWEDDELL said that he did not think that a pleasanter duty could fall on anyone. He spoke of the additions they had made to what he might call the Co-operative fleet, and remarked that their movement was to be congratulated on this great work of beneficent effort.

But he questioned whether they had done all that they ought to do. He sometimes thought that they did not recognise sufficiently the responsibility that rested upon them, and he did not think they should look at the effort they were making there that day as a kind of spasmodic effort. It was part of a duty, the discharging of a solemn obligation.

There was no class in the community to whom they were so deeply indebted as to those who faced the terrors of the deep. To them they owed a debt of gratitude that it was very difficult indeed to pay. Many of the necessaries and the luxuries that we enjoy were brought over the sea by these men, who carried their lives in their hand. They had a right to expect, to demand, that every- thing that charitable care, that scientific skill and advice could do to protect them against the peril of their calling, should be done. And if these efforts were to be made by private enterprise, on whom, he asked, could they have a greater call than those who were the largest consumers in the world ? (Applause.) He then asked Lord Percy to accept the house, express- ing a hope that the intervals of shelter would be very lengthy ones, and that the boat would not often be called upon for active service.

Earl PBBCT, who was received with cheering, said he would accept the mag- nificent house with very great pleasure on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION. Northumberland was almost—he thought he might say quite —that part of England which had Life- boat work most keenly at heart. It was not far from here that the first Life-boat existed even before the present Institution came into being, and it was, as had already been pointed out, the fourth Duke of Northumberland who, when the Life- boat Institution was in very low water, spent much time and much money in resuscitating it, and helping to make it what it is now—one of the foremost benevolent institutions in the country.

The interest he took in that Institution he had handed down to others. The Institution had grown until it had inter- ested the people throughout the length and breadth of England. At present the population of the Midlands, some of whom in these locomotive days have never seen the sea at all, are large contributors. The whole country was dependent, on our seamen and those living on the coast. In Northumberland that was not likely to be forgotten. They saw much of the sea, and a large pro- portion of the population lived by the sea. By the crowds he saw around he did not think that the interest would ever wane in the Northern county. But he had further proof. The Life-boat movement was started in Newcastle only last year, and quite recently they were able to collect 849Z. (Applause.) In the accounts he found the heading, " Collected by Cullercoats Fishwives "—(hear, hear) —and he found that they had raised 42Z. 6s. id. (Applause.) That day they had another evidence of the interest in co-operative work. There was no part of England where the co-operative move- ment had made greater strides than in Northumberland. Turning again to the new house, his Lordship praised the building and congratulated the architect (Mr. E. J. LEESON, the able and zealous Honorary Secretary of the Cullercoats Branch of the Institution), adding that he need not tell them that the Life- boat Institution appreciated the gift bestowed. It was matter for great satis- faction to him that Cullercoats had been chosen for its erection, for his family had always taken a great interest in the people of Cullercoats, and always would.

This concluded the ceremony, and votes of thanks were passed to Lord Percy, Mr. Tweddell, and Mr. Bailey.

Immediately afterwards the Co-operator No. 1 was launched, and went through various evolutions. There was also a rocket drill by members of the Culler- coats Volunteer Life Brigade.