ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK. — It will be remembered by our readers that in a former number of the Life-boat Journal (207), we mentioned that the boat on this station had been replaced by a new Life-boat of the " Norfolk and Suffolk" type modified, 46 ft. long, one of the finest sailing Life-boats ever built for the Institution ; and that a special fund, raised some time since in Winchester, through the co-operation of Mr. W. H. FORDER (then mayor), Mr. C. S. WOOLDRIDUE, and other friends in Winchester of the Life-boat cause, was by arrangement appropriated to this new boat, which is named the Oily of Winchester. From various causes the formal inauguration of the new Life-boat station was deferred for a time; but on the 23rd July last a great demonstration took place at Aide- burgh to welcome the arrival of the Marquis and Marchioness of WINCHESTER and the deputation from Winchester, including the mayor (Mr. A. J. FORT), Alderman DVEB,. other members of the Corporation, the Town Clerk, and Mr.

WOOLDRIDGE, to witness the launch of the boat.

The town was en fete in the fullest sense of the phrase. Flags and other decorations adorned almost every house along the front and throughout the main streets. Here and there the indications of rejoicing were on quite an extensive scale. There was one decorative arch in High Street com- posed apparently of trawling gear ; but the most satisfactory feature was the general character of the display, show- ing wide sympathy with the object of the gathering.

Punctually at noon a procession was formed and headed by the band of the 1st Norfolk Brigade (E.D.R.A.). It proceeded through the town, starting from the Moot Hall, a very old building which stands for civic dignity in Aide- burgh. It was under the management of the Divisional Officer of H.M. Coast- guard, Lieut. C. MURE, R.N., whose men took part in the display, as did the Rocket Company, with their life- saving outfit, the Life-boat men (with a contingent of boys — their sons — bearing a banner), the Local Fire Brigade, Volunteers, a number of members of different Friendly Societies, with banners, the Local Life-boat Com- mittee, the Civic functionaries of Aide- burgh and Winchester, and many other notabilities, the rear being brought up by the Chairman of the Branch (Com- mander F. C. U. VERNON WENTWORTH, R.N.) in his motor carriage, accompanied by Mrs. WENTWORTH, the Marquis and 12 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[Isr FEBRUARY, 1904.

Marchioness of WINCHESTER, and Sir RICHARD MARTIN, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., President of the Aldeburgh Branch.

When the procession reached the sea front, the company assembled in the enclosure provided, and Sir RICHARD MARTIN opened the proceedings by narrating the circumstances which necessitated the provision of the new Life-boat, viz., the accident that hap- pened to their old boat, which not only disabled her, but led to the terrible loss of seven of her brave crew. He assured the people of Winchester that Cox- swain Cable and his crew would render a good account of their new boat and themselves whenever their services were needed. (Applause.) Mr. FORDER, of Winchester, on behalf of his Local Committee, asked Lord WINCHESTER, in their name, to present the boat to Aldeburgh through the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU- TION. He said that it gave the visitors from Winchester great pleasure to receive such a cordial welcome, and he sincerely hoped and believed that the boat would do honour to the name it bore. (Cheers.) The Marquis of WINCHESTER, in an eloquent address, said that the fund devoted to their new Life-boat could hardly have been raised had it not been for the great interest which all had taken in the movement; and he had in his hand several letters from, amongst others, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Earl Selborne, (First Lord of the Admiralty), each expressing the hope that the example of the ancient city of Winchester would be followed by many inland towns.

(Applause.) Commander THOMAS HOLMES, R.N., District Inspector of Life-boats, said that on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION he had the honour to accept the magnificent gift with great gratitude. The boat had been designed by Mr. G. L. Watson, the eminent yacht designer, who is Consulting Naval Architect to the Institution, and in her construction lie fully consulted the men who would have to go to sea in her. She was a very fine specimen of her class. The Institution and the men of Aldeburgh were proud that she was to bear the name of such an ancient, historical city—a city which celebrated, a few years ago, the thousandth anniversary of the death of King Alfred the Great, who was the first monarch of these | realms to realise that the safety of this country depended on the command of the sea. (Applause.) This boat ; would be well served by the Life-boat- men of Aldeburgh. He had known them eleven years, and he could say that it was a perfect guarantee to the subscribers that the best possible use would be made of the boat. She would be done full justice to. All the three leading men of the crew had the honour of possessing the silver medal of the j Institution for gallantry in saving life and they held other honours besides.

(Applause.) He wished the crew " God ' speed " in all their endeavours.

By desire of the President the gift ; was also gratefully acknowledged by the Chairman of the Branch, and by the Local Honorary Secretary, Lieut.

J. O. WILLIAMS, R.N. Sir RICHARD MARTIN pointed out that the last-named gentleman had received numerous medals and other distinctions for his services in saving life.

Lieut. WILLIAMS, who, on coming forward, was much applauded, said in the course of his remarks that he had been associated for forty years with Life-boat work and saving life. Ho had worked with Life-boatmen shoulder to shoulder on the North, East, and South Coasts of Great Britain and he knew what British pluck was worth, and he also knew the value of British pluck at Aldeburgh. (Applause.) They said that walls had ears, but walls had tongues in Aldeburgh, and when the history of the new boat came to be written, they would want a new library.

j (Laughter.) He was proud of the Life- | boat Institution and was proud of the • Aldeburgh men. They were the bravest.

• of the brave. What they had done i was but an earnest of what they would i do. (Applause.) | A flag bearing the arms of Winchester was then presented for use in the Life- boat, after which a movement was made nearer to the sea to witness the con- IST FEBRUARY, 1904.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

13 eluding ceremonies of naming and launching the boat.

Close in shore was the Steam Lit*- i boat, Oily of Glasgow, from Harwich, decorated from stem to stern, also the Southwold Life-boat, decorated ; while there was a vast crowd of sight- seers gathered on the sloping beach of shingle, and in the centre was the new Life-boat. Beside the boat stood the clergy and surpliced choir, who rendered a short service, concluding with the appropriate hymn, " Eternal Father, strong to save." In front, in the direct line of passage, and on a rough-and- ready platform, stood Lady WINCHESTER, holding by a long red ribbon the customary bottle of wine adorned with a silk bouquet of ribbons and long vari-coloured ribbons. At the end of the service the startling boom of a rocket was heard, and simultaneously her ladyship, saying, " I name this Life-boat City of Winchester, and wish her and all who sail in her, God-speed," broke the bottle against the bows of the boat. After which, with more rockets and the playing of the National Anthem, and amidst cheering, the boat was launched and took the water as gracefully as a swan. Her sails were set, and she sailed before a light land breeze, the admiration of all present— the largest Life-boat ever launched from the beach.

Subsequently, the company taking part officially in the ceremony and a few friends were, thanks to the generous liberality of the Local Branch Com- mittee, including Commander Went- worth, R.N., Mr. G. S. Anderson, Mr.

J. Flintham, Mr. George H. Garrett, and others, entertained at the Brudenell Hotel, under the presidency of Sir RICHARD MARTIN. The toast of "The Royal National Life-boat Institution " was proposed by Alderman GARRKTT, of Aldeburgh, and very warmly received ; it was responded to by Commander HOLMES, R.N.

Commander WENTWORTH, R.N., enter- tained the Marquis and Marchioness of WINCHESTER and a large party at his residence, and gave a dinner to about a hundred Life-boatmen arid others at the Jubilee Hall.

The Life-boats on this station have a noble record, having been instrumental during the past 50 years in saving 331 lives, besides helping to vescvie 15 vessels from destruction. Out of the 289 boats under the management of the Institution, 36 are stationed on the East coast of England between the Thames and the Humber, and not a winter passes without some of those boats rendering good service in saving life from shipwreck.

HARTLEPOOL, Co. DURHAM. — The Life-boat placed some years since at the Hartlepool No. 3 station by the Institu- tion has been replaced by a new self- righting boat 35 ft. long, 8 ft. 6 in. wide, and rowing ten oafs double-banked.

The cost of the new Life-boat has been provided from a generous gift received by the Institution from Major G. HORATIO EKAXD, late of the Royal Fusiliers, and the boat is named the Horatio Brand. The first public launch of the new Life-boat took place at her station on Saturday, the 24th October, when the ceremony of naming the boat was kindly performed by the Marchioness of LONDONDERRY.

A procession left the Borough Build- ings and proceeded to the Dock, the following being the order :—Band of the 4th Durham R.G.A. A7olunteers, Coastguard and Naval Reserve, Royal Garrison Artillery, 4th Durham R.G.A.

Volunteers, Boys' Brigade, Borough Police Force, Mayor of West Hartle- pool (Councillor J. BROWN), Mayor of Hartlepool (Councillor J. R. BUTTER- WICK), Recorder of Hartlepool (Mr.

H. W. BELL), Corporation of Hartle- pool and officials, Borough Justices, invited guests, and the Life-boat crew.

On arrival at the temporary platform on the quay side, Major BRAND formally presented the Life-boat to the Institu- tion, and handed to Lady LONDONDERRY a beautiful bouquet and a bound copy of the Order of Service.

Commander T. HOLMES, R.N., District Inspector of Life-boats, on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- TUTION, said he had great pleasure in taking over the magnificent Life-boat which had just been handed to the Institution by Major BBAND. It was accepted with the greatest 'gratitude 1-4 THE LIFE-BOAT; [1st FEBRUARY, 1904.

and thankfulness. The Institution , was lucky in having gained the con- fidence of fishermen and pilots where- ever there was a Life-boat, and this was the case at Hartlepool. It would be impossible to find a more suitable, experienced, or braver body of men than those who would man the boat.

Since 1875, when the station was founded at Hartlepool, no fewer than 156 lives had been saved. This was a result of which the Hartlepool men had every right to be proud, and he hoped they would, under Coxswain ROWNTREE, con- tinue to keep up the record established by their forefathers.

Alderman HORSLEY, on behalf of the Local Committee, said he had pleasure in receiving from the Institution the new boat. He was inclined to think they were going to have in that vessel one of the best Life-boats on the North- East coast.

A short dedicatory service was then ! conducted by the Rector of Hartlepool, i Canon OHMESBY, and the Rev. W. F. | COSGKAVE, vicar of Christ Church, West Hartlepool. The musical portion of the service was rendered by a string band, under the leadership of Mr. A. E. J.

POOLE. The Marchioness of LONDON- DERRY, at the close of the ceremony, personally congratulated Mr. POOLE upon the beauty and impressiveness of the musical part of the service.

Her Ladyship, Major BRAND, the Mayor of Hartlepool. Alderman HOKSLEY, and Mr. ALFRED BELK, the local hon. secre- tary (who had been simply indefatig- able in making all the arrangements), crossed the ferry to Middleton, where the Life-boat was seen ready for launch- ing. Here the bouquet which had been presented to Lady LONDONDERRY was fastened to the bow of the boat, and after a few preliminaries, her Ladyship named the boat Horatio Brand. As the bottle of wine broke on the bow, the trim craft was launched, amid loud cheering. The return journey was then made, and a vote of thanks was pro- posed to her Ladyship on the motion of the Mayor of Hartlepool. Councillor R. H. COVERDALE seconded the vote, which was carried with acclamation.

The Marchioness of LONDONDERRY, in reply, said :—Mr. Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen—-It gives me great pleasure to come to Hartlepool to-day, and to have launched a new Life-boat, which we owe to the munificence of Major HORATIO BRAND, whom I am very pleased to see here. Wynyard has always been connected with Hartlepool —in fact, I believe one of the former owners of Wynyard, Sir HENRY VANE- TEMPEST, was once mayor of this town.

The connection has always continued, and I hope may yet continue. Like all our countrymen, I have a great feeling for all those who go upon the sea, and have many friends and relations con- nected with the Navy. I thank you for your kind vote of thanks, and again remark it is a great pleasure to me to be here to name the new Life-boat. I heartily wish God's blessing may rest upon the boat, and that He will also preserve all those who may ever sail in her. (Applause.) Her Ladyship further stated that she had shown the Programme and Order of Service to His Majesty the Kingj and that he was much interested and pleased.

The Life-boat by this time had been brought opposite the platform. The : whole assembly joined in singing the hymn, " Eternal Father, strong to save," and a collection in aid of the funds of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION was made. During the singing of the hymn the crew of the boat were seen standing up in their places with their hats off. The cere- mony was concluded by Canon OHMESBY pronouncing the Benediction.

EXMOUTH and WEYJIOUTH. — New Life-boats have also been recently sent ; to Exmouth and Weymouth to replace those stationed there many years ago.

Both the new boats are thoroughly up- : to-date, and are giving great satisfaction to the local committees, coxswains and crews. The new boat at Exmouth is named, like her predecessor, the Joseph Somes, and that at Weymouth, the ' Frier n Watcli, as was the boat she has i replaced..