EASTBOURNE.—THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a new and additional Life-boat station at Eastbourne in order to strengthen the Life- boat service on that coast, the Local Committee unanimously approving of the formation of the new Life-boat establishment, and sufficient men being available for manning and launching the boat. The Life-boat sent is of the " Liverpool" non-self-righting type, 36 feet long, 9 feet wide, rows 12 oars double-banked, and is provided with masts and sails; she is, in addition, fitted with a drop keel to increase her stability and weatherly qualities. A new boat-house has been constructed for the use of the boat, from the designs of the Engineer and Architect of the Institution, on a convenient site granted by the Mayor and Corporation. The cost of the new boat, equipment and house has been defrayed from a legacy left to the Institution by the late Misses WINOATE of Edinburgh, and the boat is named the Olive.

BERWICK-ON-TWEED. stationed here some years since has been replaced by a new self-righting boat, which is 37 feet long, 9 feet wide, and rows 10 oars double-banked. She is provided with masts and sails, and has in addition two water-ballast tanks and two sliding or drop keels. A new transporting or launching carriage has been sent with the boat, and a new Life- boat house erected at this station. The cost of the new Life-boat has been provided from a gift received by the Institution from the Misses SIMPSON, of Lancaster, and in accordance with their wishes the boat is named Matthew Simpson after their late father, who was for many years Honorary Secretary of the Lancaster Branch of the Institution.

A grand demonstration took place on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Life-boat station on the 6th August last, the success of which was largely due to the enthusiastic co-operation of the Local Honorary Secretary, Dr. CHARLES L. ERASER. The ceremony took place after a procession through the streets, headed by a fife and drum band. On. arriving at the Life-boat house the Mayor presided, and read a telegram from Mr. CHARLES DIBDIN, Secretary of the Parent Institution, as follows :—" Accept our best wishes for a thoroughly successful day. God-speed to the Life-boat Matthew Simpson and her gallant crew." Amid cheers, Lady FRANCES OSBORNE, conducted by Capt. FORBES, R.N"., as Chairman of the Life-boat Committee, then proceeded to the boat-house and opened the doors. She expressed the pleasure it gave her to perform the ceremony, and said that she was very glad to know that the entire cost of the boat-house had been provided from local contributions.

The Mayor then introduced the Misses SIMPSON, donors of the boat, and made pleasing allusion to the fact that from that platform they could see Holy Island, where years ago another of the fair sex, GRACE DARLING, had performed her heroic rescues. Although they might not perhaps emulate her personal efforts, the lady donors at any rate, through their generosity, had provided means for similar rescues. Captain NORMAN on their behalf formally presented the boat to the Berwick people.

Sir HUBERT JERNINGHAM, K.C.M.G., returned thanks, and referred to the fact that the boat was a gift, as it were, from the West to the East Coast, and spoke of the father of the ladies, Mr. MATTHEW SIMPSON, an eminent ship- builder of Lancaster.

Lieut. BASIL HALL, R.N., District Inspector of Life-boats, accepted the boat on behalf of the Institution and handed it over to the Local Committee.

Captain FORBES, Chairman of the Branch,- in returning thanks spoke of the gallant fishermen who would form the crew of the new boat and be ready day or night to go to the rescue of shipwrecked mariners.

Miss SIMPSON very briefly thanked the Berwick people for the kind welcome which they had given to her- self and her sister.

A large choir, led by Mr. WILLIAM ANDERSON, sang the Life-boat hymn, " For those in peril on the sea," after which the Rev. R. C. INGLIS offered prayer.

The Life-boat was then named by Miss SIMPSON and the customary bottle of champagne broken, after which the boat was manned and launched amid loud cheering.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—The Institution has replaced the No. 2 Life-boat, stationed some years since at Caister, near i Great Yarmouth, wrecked in the winter of 1901, by a new one, of the improved Norfolk and Suffolk type, 35 feet long, 10| feet wide, and rowing 12 oars double-banked. She is fitted with two sliding or drop keels and four water- ballast tanks. The cost of this boat has been generously defrayed by Mr. HENRY W. LUCY, J.P., " Toby M.P." of Punch, and the boat is named the Nancy Lucy.

On the stern has been painted the words I " Caister men never turn back." This | was the answer given by the Coxswain of the old boat when at the coroner's inquest he was asked why the Life-boat was not headed for the land when rescue seemed hopeless.

On the 23rd July last the new Life- boat was inaugurated in the presence of a larger crowd than Gaister has ever previously had on its sands. The pro- ceedings were opened by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth (Colonel DIVER) who wore his chain of office. He alluded in feeling terms to the well-known bravery of the Life-boatmen, and the terrible disaster that overtook them in the year 1901, and called upon the donor of the new boat to make the presentation.

Mr. LUCY said : " I can assure you I regard it as a great privilege that I have been permitted to make up for the loss of your old boat by presenting this.

I have never been on the beach when a Life-boat has been going out, but I am given to understand—in fact, I can well imagine—that on such occasions they never make speeches. (Laughter.) They get into the boat and pull away.

My simple duty, rny great pleasure, is to present this Life-boat to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and I arn glad to feel that these brave men I see before me will always be at the post ready to answer the signal.

(Cheers.) Lieut. C. CUKNINGHAME-GRAHAM,R.N., Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats, in receiving the Life-boat on behalf of the Institution, expressed its deep gratitude to the Donor, and mentioned that the Caister Life-boat Station holds the record for saving life, having since its foundation saved no fewer than 1390 lives and also 89 vessels. After explaining in detail the features of this particular type of Life-boat, he proceeded to hand her over to the Local.Committee and the crew, feeling sure that the Caister men would, by her aid, sustain the glorious past of their Station. The gift was responded to by the Mayor, and after a hymn and prayer, the COUNTESS OF SELBORNE named the boat in the usual way amidst the hearty cheers of the spectators.

The crew, headed by the Coxswain, JOHN HAYLETT, then, amid lusty cheers and the singing of the National Anthem, launched the boat for a trial trip.

A luncheon was subsequently given at the Manor Hotel, under the presi- dency of the Mayor, when the toast of the health of Mr. LUCY, the donor of the boat,was received with great enthusiasm.

TOTLAND BAY, ISLE OF WIGHT.—The Institution has sent a new Life-boat to Totland Bay, on the north-west side of the Isle of Wight, to replace the boat stationed there for many years. The new Life-boat is of the self-righting type; she is a 10-oared boat, 37 ft. in length, 9 ft. 3 in. in breadth, and is fitted with two drop keels. She is named Robert Fleming, and her cost has been defrayed by a munificent legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late Mrs. FLEMING, of Hemel Hemp- stead, to provide a Life-boat bearing that name.

The ceremony of presentation and naming took place at the Life-boat station on the 24th August, when there was a large assemblage, and the scene was an animated and picturesque one.

The President of the Branch, Colonel R. PEARSON CROZIER, J.P., opened the proceedings, and in the course of his remarks mentioned how much the country was indebted to the brave volunteers who manned the Life-boats, amongst whom they were proud to welcome Major SEELY, D.S.O., M.P., who had not only rendered distinguished service as a soldier, but was himself an active and enthusiastic life-boatman, besides serving on the Committees of Management of the Parent Institution and of its Isle of Wight branch.

Mr. G. H. ROBERTS, one of the executors of the late Mrs. FLEMING, then said that, on behalf of himself and his colleagues it gave him very great pleasure to ask their kind acceptance of that gift and he did so with every confidence that it would be in safe hands. From the bottom of his heart he wished every member of the com- mittee and every man of the crew of that boat "God-speed" in their noble work, and might they all be useful in their day and generation. (Cheers.) Lieut. GARTSIDE-TIPPING, R.N., ac- knowledged the gift on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, with which he had been connected for twenty-four years. He now had the honour of handing that boat over to the Local Committee. (Cheers.) Lieut. CHAINB, R.N., expressed the thanks of the Local Committee. The old boat was many times called out to do service and he felt confident that the present boat would prove even more efficient than the old one, and that with her the men would do the very best service when necessity arose.

The hymn "Eternal Father, strong to save," was then sung, and the Vicar of Totland (Rev. C. T. WILSON) offered an appropriate prayer generally used on the occasion of the first launch of a Life- boat of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

The naming ceremony was then gracefully performed by Mrs. SEELY, who released a silken tie with the result that a bottle of wine swung against the bow of the boat and was broken, whilst she said, " I name you the Robert Fleming and I wish you and your crew God-speed in your noble work." (Cheers.) Major SEELY afterwards led off three cheers for the Committee, Coxswain, and crew of the Totland Life-boat and then stepped into the new Life-boat with the crew. This was the signal for letting go, and the new boat slid down the improved slipway and took the water beautifully amid renewed cheers, Major SEELY waving his cap in acknowledg- ment. A strong west wind was blowing and there was a fairly heavy sea, but the boat sailed away splendidly and was thoroughly tested in sailing and rowing, Major SEELY pulling an oar, in various manoeuvres in the vicinity of the dreaded Shingles and towards the Needles, and the behaviour of the boat gained the unstinted admiration of all concerned. Lieut. GARTSIDE-TIPPING and Mr. J. G. PINNOCK, Honorary Treasurer of the Isle of Wight Life-boat Board, were also on board the boat.

FOLKESTONE, KENT; HOPE COVE, DEVON ; LITTLEHAVEN, PEMBROKESHIRE ; THE LIZAED, CORNWALL ; WATCHET and WESTON - SUPER - MARE, SOMERSET ; WHITEHAVEN, CUMBERLAND ; and SKERRIES, co. DUBLIN.—New Life-boats have also replaced the boats stationed some years since at these places. The first of these boats is a self-righting one, and is named the Leslie : her cost being defrayed from a legacy left to the Institution by the late Miss KA.THERISE S. SKYNNER, of Brighton. The Hope Cove boat is of the " Liverpool" type, and is named, like her predecessor, the Alexandra, after H.M. THE QUEEN, Vice-Patron of the Institution, the cost having been presented to the Institution, with that of another Life-boat, by the Freemasons of England.

The Littlehaven and Weston-super- Mare new Life-boats are of the "Wat- son" sailing class; the former is named William Roberts, after the Manchester gentleman whose bequest was appropri- ated to that boat, and the latter was provided from the legacy of the late Mrs. A. S. STOCK, of Weston, and in accordance with the desire of the testa- trix the boat is named the Colonel Stock.

The Lizard, Watchet, Whitehaven and Skerries new Life-boats are all self- righting boats, their donors and names being as follows, viz.:—The Lizard— The late Mrs. ELIZA BACK, of Midhurst, in memory of the late Admiral Sir GEORGE BACK, after whom the boat is named. Watchet—The late Mr. R. R.

Ross, of Chorlton-upon-Medlock (the John Lingard Boss). The Whitehaven Life-boat is an endowed boat, the gift of the late Miss ELIZABETH LEICESTER, of Bayswater, and bears her name. The Skerries boat is named the William Maynard, her cost having been met from a legacy received by the Institution from the late Rev. W. S. MAYNARD, of Gressingham.