SINCE the last number of The Life-Boat appeared, the inauguration ceremonies of three new Motor Life-boats have taken place, of the Dunleary, at Kingstown— her splendid voyage from Cowes to Ireland was described by Commander Stopford C. Douglas, R.N., now the Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats, in the February number of The Life- Boat—of the Shamrock, at Baltimore; and of the Elsie, at St. Mary's, Isle's of Scilly. All three ceremonies were very successful, but a special significance attaches, in these times, to the success of. the two Irish ceremonies. It was felt, on all hands, of the Kingstown inauguration that it was unique in Ireland. The ceremony of blessing the Life-boat was performed by the Very Rev. Canon Murphy, P.P., while the dedication prayers were read by the Most Rev. Dr. D'Arcy, Protestant Archbishop of Dublin. .No ceremony has ever borne more striking witness to the fact that-the Life-boat Service is a great'national possession, standing above all parties and creeds, and that, in a special way, it represents those virtues of heroism and noble self-sacrifice which all men can join in honouring, however deep their differences in religion and politics. It must be a matter of real pride to all who are connected with the Institution, and to all who took part in the ceremony, that the consecration of a Life-boat for its humane and perilous duties was able to bring together representatives of all "political parties and religious beliefs in Ireland.

It had been the intention of the Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Management, Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., V.P., and of the Secretary of the Institution, Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., to attend both the Irish ceremonies.

Unfortunately, the great difficulties of travelling at the time made this im,- possible. Mr.; Fortescue Barratt, the Honorary Secretary of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund, which, with the help of an important contribution from the Tayleur Fund, has presented the Dun- leary to the Institution (this being the seventh Life-boat which the Civil Ser- vice Fund has endowed) had also intended to take part in the ceremony, in order formally to hand over the Life- boat to the Institution; but he also was, unfortunately, unable to be1 present.

Apart from these absences, there were full and representative gatherings both at Kingstown and Baltimore.

Kingstown.

The Kingstown ceremony took place on Saturday, the 17th April, in glorious weather. The sea front' was decorated with flags, and the presence of the Dublin St. John's Ambulance Brigade Pipers' Band in their Irish costume, of the Dalkey and Ringsend Sea Scouts, of- a number of naval officers in uniform,, and large crowds of the public added much to the picturesque- ness of ah occasion which, with its double religious ceremony, was deeply impressive.

On arriving, the Countess of Fingall was received at the Boat-house by the Branch officials,-and was presented with a bouquet by Miss Holmes, the little daughter of the King's Harbour Master.

Mr. Andrew Jameson, D.L., Chair- man of the City of Dublin Branch, presided over the ceremony, and among

those present were : The Most Rev. Dr. D'Arcy, Archbishop of Dublin; the Rev. Canon Murphy, P.P.; the American Consul-General and Mrs. Dumont; Mr. H. R. Tweedy, Chairman " of the Branch; Major Whewell, repre- senting the Committee of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund ; Captain W. D. Church, C.B.E., R.N., representing Admiral Sir Reginald Tupper, K.C.B., ' C.V.O., Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches; Sir John Lumsden, K.B.E., Dublin Commissioner of the St- John's Ambulance Brigade, and Lady Lumsden; Sir James and Lady Murphy ; Sir Andrew and Lady Beattie; Colonel and Mrs. Eoghen O'Brien; Colonel and Mrs. Villiers Tuthill; Lady Fitz- gerald Arnott; Colonel and Mrs. Pery; Sir John and Lady O'Cohnell; Mr. and Mrs. Longworth Dames; Mr. and Mrs. Palmer; Miss Macartney; Mrs. J. Hume Dudgeon; Mr. and Mrs. George F. Stewart; Mr. and Mrs. Tenison Collins; Mr. and Miss Tenison Collins; Mrs. Lindsey ; Mrs. Goff; Miss Porter; Miss Orpen; Mrs Doran; Mrs. Daniels ; Mr. and Mrs. Blacker Douglass; Mrs. Taylor; Mr. Dudley White, K.C.) Captain A. Fosbery Holmes, R.N"., and Mrs. Holmes; Commander Le Fanu, R.K ; the Rev. Canon H. B. Kennedy, B.D.; the Rev. Canon Pirn, B.D,; the Rev. Dr. Benham Osborne; the Rev. Father Potter, C.C.; the Rev. Father Mamane ; the Rev. Father Fawell; Mr. J. A. Magauran : Mr. A. V. McCormack ; Mr. C. S. McNeill; Mr. Arthur B. H. Seale; Mr. Cyril Dudgeon; Mr.,J. B. Stephens; Mr. W. B. Stuart; Mr. H.

H. S. Mason, the Honorary Treasurer of the Branch; Mr. J. H. Hargrave, the Honorary Secretary of the Branch; Commander Stopford Douglas, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats for Ireland; Mr. Herbert G. Solomon, District Organizing Secretary for Ireland, and Mr. B. J. Newcombe, Assistant Secre- tary of the Branch.

The Life-boat, with the crew in their red caps and blue jerseys standing beside it at the top of the slipway, waa first blessed by Canon Murphy, P.P., who was assisted by the Rev. Father Potter, C.C., the Rev. Father Mamane, and the Rev. Father Fawell, and attended by acolytes.

Canon Murphy said that in a .king ministry of over fifty years he did not remember being present at a function more deeply interesting to every creed and class than the blessing and dedica- tion of that beautiful new Life-boat.

He was sure that the ceremonial appealed to their best feelings as Catholics and sailors, and he felt; it a very high honour to prondunce the blessing of God and His Church on the boat, which was so aptly called the Dunleary. It was their post of duty, of danger, and, perhaps, death, and the blessing was intended in a special manner for the men who manned the Life-boat, and who, in earning a liveli- hood for themselves and their families, also earned the very high .honour reserved for those who rescued from death and danger their fellow-men at the risk of their own lives. To those who did not profess their faith the boat was a striking symbol and practical proof of the two-fold golden links of love and charity for a bond of union between them. He prayed God to blesg the Dunleary and her gallant crew, and to preserve and prosper her good work.

The hymn, " Hail, Queen of Heaves," was sung, and the crew manned the boat.

The Archbishop of Dublin, attended by the Rev.' Canon H. B. Kennedy, B.D., Mariner's Church, Kingstown, and the Rev. Canon Pirn, B.D., Christ Church, Kingstown, dedicated the Life- boat to. the Glory of God, and prayed for the safety of the crew and the success of their heroic services. The hymn, " Eternal Father ! Strong to Save " was sung.

On behalf of the Civil Service Life- boat Fund Major Whewell then formally presented the Life-boat to the Institu- tion, and in doing so said that in the course of fifty-four years the Civil Service Fund had contributed £80,000 to the funds of the Institution.

Commander Douglas, in returning thanks for the gift of the boat, on behalf of Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., the Deputy-Chairman of the Committee of Management, and transferring her to Mr. H. R. Tweedy, Chairman of the Kingstown Branch, acknowledged the great debt the Institution owed to Major Whewell and the Civil Service Fund. He said that the old Life-boat had just been sold to a firm of coa] dealers, and added that his regrets were tempered by the hope that they might some day get' coal in Ireland.

(Laughter.) In describing the new Life-boat, Commander Douglas said that she had a speed of 7f knots, and at a pinch could carry nearly one hundred people. As to the Coxswain and crew, he would wish for none better, and Dan Murphy was as fine a seaman as there was on the whole coast of Ireland. He also expressed the thanks of the Institution to Mr. J. H. Hargrave, the local Honorary Secretary, and to the Chairman and the Committee.

(Applause.) Mr. H. R. Tweedy, amid general applause, accepted the boat for safe custody, and thanked Major Whewell and the Civil Service Fund for their costly and acceptable gift. He spoke of the historic heroism of the Kingstown Life- boat crews, and mentioned in particular the wreck of. the Palma in 1895, when Coxswain Alexander Williams and his gallant comrades lost their lives in an exceptionally heavy storm. His Com- mittee, he said, had the fullest confidence in Coxswain Daniel Murphy and his gallant crew, and were sure that, on all occasions, they would perform their duty bravely, faithfully, and well.

(Applause.) Captain W. D. Church, C.B.E., R.N., on behalf of Admiral Sir Reginald Tupper and of the Royal Navy, welcomed the additional Motor Life- boat to Ireland, and said that Admiral Tupper desired him to emphasize how much the Navy had appreciated the services of the Life-boats during the war. The Navy had shown its apprecia- tion by subscribing £2,000 to the Institution. If the public felt any gratitude to the Navy for the work it had done during the war, and expressed it by contributing to the Institution's Fund, the Navy would never quarrel with them. (Applause.) Canon Pirn proposed a vote of thanks to the Countess of Fingall for consent- ing to perform the naming ceremony, and took occasion to congratulate Cotnmander Douglas on his promotion, and to say at the same time how very sorry they were to lose him. (Applause. V Mr. J. H. Hargrave seconded the vote of thanks.

Mr. H. G. Solomon, District Organiz- ing Secretary for Ireland, in proposing a vote of thanks to the Archbishop of Dublin and Canon Murphy, said that on the coasts of the United Kingdom there were now 249 Life-boats, of which number 24 were Motor Life-boats. In this instance, at least, Ireland could not say that she had been badly treated, as on the Irish coasts there was one Motor Life-boat for every four- Sailing Life- boats. The contributions of Ireland, he added, were not sufficient to maintain the Irish Life-boat Stations, and the Institution had to send over to Ireland another £2,000: On the other handrthe County of Dublin had increased its contri- bution to the Life-boat cause by £900.

(Applause.) Sir John Lumsden, in seconding the motion, said -that it was his intention to suggest to the body which he represented that it might consider whether Red Cross money or Red Cross service could not be used to help THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, one of the best examples of-Red Crosswork. (Applause.) The Countess of Fingall then broke a bottle of wine on the stern of the boat, wishing " God Speed " to all who sailed in her. Immediately the boat was released, and slid quickly and smoothly into the water amid cheers and the firing of rockets.

Many guests were then taken for trips in the Life-boat round the harbour.

The readers of the weekly edition of the Irish Times are all very familiar with "Murty's" entertaining letters which appear week by week. That week he devoted it to a charming account of the launch of the Dunleary.

"MY DEAR DENIS " (he wrote)—" Saturday bein' a fine afthernoon, tho' with a bit of a nip in the air, and a general dullness bein' the rule in MoGarrou's Lane, what did I do but make a start for Lansdowne Koad to see the futball, where there was some fine sport.

The start was made all right; but when I got that length in the tram I heard word of great doin's at Kingstown, where they were launch- in' a bran-new Motor Life-boat. Oh, bedad, I reneaged the futball, and towld tho con- ductor to punch me a new ticket all the way to Kingstown. 'Tis not that I'd be afther givin' the back of my hand to. the baH- kickers, for which I have great admiration, but as Life-boat launches is like angels' visits, few and far between; and also as bavin' a true respect and regard for the gallant chaps at Kingstown, who have a great record for savin' life—and not without great tragedies of their own, which is all in the day's work, as every- body knows—I resolved to go on to Kingstown, and take off my hat to the new boat and the crew, and to see what was to be seen.

" When I got there I could see great flag displays at the harbour, and the Life-boat House the centre of much attention by crowds of people. Also the smart pipers' band of the Saint John's Ambulance Brigade, in full Irish uniform, splittin' the air with enlivenin.' strains of music, and marchin' up and down with great regularity. [N.B.—If ever I do take to music it will be the bagpipes, for they carry all before them, and split the air better than any other known instrument. As, the poet says, ' Language fades before thy spell.'] Well, in I goes, and there I discovered a great meetin' fiUin' the whole house, which was gay with coloured sea flags of all designs.

Away in front in the open, and facin' the harbour, all sparklin' in the sun, with flags and ribbons and bright paint a/id polished brass, and her crew on board lookin' all serene, was 'the new Life-boat, posed for her first "official dive into sea water. The Scout Bugler sounded " Attention," and then a reverend gentleman blessed the boat and her crew, and spoke with a solemn and well- chosen eloquence, which commanded and re- ceived all sympathy and attention. Another high Church dignitary of different persuasion dedicated the boat, and the religious cere- mony was then followed by the presentation of the Life-boat from the Civil Service Life- boat Fund to THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION, which hands it over to the chairman of the Kingstown Branch. The boat has been well named the Dunleary, which revives, as everybody knows, the ould ancient name of Kingstown. A lady of dis.- tinction gave the name to the boat, and there was a whole crowd of short, but able speeches, from naval and' local supporters of THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which I needn't remark has hosts of friends both in Dublin and Kingstown. The crew of the-new Boat were well mentioned by the i speakers, and got high and deserved praise for their devotion to the gallant, but always risky, task of savin' the lives of ship-wrecked people.

The Kingstown Life-boat crew has truly a noble record of bravery to the death in times of storm, of which they have had a big share, and nobody doubts but their deeds in the future will be as gallant when the call comes as ever it has been in the past.

" At the end of the speeches Mister New- combe, the Assistant Secretary, sang out, 'Three cheers for the Dunleary,' and the cheers in response were sure proof that the Boat starts with the best of good wishes and hopes from all. The launch then took place, to the sound of heavy gun-firin', and away slipped the Dunleary with her gallant crew into the haiboxir, takyn' hei fitat official dip as smooth and as straight as a swan on the water.

" There's a terrible lot of what they call ' heroism,' no doubt, in the political domain in Ireland, but somehow there was more,of the rale heroic stamp about the Kingstown Life-boat and her quiet, ready-to-do-and-die crew on Sataday, than in aU the fall columns of political thrills and emotions that fills the newspapers. It was like takin' a wholesome cowlct bath in the waters ot. reality and common-sense to drop the heated special editions and spend instead an hour or so at this fine Kingstown meetin' on Saturday.

There you heard records of the skill and ' courage and humanity of the Life-boat men, who don't owe anything to politics, and who never I get or ask a penny-piece from the British Treasury. The whole service is supported by public subscriptions , only.

Faith, after this I'll try and save up a decent contribution for the next Life-boat Saturday, and I'm sure others will do the same.

" Glad I was ta hear one thing in. the speeches. They sowld the oul Life-boat, and she's now across the water earryin' coals.

The speaker hoped (as myself does) that she'll often get homesick and trim her sails for the oul' shamrock shore, and always with a full cargo of coal on board. And faith she'll be welcome if she does, both as an oul' friend, and because she'll have something to give us that we stand much in need of.

" Truly Yours, "MURTY."

Baltimore.

The Baltimore ceremony took place two days later, on the 19th April, with a westerly gale blowing. There was a very large gathering, among those present being the Venerable Archdeacon Beeher, who presided; the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of Ross; laeut.-Ool. A. H.

Morgan, D.S.O., D.L., J P., the Presi- dent o£ the Branch; Mr. J. V, Chambers, of Skibbereen, the Hon. Treasurer; the Rev. William Young, .C.C., Hon.

Secretary; Admiral Sir Reginald Tupper, K.C.B., C.V.O., Commander- in-Chief, Western Approaches; Sir Egerton and Lady Cpghill; Commander Stopford C. Douglas, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats for Ireland; Captain Hubert Townsend, J.P.; Captain C. W.

Morgan, J.P.; Dr., Mrs. and Miss O'Meara; Colonel Morrogh; Mr. J.

Burke, Inspector, Congested Districts Board; Mr. A. O'Hanlon, Receiver of Wrecks ; Mr. J. Travers Wolfe, Crown Solicitor; the Rev. J. O'Driscoll, P.P.; the Rev. S. N. Dudley, Rector of Balti- more ; the Rev. F. McCarthy, Adm.; MAY, 1020.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

49 the Rev. J. Murphy, C.C.; the Rev.

J. Ambrose, C.C. ; Mr. D. M. J. O'Con- nell, Clerk of the Crown and Peace, Mrs. and Miss O'Connell; Mr. W.

Nealon and Miss Nealon; Mrs. G. M.

Levis; Mr. Bruce P. Levis ; Mr. J. M.

Burke, B.L., M.C.C. ; Mr. T. Sheehy, M.C.C.; Mr. Maurice S. F. Towashend; Miss E. L. B. M'Garthy; Mr. J. Foster, D.I., R.I.O.; Mr. Herbert G. Solomon, District Organizing Secretary of the Institution for Ireland, and Mr. D.

Glayzer, C.O., Assistant Secretary of the Branch.

The Brass and Reed Band of the Baltimore Fishery School attended the ceremony, by permission of the Super- intendent, and the hymns were sung by boys of the school.

. The Ven. Archdeacon Becher, in opening the proceedings said that they had a splendid boattiouse, a splendid Life-boat, and, he believed, the best crew in Ireland. (Applause.) Ten boat- men did not necessarily make a good crew-. They had to make themselves into a crew, and they must take their training seriously. Every day they must put their hearts and souls into the work, and~from what he knew of Balti- more he hoped, before he died, that they would see it recognized by everybody .that there was not a crew on any coast to touch the Baltimore men. (Applause.) Speaking as a sailorman to sailormen, he said they had to weld themselves together as a crew. A boat was some- thing utterly different from anything else made by the hands of man. There was something spiritual and extra- ordinary about a vessel, and he was sure that the Baltimore men would bring renown upon themselves. He prayed that the blessing of Him who watched the struggling fishermen from the mountain top might attend their efforts.

(Applause.) Commander St9pford Douglas, R.N., on behalf of Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Management, then handed the Life-boat iover to' the Baltimore Branch, and in 'doing so said that she was a non-self- [righting Life-boat of the Watson type, [45 feet by 12 feet 6 inches, fitted with a 'ftjlar engine able to develop 60 B.H.P., landit,that she could stow away 69 people in comfort and 96 at a pinch.

He'spoke also of the- splendid work which Father Young had done for the Baltimore Branch, and said that he had the fullest confidence in the Coxswain and crew. (Applause.) Father Young, in receiving the Life- boat on behalf of the Branch, said that he returned thanks to the Committee of Management in full confidence that any time the occasion arose, the crew in Baltimore, who were always ready to man the boat, would prove their bravery and efficiency. (Applause.) They all esteemed it a high honour and privilege to be associated with the Life-boat Institution in its great humane work. In the Baltimore crew, he was sure, would be displayed that physical courage and seamanship which their work would dem'and. That work required out- standing and exceptional genius in/the Coxswain, but Bill Nolan was always equal to it. (Applause.) They assured the Committee of Management that they would take the best possible care of that magnificent Life-boat, and on behalf of the people of Baltimore he returned them thanks for their generous gift. (Applause.) Dr. Kelly then blessed the Life-boat, and, to the accompaniment of the band, the choir of boys of the Fishery School sang the hymns " Hail! Queen of Heaven" and '"Sweet Star of the Sea." Captain Townshend proposed, and Captain Morgan seconded, a vote of thanks to Lady Coghill for coming to name the Life-boat.

Admiral Tupperj in proposing a vote of thanks to the Bishop, spoke of the great pleasure that it was to him to be present ,at the ceremony, and of the great services which the Life-boats had rendered during the war. He described a rescue which had just taken place far out ia the Atlantic. A British destroyer had gone to the help of a steamer 400 miles off the north-west coast, and had rescued the crew in a terrible sea, the steamer capsizing soon after the crew had been taken off.' Only the night before, the rescued men were brought safely into Queenstown.

(Applause.) In seconding the vote of thanks Dr. O'Meara said that a Life-boat was 50 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[MAY, 1920.

a very necessary thing'where they had a hundred large fishing-boats at work every season. Moreover, as they all knew, Baltimore was on the direct route between Great Britain and America.

The Bishop of Ross, in reply, said: Venerable Archdeacon, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to acknow- ledge the vote of thanks proposed by Admiral Tupper and seconded by Dr.

O'Meara. We require 'no thanks on this occasion, but there are numerous people we owe thanks to. In the first place, we owe our thanks, as Father Young has said, to the Life-boat Insti- tution, who have given us .this boat.

We also owe thanks to the Admiral, who has honoured this occasion by his presence. (Hear, hear.) The occasion on which we .are gathered together is a summary of what is best and bravest in human nature. The Admiral addressed the school boys and said that there was no nobler life than the life at sea, and he gave certain reasons. I would add that the man who is at sea is there face to face with the greatness of nature, the greatness of God. He is living on the great ocean and is face to face with his Maker, and therefore, the men who " go down to the sea in ships" are the simplest, the bravest and the best of our men. (Applause.) A Life-boat has been presented to us here. I am not a , sailorman myself, as my friend the Archdeacon is, but I was very pleased when I heard him say—and he is an authority on this question—that Bill Nolan's crew were ecuual to any crew on the coasts of the TTnited Kingdom.

(Applause.) This opinion has been con- firmed by Commander Douglas, who speaks from experience, having sailed with the men, and therefore, I hope that if the call comes—and it may come, for there will be still storms and violent weather — that the crew of Baltimore, in the first place, will go there in safety to their own lives—that was the object of my prayer and bless- ing to-day—r-and secondly, that they will distinguish themselves in saving and rescuing life. (Applause). The men of Baltimore and Cape Clear have rescued 'lives on several occasions, and this is not the first time I have raised my voice in this room. (Hear, hear.) We were here some time ago when life had been rescued for which the most splendid certificates were given to a number of our men; firgt and foremost, to Archdeacon Becher, who was him- self engaged in the rescue. (Applause.) Now THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION is nearly one hundred years old. It was launched ninety-six years ago, on the 4th March, 1824. Since then it has saved fifty-seven thousand lives, and we learn from the Admiral, that during the war itself it saved over five thousand lives, and, there- fore, I think I am justified in saying that we are engaged here to-day in one of the most benevolent and noble works that any body of men and women can do. I thank you all. (Loud and continued-applause.) Mr. Solomon, in proposing the vote of thanks to the Chairman and Com- mittee of the Baltimore Branch, men- tioned that the original idea of placing a Life-boat in Baltimore came from. Mr.

H. P. F. Donegan of Cork, who knew every creek on the coast, prepared charts and furnished valuable informa- tion, which was irresistible with the Committee of Management when they came to consider the claims of Baltimore to a Life-boat. He added that the Life- boat Service was entirely maintained by the free gifts of the public, and received no subsidy of 'any kind from the Government. (Applause.) Mr. T. Sheehy, M.C.C., in seconding the vote of thanks, said that the banner of THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was unfurled in Baltimore many years ago. The Local Committee kept on plodding, and the result was the launching of the Life-boat that day.

It was a great day in the annals of Baltimore, and they would not be doing their duty if they' did not acknowledge what his Lordship and others had done to help Baltimore and place it in the proud position it occupied at present.

(Hear, hear). As far back as the 16th century Baltimore was a thriving and prosperous town, doing a successful i trade with France, Spain, and the ! various seaports of Ireland. Then came the " sack" of the town by the Algerines, after which the port steadily MAY, 1920.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

51 declined. But forty years ago good and ' true men came forward to rebuild Baltimore once more, and put her in the proud position she now occupied in the fishing world. (Applause.) To realize what had been done to rebuild Baltimore they need only look at their magnificent Fishery Schools, their piers, harbour and the railway which linked them with the South of Ireland. He himself was in the House of Commons when their beloved Bishop (Dr. Kelly) was fighting the cause of the fishermen at Baltimore and South of Ireland, for two days. He thanked God his Lord- ship was amongst them that day (applause), and with his assistance they hoped to build up Baltimore and bring it further on the road to prosperity and success. (Applause).

In returning thanks on behalf of the Committee, the Rev. F. McCarthy said that when the boat was first suggested there was only one difference of opinion, and that was as to whether it should be placed at Castletownsend or Baltimore.

Baltimore was decided upon, and it did Castletownsend credit that day, that to heap coals of fire on their heads Lady Coghill had coine to launch their boat. (Laughter and applause.) He wished to impress upon them that it was not for THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION to bear the whole of the expenses in connection with the boat. They in that locality would have to bear the working expenses and take an intelligent interest in the boat by »subscribing sufficient funds to run her.

(Hear, hear.) He thanked all who had come there that day, on behalf of the Committee, and asked them not to forget to give the Committee not merely sympathetic support, but also financial backing. (Applause.) Lady Ceghill, amidst applause, then named the Life-boat Shamrock, breaking a bottle of champagne against the side of the boat, which was then launched, fully manned amidst great enthusiasm.

At the end of the ceremony the gale was blowing so strongly that Admiral Tapper was unable to return to the destroyer, which was waiting for him at_ the harbour entrance, in the ship's boat. The Shamrock was therefore requisitioned to take him aboard.

St. Mary's, Islet of Scilly.

On the 19th February, in glorious weather, the new Motor Life-boat was launched. It is the gift to the Institu- tion of the late Right Hon. Arnold Morley, at one time Member of Parlia- ment for Nottingham, Chief Whip and then Post-Master General in the Liberal Governments of 1886 and 1895, a noted yachtsman, and for long a member of the Committee of Management. The new boat is a non-self-righting Life-boat of the Watson type (45 ft. by 12 ft. 6 in.), fitted with a Tylor engine developing 60 B.H.P.

The St. Mary's Station is one of the oldest in the Kingdom. It was opened in 1837 and over 130 lives have been rescued by its Life-boats. It was in the Scillies that the seven masted schooner, the J. W. Lawson, of Boston, was wrecked, and sank with nearly all her crew, in December, 1907, and just before the war the Red Star Liner Gothland ran ashore on the Grim Rocks. Both the St. Agnes and St. Mary's Life-boats and the steamship Lyonesse went to her rescue, and the two Life-boats between them took off 152 of the passengers and crew. .

A dedicatory service was conducted at Carn Thomas by the Chaplain of the Islands (the Rev. T. Branthwaite, D.D.).

A choir of school children led the singing of the hymns, " Fierce raged the Tempest" and " Eternal Father! Strong to Save." After prayers and a short address, the Divisional Inspector (Com- mander C. E. Aglionby) formally handed the boat over to the care of the Local Committee. Major Arthur A. Dorrien Smith, D.S.O. (the Lord Proprietor), as Chairman of the Committee, in receiving the boat, spoke of the interest which Mr. Morley had always taken in the islands, and assured the Inspector that whenever necessary the crew would be found ready and anxious to take the boat on her errand of mercy.

The christening ceremony was per- formed by Mrs. Dorrien Smith, who, on breaking the bottle of wine, expressed the. hope thab the Elsie would be the means, in the hands of its gallant crew, of saving many lives.

The boat was released by Miss Leth- bridge (the Coxswain's daughter), and 52 THE LIFE-BOAT.

[MAY, 1930.

as she glided gracefully down the slip, decked in flags, hearty cheers were raised. To the great enjoyment of all concerned, the boat made several trips round the harbour, each time carrying over fifty passengers.

In continuation of the festivities and ; as a means of adding funds to the Institution, Dr. W. B. Addison, J,P., the Hon. Secretary, organized a very, successful concert for the evening. The Town Hall was crowded with a most appreciative audience, and Dr. Addison was able to announce that he would have the very satisfactory sum of £17 .

to send to Headquarters..