Aith, Shetland*, and Droughty Ferry, Dundee.

Two naming ceremonies of new motor life-boats took place in Scotland during September, at Aith in the Shetlands and Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Both life- boats were the gifts of Scottish ladies.

The Aith station was established in 1933, and a temporary motor life-boat was placed there in May of that year.

For some years the Institution had had under consideration the need for a station on the west side of the Shet- lands, and it was established as soon as arrangements could be made for the necessary look-out and communica- tions.

The Aith boat is of the Barnett (Stromness) type, the largest and most powerful which the Institution is now building. She is 51 feet by 13 feet 6 inches. On service, with crew and gear oh board, she weighs 26J tons.

She is divided into seven water-tight compartments, and is fitted with 160 air-cases. She has twin screws, and is driven by two 60 h.p. engines. The engine-room is a Avater-tight compart- ment, and each engine is itself water- tight, so that it could continue running even if the engine-room were flooded.

Her speed is just under 9 knots, and she carries enough petrol to be able to travel 180 miles, at full speed, without refuelling. She carries a crew of eight, and in rough weather can take 100 people on board. She has a cabin, a line-throwing gun, and an electric searchlight, is lighted throughout with electricity, and is fitted with an oil- spray in the bows to make smooth the water round the wreck.

The boat has been built out of a gift from Miss Maggie D. Rankin, of Glasgow, and at her wish was named The Rankin in memory of her brothers, John Finlay Rankin and Matthew Rankin, of Messrs. Rankin & Black- more, marine engineers, of Greenock.

The ceremony was held on 5th September, and about 500 people took part in it. Miss Maggie Ran- kin was unable to be present, and the life-boat was named by Lady Hamilton, wife of Sir Robert Hamilton, Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetlands and president of the branch.

Mr. Magnus Shearer, J.P., Convener of Zetland, presided. Commander Henry Strong, R.D., R.N.R., a member of the committee of management of the Institution, presented the life-boat to the branch, and spoke of the gratitude of the Institution to Miss Rankin for her very generous gift. The life-boat was received by Sir Robert Hamilton, and after she had been described by the district inspector of life-boats she was dedicated by the Rev. J. F. Miller, and named by Lady Hamilton.

Lady Hamilton then presented prizes won by two boys of Shetland schools in the life-boat essay competition for elementary schools. A vote of thanks to Sir Robert and Lady Hamilton was proposed by Miss Fraser, of Vementry, and a vote of thanks to the chairman and others by Mr. John Sutherland, J.P.

Those taking part in the ceremony then went a short cruise in the life-boat and were afterwards entertained to tea by the committee of the branch.

Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

The Broughty Ferry station was established in 1830, independently of the Institution, although the Institution contributed towards its expense. At the same time a station was established at Buddon Ness, which remained open until 1894. Both stations were taken over by the Institution in 1861.

They have had between them eleven life-boats, including the present motor life-boat, and have rescued 176 lives.

The new life-boat is of the Watson (cabin) type, 45 feet by 12 feet 6 inches.

On service, with crew and gear on board, she weighs 20J tons. She is divided into seven water-tight com- partments, and is fitted with 142 air- cases. She has twin screws, and is driven, by two 40 h.p. engines. The engine-room is a water-tight compart- ment, and each engine is itself water- tight, so that it could continue running even if the engine-room were flooded.

Her speed is 8£ knots and she carries enough petrol to be able to travel 116 miles, at full speed, without refuelling.

She carries a crew of eight, and in rough weather can take ninety-five people on board. She has a line-throw- ing gun and an electric searchlight, and is lighted throughout with electricity.

She is an anonymous gift from a Scottish lady whose name is not known even to the Institution. The gift came through Mr. J. R. Barnett, O.B.E., M.I.N.A., the Institution's con- sulting naval architect.

This life-boat has replaced another motor life-boat, John Ryburn, also a gift from Scotland, being one of three built out of a legacy from the late Mr.

William McCunn, of Largs.

The naming ceremony was held on 28th September, and the life-boat was named Mono, by the Duchess of Mont- rose. Mr. Ralph C. Cowper, J.P., president of the branch, presided, and Mr. J. R. Barnett presented the life- boat to the Institution. She was received by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, and the Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O., V.D., LL.D., chairman of the Scottish Life- boat Council and a vice-president of the Institution, presented her to the branch.

She was received on behalf of the branch by Mr. Ralph C. Cowper, its president. After the life-boat had been described by the district inspector she was dedicated by the Rev. Andrew J. Forrest, B.D. The Duchess of Montrose named her and then pre- sented certificates of service which had been awarded by the Institution to Coxswain Alexander Gall and Second- Coxswain James Lorimer on their retirement. The Lord Provost of Dundee then welcomed the life-boat.

A vote of thanks to the Duchess was proposed by Sir Charles C. Barrie, K.B.E., M.P., and a vote of thanks to the chairman and others by Commander the Hon. A. D. Cochrane, D.S.O., R.N., M.P., vice-chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council and a member of the committee of management of the Institution. The guests were then entertained at tea by the Lord Provost and Magistrates..