BROOKE, ISLE OF WIGHT.—It will be remembered that in the last number of the Life-boat Journal we mentioned that the boat on this Station had been replaced by a new Life-boat of the latest self-righting type provided for from the legacy of the late Mr. Charles Carr Ashley. The inaugural ceremony of naming the new boat took place on the 18th October. Sir Charles Seely, Bart., the President of the Isle of Wight Lifeboat Board, presided, and among those present were Colonel J.E.B.Seely, D.S.O., M.P., and Miss Seely, the Treasurer and the several Honorary Secretaries of the Station Life-boat Committees on the island, together with many others.

Sir CHARLES SEELY addressing those present said it was 19 years ago since his sister, Mrs. Renwick, named the last boat which came to that station— the William Staney Letvis. The old boat had a record of very good service indeed, and during her time had been instrumental in saving many lives.

Her crew were always most efficient, and ready, when wanted, to perform the duty they had undertaken.

Mr. KEPPEL FOOTE, the Southern District Inspector of Life-boats, then, on behalf of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, formally handed over the new boat to the custody of the Local Committee, explaining that the boat possessed every possible improvement, being precisely similar to the boats at Bembridge, Brighstone, and Atherfield.

Sir CHARLES SEELY accepted the boat on behalf of the Brooke Committee.

The service of Benediction followed, the Rev. R. L. Morris, M.A., officiating The surpliced choir from the church was present, and the hymn " Eternal Father, strong to save," was impressively sung.

Coxswain JACOBS, from the boat, thanked Sir Charles Seely for his good wishes for the boat and crew, and the crew gave ringing cheers for Sir Charles.

Miss SEELY then named the new boat, saying : " I wish success to the Susan Ashley, and God-speed and good luck." Further cheering for the Brooke boat and Miss Seely concluded this portion of the proceedings.

Subsequently the Life-boat, with Col.

Seely and Mr. Keppel Foote aboard, was successfully launched, a thunderstorm passing over as the boat took the water.

The wind was blowing bard and there was a rather high sea. The Susan Ashley showed herself to be a most seaworthy boat.

HASBOROUGH,NORFOLK.—This Station has been provided with a new Life-boat of the self-righting type, 34 ft. long by 8 ft. wide, fitted with one water-ballast tank and one drop-keel and rowing ten oars double-banked. The boat is named the Jacob and Bacliel Vallentine, as desired by her generous donor, the late Mr. Samuel Vallentine, of Brixton.

The launching ceremony took place on the 50th November last, the ceremony passing off most successfully, thanks in no small degree to the arrangements made by the local honorary secretary, the Rev. S. C. Ward. The pleasure of the occasion was greatly increased by the presence of the Chairman of the Committee of Management of theBorAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, Sir Edward Birkbeck, Bart, who was accompanied by Lady Birkbeck. Before the proceedings commenced, Sir Edward greeted several of the older Life-boatmen, one particularly, the venerable excoxswain, John Cannon, now in his 83rd year. Punctually at noon Mrs.

Albemarle Cator, accompanied by Mr.

C. Cator, took her place on the platform, behind which was stationed the new Lifeboat with her crew in their oilies, lifebelts, and sou'-westers, ready for action.

Mrs. Cator briefly described the gift, and gracefully thanked Mr. and Mrs.

Tijou, of London, the representatives of the donor, Mr. Tijou being the senior executor of the will of the late Mr.

Vallentine. Addressing the Life-boat crew, she said there was no necessity to remind them of their duty, as they were always ready to do it. They could best manifest their love towards God by doing their utmost to rescue those in peril at sea. In common with all their brave comrades, she felt sure the Hasborough men would never turn back.

Mr. TIJOU, said that the late Mr.

Vallentine, a prominent member of the Jewish community in London, took a deep interest in promoting the welfare of deserving institutions, but in all his gifts he had veiled his identity by dedicating them to the memory of his parents, Jacob and Rachel Vallentine, whose names were inscribed on the boat before them. One condition of the bequest was that a Life-boat should be built and placed at a station on the east coast within a year of his death. This had been done, and it was a pleasure to him that Hasborough had been selected as the station for the boat.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBKCK, who was accompanied by Commander Thomas Holmes, R.N., the District Inspector of Life-boats, said that as an old friend of the Hasborough Life-boatmen he was glad to be with them on that occasion.

In 1866 Happisburgh was selected by the Institution to be one of their stations, and the inhabitants of Huddersfield provided the boat, which they named after their town. In 1887 it was replaced by another boat of the same name, but the time came when a new and up-to-date boat had to be provided.

The late Mr. Vallentine had, by his munificence, supplied the need, and the Institution was very grateful for the gift. Addressing the crew, he urged them to be careful to study the instructions issued by the Institution, as by doing so much trouble would be saved, and many risks avoided. In a recent inquiry it was found the Coxswain was unable to read, and the result was disaster. The record of the Happisburgh station was fifty lives saved, and assistance rendered to two vessels in distress. He wished to testify to the admirable work done by the coastguard in rendering their assistance, and deprecated the action of the present Government in reducing the number of the coastguard stations. Sir Edward then, on behalf of the Institution, accepted the gift of the Jacob and Rachel Vallentine, and handed her over to the Chairman of the local committee, the Rev. R. A. Hitchcock, who, in a few well-chosen words, accepted the boat, and thanked the representatives of the donor for his gift.

The hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save," was then sung. This was followed by a special prayer for the crew and for those in peril at sea. After this the Lord's Prayer was recited.

Mrs. Tijou then performed the ceremony of naming the boat. A bottle of champagne, decorated with the national colours, was attached to a cord fastened to the boat-house. On this being cut, the bottle struck the boat fairly athwart the bows, amid loud cheers. Horses were then yoked to the Life-boat carriage, and the safe descent of the steep gat-way was accomplished. The sun was shining brightly, and the beautiful craft gracefully glided into the water, Commander Holmes, the District Inspector, accompanying the crew.

After the ceremony a large party of visitors, on the invitation of Mrs. Cator, lunched at St. Mary's. Later in the day that lady, who takes the greatest interest in everything connected with the parish in which she resides, hospitably entertained the Life-boat crew in the Slater Memorial Hall. Amongst those present was Mr. Andrew Martin, who, previous to his removal, was for several years the much valued hon. local secretary, and did so much in organising the annual dinner for the Life-boatmen and the Beachmen's Company.

ACKERGILL,CAITHNESS-SHIRE ; CEMAES, ANGLESEY ; FERRYSIDE, CARMARTHENSHIRE ; AND NEW QUAY, CARDIGANSHIRE.

—The Life-boats placed by the Institution on these stations have recently been replaced by new ones. The Ackergill boat is of the self-righting type and her cost has been defrayed by the Co-operative Union and perpetuates the name Co-operator No. 3. The co-operative societies have always been very generous in their support of the Life-boat cause.

The Ferryside new boat is also of the self-righting type, and is named the Richard Ashley; the Cemaes Life-boat is of the Watson type, and named the Charles Henry Ashley; while the New Quay boat is of the Liverpool type, and is called the William Cantrell Ashley. The three last mentioned Life-boats complete the five boats provided for under the bequest to the Institution of the late Mr.

Charles Carr Ashley, of Mentone, France, and are named in accordance with the desire of their munificent donor..