BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT.—The inauguration of the Queen Victoria new Life-boat on this station, a description of which was given in the last number of The Life-boat Journal (pp. 528-9), took place on the 23rd August in the presence of a large number of spectators, and was in every way completely successful.

The ceremony was honoured by the presence of H.R.H. PRINCESS HENRY OF BATTENBERG, Governor of the Isle of Wight, who was accompanied by PRINCE ALEXANDER OF BATTENBERG ; and attended by Miss MINNIE COCH- RANE and Colonel the Hon. F. COLBORNE.

The Parent Institution was represented by Colonel FiTzRoY CLAYTON, Deputy- Chairman, Major JOHN E. B. SEELY, D.S.O., M.P., and Lieut. H. T. GARTSIDE TIPPING, R.N., Members of the Com- mittee of Management, Lieut. C. E. F. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM, R.N., Deputy Chief Inspector, and Mr. KEPPEL H. FOOTE, District Inspector of Life-boatsThe Local Committees had as their representatives, amongst others, Sir CHARLES SEELY, Bart., President of the Isle of Wight Branch, Mr. H. C. MILLS (Atherfield) Rev. J. N. PALMER, Dr. HUGHES and Mr. W. COULDREY (Bern- bridge), Mr. G. HOWARD (Brighstone Grange), the Mayor of Ryde, and Mr. J. H. LEAL (Ryde), Mr. A. BAYLIFFE and Mr. SIMONDS (Totland Bay).

On the arrival of the Princess the royal standard was hoisted on the flag- staff and Her Royal Highness was received by Major SEELY and led to a large marquee where various presenta- tions were made, after which the ceremony was proceeded with Colonel FITZROY CLAYTON, in welcoming Her Royal Highness, said he thought it his duty to give a short synopsis of the work and efforts of that Life-boat station since its forma- tion in the year 1867. He afterwards proceeded to congratulate the Coxswain and crew on their good service in the Life-boats previously placed there, and to express the hope that they would do equally good work in the present boat.

A great honour had been conferred upon Bembridge by HER LATE MAJESTY allow- ing her name to be associated with the boat which was presented to Bembridge.

It was quite evident to him that the Royal Family took a great interest, not only in the Life-boat Institution, but in the Bembridge station in particular, because as he said before, the Duchess of EDINBURGH launched the new boat in 1887, and now they had Her Royal Highness Princess HENRY OF BATTEN- BERG taking the trouble to come there to launch and name this further new boat (applause). Therefore he was sure they were all proud, and he could speak for the Institution, at the way that station had been honoured by the Royal Family. If anything could induce those gallant fellows to do more and do finer duty than they had hitherto done, they had only to think that the eyes of the Royalty of the United Kingdom were looking down upon them. On behalf of the Institution he thanked Mr. COULDREY and Dr. HUGHES, the hon. secretaries, and the rest of the Bem- bridge committee for the hard work which they had undertaken and done in connection with that Life-boat station.

He thanked her Royal Highness most heartily for coming there at great trouble to herself, having so many occupations and duties to perform.

They thanked her very sincerely for her kindness, and on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION he had the pleasure of handing over that fine boat to the care of the Bembridge com- mittee and the general committee of the Isle of Wight (applause).

Sir CHARLES SEELY said that he had the honour to thank Her Royal Highness on behalf of the Isle of Wight Branch of the Institution. There were six life-boats in the Isle of Wight, all of which they were proud to think were most efficient for the purpose for which they were designed, that of saving life from shipwreck. The Island should be well satisfied with the way in which it supported its Life-boats, considering its population and income, and the extent of its shores. It was an encouragement to everyone in the Island to do his duty in supporting the Life-boats when they saw the Queen of England and the Royal Governor of the Isle of Wight giving their sanction to that Institution.

Col. CLAYTON had delivered the boat to the care of the Committee. He had no doubt whatever that they would do their duty by it. But it was really to the Coxswain and the brave men who manned the boat that it was committed.

He had no doubt that in the time of storm and tempest they would do their duty and launch the boat as gallantly and well as, no doubt, they would that day in that time of calm, peace and comfort (applause).

The Rev. J. N. PALMER then con- ducted a short religious service, com- mencing with the singing of the well- known hymn "Eternal Father, strong ;o save," led by the Sandown Town Band and the Bembridge Mixed Choir.

Then followed the prayer used on similar occasions and the Lord's Prayer.

The Princess then christened the boat by breaking a bottle of wine on the bows, adding the following words :—"I name 7ou Queen Victoria, and hope you may save many lives." The boat was then successfully launched amidst cheering and the singing of the National Anthem.The Life-boat was joined when afloat by the Atherfield Life-boat, Catherine Swift, which had been brought round from her station by her crew to be present at the inauguration of the sister boat.

CROMER, NORFOLK.—The Life-boat stationed by the Institution some years since at Cromer has recently been replaced by the Institution by a new one, of the type known as the " Liver- pool " non-self-righting type, 38 ft. long, 10 ft. 9 ins. wide, and rowing 14 oars double-banked. She is fitted with two water-ballast tanks and also has two sliding or drop-keels. The cost of the new boat and equipment has been de- frayed from a legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late Miss EMILY HEARTWELL, of Holloway, London, for the building and equipment of a Life- boat to be named the Louisa Heartwell, and placed on the east coast.

A larger house has been provided for the boat from the designs of the Engineer and Architect of the Institution; this adds largely to the efficiency of the Life-boat Establishment, which was publicly inaugurated, on the 9th September, in the presence of a large and distinguished company.

Lord SUFFIELD, President of the Cromer Branch, in opening the pro- ceedings, said that it was a great pleasure to him to be present on that auspicious occasion, and to declare the boathouse open and, in the name of the donor, present the new Life-boat to the Institution. A more beautiful boat it had never been his fortune to see, and he trusted it might be the means of saving a great many lives. He saw that during the forty-five years there had been a Life-boat at Cromer sixty- three lives had been saved. That might not appear a very large number for that period of time, but they should remember that the boat was ready to go to the assistance of others unfortunate enough to get on to a lee shore in bad weather. They all knew there that sailors always gave that coast a wide berth; but sometimes they would be blown in, and then the Life-boat would go out and be, he hoped, successful in saving them. (Loud cheers.) Commander HOLMES, R.N., District Inspector of Life-boats, said, on behalf of the Institution it was a great honour to accept the boat. After explaining in detail the steps recently taken to improve the efficiency of the Cromer Life-boat Station, he pointed out that all that expenditure would be of no use unless they had an efficient Life-boat crew to take care of the boat. He thought .their record showed they would do their best in the future, not only to keep their reputation but to add to it.

In JAMBS DAVIES, the Coxswain, they had a worthy son of a worthy father who was the Coxswain for twenty-one years, and who died in 1893, greatly regretted by all who knew him. The son who had succeeded to the post had earned the confidence not only of the Institution and the Local Committee, but, he thought he was right in saying, of the men under him—(cheers)—and he hoped that for many years he would live to fulfil his responsible task. (Renewed cheers.) On behalf of the Institution he desired to thank Lady Suffield for taking part in the ceremony. They were most grateful to her for coming, and her presence lent distinction to the proceedings of the day. In handing over the new boat to the Local Com- mittee, of which Mr. H. BROADHURST, M.P., was chairman and Mr. GEO. RUST the Hon. Secretary, who had done a good deal to improve the finances of the Cromer branch, he hoped every care would be taken of her, so that she might be ready for service day or night.

(Cheers.) Mr. H. BROADHURST, M.P., in the name of the Hon. Secretary and Mem- bers of the Local Committee, gladly ac- cepted the grand gift made to them.

They thanked the donor and the Insti- tution for placing such a magnificent boat at their service. They hoped there would only be few occasions for her use, but if only one life was saved a great work would have been done and worthy of all the effort made. It had been told them that the father of their Coxswain held the position twenty-one years, and for over thirty years was a member of the crew. The present Coxswain, who was unanimously elected to succeed his father, had been a member of the crew for twenty-seven years. All had the most full and complete confidence in his seamanship and judgment, and knew of his courage and bravery. (Cheers.) A short choral service, conducted by the Rev. J. F. SHELDON, then followed.

The music was provided by Mr. W. KEMP'S Orchestral Band. Two hymns were sung : first, " O God, our help in ages past," and second, " Eternal Father, strong to save." At the close Lady SUFFIELD stepped forward and said, " I have pleasure in naming this Life-boat the Louisa Heartwell, and I hope it will save many lives," at the same time breaking the bottle suspended over the bow of the boat.

Amid renewed cheers the work of launching was speedily accomplished, among those on board being members of the Local Committee and Commander HOLMES, Lord CARRINGTON, and Lady HASTINGS.

The crew of the Cromer Life-boat were subsequently entertained at the Bath Hotel, Cromer, to a capital repast.

Lord SUFFIELD presided, being sup- ported by the Rev. J. F. SHELDON, Captain G. KENNEDY, and Mr. R. W. W. CARTER.

The Chairman, in submitting " The King," said his Majesty, since he had become King, had visited the hills at Cromer, and he was sure it would not be the last time he would do so.

His Lordship also gave "The health of the Coxswain and Crew of the new Life-boat." He said he would drink heartily to the restoration to health of Coxswain DAVIES, and as to the new Life-boat, he felt sure they would always find plenty of men to go out with her when they were wanted.

Mr. B. HARRISON, as acting Coxswain, responded.

Other toasts followed, interspersed with songs and music, and altogether the crew spent a very enjoyable evening.

APPLEDORE, DEVON, AND ARANMORE, DROGHEDA, GREENCASTLE AND PORT- RUSH, IRELAND.—New Life-boats have also been placed at the above-mentioned stations; they are self-righting boats excepting that at Portrush, which is of the " Liverpool" non-self-righting type. The first named being an en- dowed boat, the gift of the late Miss LEICESTER, of Bishop's Road, W., is, like its predecessor, named the Robert and Catherine. The others were pro- vided from legacies left to the Institution by the late Miss ELIZABETH BROOKE, of Londonderry, Mr. H. L. BEDDINGTON, of Cornwall Terrace, N.W., Mrs. E. A.

WILLIS, of Weston-super-Mare, and Mr. SAMUEL WEYMOUTH HOPWOOD, of Queen Anne's Mansions, London.

The names of the four boats are La Totitam, Hose Beddington, Brittan Willis and Hopwood..