BARMOUTH, MERIONETHSHIRE ; HORN- SEA, YORKSHIRE; MABLETHORPE, LIN- COLNSHIRE ; MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND ; THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE ; and RAMSGATE, KENT. — The Life-boats placed by the Institution on these Stations have recently been replaced by new boats of most modern types, three of them (Barmouth, The Mumbles, and Maryport) having been supplied with " Watson" boats, two (Hornsea and Ramsgate) with self-righting boats, and the remaining one (Mablethorpe) with a boat of the " Liverpool" type. In each case the Institution was enabled to provide these boats from generous gifts specially presented to it. The Life- boat sent to Barmouth, named the Jones- Gibb, was paid for by Mrs. SSIAKT, of Tunbridge Wells, who also generously contributed the cost of the previous boat.

The new boat for Hornsea is, like her predecessor, named the Ellen and Mar- i garct of Settle. The boat for Mable- thorpe is named the John Rowson Lingard, her cost having been defrayed ; from the legacy of the late Mrs. MARY ! CATHERINE LINGARD, of St. Leonards- on-Sea. The cost of the new Maryport boat has, like the one she supersedes,been provided by the generosity of the CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND, and bears the same name, Civil Service No. 5. The cost of the Mumbles new boat has been defrayed from the legacy of the late Mr. CHARLES BRANDON MKDLAND, of Stockwell Park Road, London, and is named the Charlie Medland.

The Ramsgate new Life-boat has been provided for by generous gifts from Mrs. CHARLES STEPHENS, of Woodley Hill, Reading, in memory of her late husband, who was for many years the much respected honorary secretary of the Berkshire Branch of the Institution and in accordance with her wishes is named the Charles and Susanna Stephens.

The inaugural ceremony of this new Life-boat took place at Ramsgate on the 25th May in the presence of the donor and an immense crowd.

The slipway was gaily decorated with bunting and preparations had been made on an extensive scale to give due importance to this auspicious occasion.

All round was literally packed with interested sightseers and nearly the whole length of the East Pier was crowded with spectators. The promenade of the Royal Victoria Pavilion was a coign of vantage which was well patronised, and the cliffs were also thickly lined. A platform had been improvised on the slipway, at the bow of the boat, and this had been specially reserved for those taking a prominent part in the ceremony ; but a number of people who received special invitations to witness the christening and launch took possession of the staging, with the result that there was some uncomfort- able crowding whilst the ceremony proper was proceeding. The clergy and choir of St. George's Church robed in the Customs House opposite, and a procession was formed thence to the slipway. Here a guard of honour was formed by Coastguards and repre- sentatives of the Trinity Service, a passage-way being formed from the approach to the slipway to the platform.

Upon entering the enclosed portion Mrs. CHARLES STEPHENS, the donor of the boat, was presented with a beautiful bouquet of white flowers, which was handed to her by Mrs. INSKIP on behalf of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

Amongst those present were the Mayor (Councillor R. DOWLING), the Mayoress (Miss DOWLING), General Sir CHARLES WARREN, Capt. L. W.

VAILE, Capt. BROOKS, Capt. JARMAN, Dr. BERRY, Col. MURRAY, Capt. INSKIP (Honorary Secretary), and Messrs.

J. H. GLUTTON, BOYTON, COURTNEY, MARTIN TOMSON, W. MCMASTER, &c.

The clergy present included the Revs.

L. J. WHITE-THOMSON, C. L. WILLIAMS, E. LANGLEY, A. T. BOODLE, and H. MOULD, The police, under Chief- Constable JONES, used much tact and discretion with the crowd and kept order in a most satisfactory manner.

The ceremony was opened by His Worship the Mayor, who stated that he was very proud to have the honour of opening these unique proceedings. He considered that this was a red-letter day in the annals of the history of Ramsgate, because it witnessed the handing over of a magnificent gift of a Life-boat and because it was the first occasion in Ramsgate upon which the generous donor had been present in person, and that fact added greatly to the interest and enhanced the value of the boat. As to the craft itself, it was rather difficult for a landsman, to give an opinion and it was therefore with some diffidence that he ventured to give expression to his upon a matter of this kind. How- ever, he had made inquiries in authori- tative circles and had gathered that the boat was a thing of beauty, and she was one of the most up-to-date craft anywhere in the country, and this fact would be a joy and pride to the Life- boat men. The boat would be worthy of the crew who were going to man her.

(Applause.) His Worship expressed a hope that she would long remain on the station to perpetuate the past deeds of valour and if possible improve upon the examples set by her predecessors.

(Applause.) In conclusion, the Mayor said no doubt many a shipwrecked sailor and his wife and children would have cause to bless the generous donor, Mrs. STEPHENS, for her magnificent gift.

(Applause.) Mr. LEONARD SUTTON, of Reading, on behalf of Mrs. STEPHENS, presentedthe boat to the Institution. He sincerely j hoped that the Charles and Susanna j Stephens would have a prosperous career j and be the means of saving many lives.

Mr. KEPPEL FOOTE, District In- ! specter, returned thanks on behalf of the Institution. He described the boat as one of the best ever j built, and thanks to the generosity ! of Mrs. STEPHENS no pains had been ] spared to make this one of the best j boats on the Life-boat stations. She had been constructed by the Thames Iron- | works Company, and this was sufficient 1 guarantee that her stability was all that 1 could be desired. He hoped that when j she made her first trip to sea in rough weather the local officials would send to London a full report of the opinion of the crew as to the value of the boat.

He wished Mrs. STEPHENS long life and happiness, and happiness that would be increased by the knowledge that by her generosity she had materially assisted in saving the lives of those who go down to the sea in ships. (Applause.) The speaker next dealt with the high opinion in which the Institution held j Captain INSKIP, their Local Honorary Secretary, to whom he would formally hand over the boat. At headquarters they all felt that the vessel could not be in better hands. (Applause.) j Captain INSKIP made a brief reply, | and said the boat was a valuable gift to Ramsgate. She was one of the finest Life-boats, and was manned by one of the bravest crews in the kingdom, whom he was sure would do all they possibly could to maintain the reputation : gained by their' predecessors. He pro- | raised to do all in his power to assist the crew in their efforts.

The hymns " Eternal Father, strong to save," and " Fierce raged the tempest o'er the deep," were then sung by the choir, under Mr. T. Haigh; and the Vicar of Ramsgate having offered prayer, the signal was given for the performance of the final part of the ceremony. Mrs.

CHARLES STEPHENS advanced to the front of the platform, and breaking a bottle of wine over the bow of the boat, which had been decorated with ever- greens, said, " I name this boat Charles and Susanna Stephens. May God bless her and her crew," and as the wine splashed over the bows the bolt holding the cradle in position was forced out with a heavy blow and the vessel glided slowly down the slipway and took the water beautifully. As she reached her natural element cheers were heartily given, and the band played the National Anthem.

In the evening Mrs. STEPHENS enter- tained the crews of the Life-boat and the Harbour Tug, men belonging to the Trinity Service, coastguardmen, and others, to the number of 150, at dinner at the Granville Hotel, which was greatly appreciated by all present.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.-— j The Institution has recently placed at Tynemouth its first motor Life-boat.

She is the late Folkestone Life-boat, the J. McConnell Hussey, specially provided with a motor engine, and is of the self-righting type. The boat was sent to Newbaven for experimental purposes, and was subjected to very severe tests.

The Committee of Management hope that this new class of Life-boat will prove to be of the greatest value..