ON 18th June a fire at the building yard of Messrs. Groves and Guttridge, Cowes, destroyed three motor life-boats and a quantity of the Institution's timber. The life-boats were those from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and Selsey, Sussex, which were undergoing over- haul, and a new motor life-boat for Cloughey, Co. Down, which was waiting to be shipped to her station. The new motor life-boat for Blackpool had been launched only about fifteen hours before the fire, and another vessel which had taken her place on the slip was damaged beyond repair.

Reserve motor life-boats were sent to Yarmouth and Selsey, and new motor life-boats, already under con- struction, will replace them early next year. Cloughey has a motor life-boat, which, on the arrival of the new boat, was to be transferred to Newcastle, Co.

Down, to replace a pulling and sailing life-boat. Another motor life-boat, in place of the one destroyed by the fire, is to be built for Cloughey, and the motor life-boat at present there cannot be transferred to Newcastle until this new boat is ready. (Photograph on page 353),.