PALLING, NORFOLK. — On the 6th January, 1898, the coxswain of the Life-boat Hearts of Oak was informed that flares had been shown in the direc- tion of the Middle Happisburgh Sand.

The crew of the Life-boat were at once summoned, the boat was launched at 1.50 A M., and on reaching the spot found the brig Prince Consort, of Faversham, bound for Cowes from the Tyne, with a cargo of coal, ashore and leaking badly. The master engaged the services of the Life- boat men to get the vessel afloat, and after working at the pumps for some time they succeeded in getting her off and took her into Yarmouth harbour at 6 P.M. A moderate W.S.W. breeze was blowing at the time these services were rendered, and there was a rough sea. The brig had a crew of eight men.

A telephone message was received from Bacton reporting a barque -with signals of distress flying, on the 27th March. A whole gale was blowing from N.E. by E., the sea was very heavy and the weather very cold, with squalls of hail. The crew of the Life-boat Good Hope were sum- moned, the Life-boat was launched at 11.50 P.M. at Waxham, whither she bad been taken by road on her transporting carriage. Several of the helpers were swept away from the boat and carriage by the heavy seas, and the launch altogether was a very difficult one. The Chief Officer of Coastguard passed two rocket lines which were fast to the vessel to the Life- boat men, and by means of these the Boat was got within a length and a half of the wreck, but a high bank lying between the ship and the boat prevented the latter from getting alongside. Some of the crew got out of the boat and succeeded in throw- ing the heaving cane and line on board the ship, with a veering line attached, and the bowman of the Life-boat boarded the vessel. With the help of those on shore four men were landed but four others were helpless from long exposure.

The coxswain of the Life-boat, with assistance, then got on board, hauled in the whip of the rocket apparatus and by means of this the men were safely landed, the last man reaching the shore at 2 A.M.

CAISTER NORFOLK.—Signals having been fired by the Cockle Light-vessel on the 16th January, the Life-boat Beauchamp was launched at 7.15 P.M.

A light breeze was then blowing from S.S.W., the sea was moderate and the weather thick. Having crossed the Barber Sand the Life-boat steered for the Cockle, when flares were seen in a W. direction, shown by two vessels in collision, one lying across the bows of the other. As a strong ebb tide was running, the Life-boat dropped her anchor and veered down to the vessels, which proved to be the schooner Thomas of Lowestoft, laden with coal, and the ketch Bluejacket of Blakeney, light. Some of the Life- boat men boarded them, and after about an hour's work succeeded in getting them clear of each other. The ketch was towed to Yarmouth harbour by the tug Meteor, the Life-boat being towed astern.

The Life-boat subsequently returned to the other vessel and remained by her until 11 P.M., when she was able to sail for Lowestoft, several of the Life-boat men remaining on board to assist as she was leaking considerably.

On the morning of the 25th February signals of distress were seen in the direction of the Mid Scroby Sand. A heavy sea was running at the time, and a strong wind was blowing from the N. The Life- boat Beauchamp was launched at about 3 o'clock, and on arriving at the sand found the schooner Hermann, of Boek- zetelerfehn, bound from Harburg for Foole with oil-cake, had just beaten over the sand and was sinking; her crew of five men were in their boat, which was half full of water and attached* to the vessel by about fifty fathoms of rope.

The men were taken into the Life-boat, the vessel; shortly afterwards foundering in deep water. The Life-boat was towed back to Caister by a steam-tug and the shipwrecked men were conveyed to the Sailors' Home at Great Yarmouth.

APPLEDORE, NORTH DEVON.—Signals of distress having been observed, the Life- boat Jane Hannah MacDonald was launched at 8.20 P.M. on the 20th January in a moderate S.W. wind, a heavy sea, and thick weather. The schooner J. M. J., of Bideford, was found stranded on Santon Sands, but the master refused to leave her. The Life-boat re- mained by the vessel about half an hour, and then returned to the shore, arriving at 11 o'clock, and the coxswain reported the matter to two members of the Local Committee. It was decided that the Boat should return to the vessel and render such service as was possible. On her way out the Life-boat met the ship's boat containing the master and crew. The captain and one hand got into the Life- boat and returned to the vessel, the sea being too heavy for their/ own boat to approach he*. When the vessel floated, these two men and some of the Life-boat men boarded her and got her anchors up.

Two anchors were laid out by the Life- boat to help to haul her into deep water, the Life-boat men assisted at the pumps, as she was leaking, and the vessel was taken into safety.

RUNSWICK. — The Life-boat Cape of Good Hope was launched at 2 30 A.M. on the 29th January, while a moderate gale was blowing from N.N.W., accompanied by a rough sea, in response to signals of distress shown by the brig John Piteairn, of London, which, while on a voyage from Seaham to Foole, had stranded at Kettle- ness Point. The Life-boat was successful in rescuing the vessel's crew consisting of nine men.

STAITHES, YORKSHIRE.—On the 29th January a gale from N.N.W. sprung up, accompanied by a rough sea, and the cobles which had gone out fishing re- turned home. One of the boats, however, had not come in, and as it was evident she would encounter considerable danger in landing, the Life-boat John Slott was launched at 8.30 A.M., and stood by the coble while she crossed the bar.

On the 4th March the Life-boat waslaunched at 10.30 A.M., and was out until 1 P.M., standing by the fishing fleet, as the boats arrived, in a strong breeze, a heavy sea and showers of snow.

GIRVAN.— On the 1st February a very heavy sea was running outside the bar, and as the gale was freshening, the crew of the Life-boat were summoned, two of the fishing-boats, the Sophia and the Bonny Loch Ryan, not having returned from the fishing-grounds. The boats being seen approaching the harbour, the Life- boat Sir Home Popham was launched at 7.15 P.M., went outside the harbour, and stood by them while they crossed the bar, on which a very dangerous sea was breaking.

CAMPBELTOWN.—On the 1st February the wind, which had been blowing strongly all day from W., increased to a strong gale towards the evening, at times blowing with hurricane force. At about 9 P.M. the coxswain of the Life-boat reported that a fishing skiff, the Lydia, with four men on board, had lost her sails in trying to enter the bay, and as none of the gear was good, and they had no provisions on board, they were in a helpless and dangerous position.

The crew of the Life-boat Mary Adelaide Harrison were summoned, the boat was launched, and proceeding in search of the skiff, found her outside the island of Davaar. The violence of the wind rendered it utterly impossible for the Life-boat to return, so that she was compelled to lay exposed to the storm at the back of the island during the night.

The men were wet through, and all the provisions they had consisted of three two- pound loaves for the thirteen Life-boat men and the skiff's crew of four men. In the morning the Honorary Secretaries, Mr. JAMBS DONALDSON and the Rev. C. T. WAKEHAM, tried to obtain the services of a steamer, but were unable to do so until the afternoon, and then the Life-boat was towed home, reached the pier at 3.30 P.M.

SWANSEA.—The ketch Crowpill, of and from Bridgwater, bound for Britonferry, in ballast, stranded on Britonferry bar in a heavy N.W. stale and a very heavy sea, on the 2nd February. The Life-boat Wolverhampton was launched at 3.10 P.M., and with considerable difficulty succeeded in rescuing the vessel's crew of four men.

Before the arrival of the Life-boat, two ineffectual attempts to rescue the men were made by Neath steam-tugs. The service, which was very well performed, was witnessed by a large concourse of the inhabitants of Neath and Britonferry.

WEXFORD.— The yawl Gannet, of Wexford, showed signals of distress, having grounded close to the stones of the north embankment in a strong gale from W. to W.N.W., with heavy squalls and a moderate sea, on the 3rd February.

At 1.45 P.M. the Life-boat Andrew Pickard proceeded to her assistance and succeeded in getting her into deep water, when she hoisted sail and made for Wexford. It was then found that a tug which had grounded in trying to get close to the fishing-boat was lying across the Life- boat's cable. With some difficulty, how- ever, it was got clear, and the Boat regained her station at 6 P.M.

WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE. — A message having been received by telephone from the Gunfleet light-house on the 7th February, the crew of the Life-boat Honourable Artillery Company were summoned, and at 3.45 A.M. the boat was launched. She proceeded through a rough sea in the direction of the S.W.

part of the Gunfleet Sand, but found it impossible' to cross owing to a lack of water; she therefore had to run down five miles, succeeded in getting across, and was picked up by a passing steamer which towed her opposite the stranded vessel She was the ketch Autumn, of Hull, bound from Sunderland for Shad well, with patent fuel, and had a crew of four men. The Life-boat men were engaged by the captain to get the vessel afloat, and they suc- ceeded in doing so and proceeded towards Harwich. A strong wind and tide were encountered and on reaching the West Bocks H.M. torpedo-destroyer Desperate, kindly offered assistance; her offer was gratefully accepted, and she towed the vessel, which was leaking, and the Life- boat to Harwich.

WINTERTON.—The Wold Light-vessel fired rockets and guns on the morning of the 7th February, in response to which the Life-boat Margaret put off at 4,25, went to the Middle Hasborough Sand, and searched the sand, but could not findany vessel. She then spoke the steam- tug Gleaner, which towed her to the Light-ship, and on arriving there it was ascertained that a shipwrecked crew were on board. The four men were taken into the Life-boat and safely landed. They stated that the Life-boat had passed them, but having no light, they were unable to attract attention. The tug then towed the Life-boat to Winter ton, which was reached at 8.25 A.M. The wrecked vessel was the ketch Robin Hood, of Plymouth, bound from Fowey for Dundee with china clay.

STONEHAVEN, KINCARDINESHIRE.—The sea rose very suddenly, the waves dashing over the piers, on the 21st February, while some of the fishing-boats were at sea. At 11.30 A.M. the Life-boat Alexander Slack was launched, and made for the boats Silver Eagle and Vine. As it was quite impossible for them to enter the harbour, the Life-boat stood by them for about three hours, when their crews re- solved to cast their anchors and come ashore in the Life-boat. Each boat had a crew of five men. In crossing the bar the Life-boat was struck by two or three mountainous seas, but being splendidly handled, was brought into calm water in fine style amid the cheers of a large crowd of people. * * ST.ANDEEW'S, FIFESHIEB.—Two fishing- boats returning from fishing in the bay on the 21st February were placed in a perilous position by a strong N. gale which sprung up, accompanied by a rough sea. One boat was driven on the beach, and the other, which was a mile from the harbour, showed signals of distress. At 3.20 P.M. the Life-boat Louisa was launched, proceeded to the boat, and found her leaky and in danger of founder- ing. Her crew of three men were rescued by the Life-boat, and their boat was left riding at anchor.

WHITBY.—On the 21st February, at about 5.30 P.M., while a gale was blowing from N.W.,with a rough sea, thick weather and snow, four fishing-cobles which had put into the bay on the previous evening were returning to the harbour. It was seen that they would encounter great danger in crossing the bar, and therefore the Life-boat Robert and Mary Ellis was launched and rowed to the bar to accom- pany the boats over. The first one suc- ceeded in getting across in a comparatively smooth sea. On the second attempting to do so, she was caught by a tremendous sea, and for some few seconds it was feared she was doomed; but with the prompt assist- ance of the Life-boat men and men on the East Pier, she was eventually got into safety. One of the crew was washed overboard, but fortunately retained hold of the boat. The harbour master then hailed the Life-boat, and instructed the coxswain to warn the men in the other two boats not to attempt to enter the harbour, but to anchor their boats and come ashore in the Life-boat. This they did, but unfortunately the boats parted from their anchors in the night, drove on the rocks, and became total wrecks. The boat which the Life-boat men assisted to save was the R. W. Jackson, with a crew of three men. The other two boats were the Tranquil and Martha Dryden, the former having a crew of three men, and the other boat had two men on board.

HOYLAKE, CHESHIRE.—At 6.50 P.M. on the 21st February the Life-boat Coard William Sguarey was launched in a nasty sea, with a moderate N.N.E. breeze, and stood by the s.s. Le Blanc, which had stranded near the Bell Buoy. At high water the vessel was got off the bank with the help of the Life-boat men.

MONTROSE.—The morning of the 25th February was comparatively fine, with a moderate breeze blowing from S.S.W., and the fishing-boats went to sea. At about 10 o'clock the wind veered to S.S.E. and commenced to blow very strongly, and a heavy sea began to rise. Some of the boats returned and their crews reported that the weather was very bad outside and urged that the Life-boat should be sent to the bar, as there were still about twenty-five boats to come in, and some of them, being small, would run great risk.

The coxswain of the Life-boat telephoned to the lighthouse-keeper at Scurdyness as to the state of the bar, and having received a reply that the sea was becoming worse and that he considered it necessary that the Life-boat should go out, the Robert Henderson put off at 11 o'clock, proceeded to the bar, and remained there until 4 P.M., when the last boat got safely in.Many of the boats had narrow escapes through the heavy seas striking them, and one boat very nearly stranded on the Annat Bank, the tack of her foresail having given way in taking the bar. The Life-boat at once proceeded towards her, bnt her crew got sail again upon her and succeeded in entering the harbour.

FORMBY.—On the morning of the 22nd February the coxswain of the Life-boat received a message by cable stating that a vessel was aground on the Great Burbo Bank. The crew of the Life-boat John and Henrietta were at once summoned, and at 9.25 the boat was launched. A strong breeze was blowing from the N.N.E., the sea was rough, and the weather very cold. On reaching the vessel, which proved to be the sloop Beehive, bound from Castletown for Liverpool, laden with turnips, it was found that she had drifted off the sand, bnt was leaking badly. The Life-boat accompanied her about four miles, when the master stating that he required no farther assistance, she there- fore returned to her station, arriving at 2 P.M.

NEW BRIGHTON.—The coast-guard on duty having reported a signal of distress in the Crosby Channel at 10 P.M. on the 25th February, the steam Life-boat Queen proceeded in the direction indicated and found the schooner Robert and Elizabeth, of Lancaster, stranded on Crosby Beach.

A moderate gale was blowing from W.N.W., and there was a very heavy sea which was washing over the vessel fore and aft.

The crew of four men, who were in an exhausted condition, were taken into the Life-boat and landed at New" Brighton shortly after midnight.

PENZANCE.—On the 25th February the schooner Mary James of Penzance was being taken into the floating dock when the W. gale caused her to part her warp, and being light she immediately drifted out of the harbour and towards the Cresser reef about four hundred fathoms Mistant.

The Life-boat Elizabeth and Blanche was launched at 7.25 P.M., and reached the vessel just as she had brought up to two anchors about fifty fathoms from the reef.

The crew of ten men decided to leave her, and were landed by the Life-boat at 8.15.

About two hours later the wind shifted towards the N. and decreased in force, and the schooner was then taken back to the harbour.

On the 25th March the Life-boat was launched at 8.40 P.M., and proceeded to the assistance of the brigantine Henry Harvey, of Hayle, bound from Euncorn for Lelant with coal, which while en- deavouring to make the harbour at Penzance in a strong N.E. gale and a heavy sea, missed stays. An anchor was at once let go, but the cable parted and she struck near the Battery Rocks, where she became a total wreck. She burnt flares for help, and the Life-boat rescued her crew of five men and a woman who was on board, returning safaly ashore with them at 10 P.M.

SCARBOROUGH.—Signals of distress were shown on the 2nd March by the schooner Speculation, of and from Kragero for Anstruther, with ice. The Life-boat Queensbury was launched at 6.45 P.M., and proceeded to the vessel, which had lost some of her sails and was without provisions. The master stated that what he required was a tug, and the Life-boat remained at the entrance of the harbour, in readiness to render help if wanted, until a tug arrived.

SHERINGHAM.—The Life-boat William Bennett was launched at 3 P.M. on the 7th March and proceeded to the aid of the fishing-boats, which had been over- taken by a moderate gale from. E.N.E. and a heavy sea. All the boats got safely in with one exception, and in this instance her crew of two men were taken into the Life-boat, and their boat was washed ashore in the evening.

WELLS, NORFOLK.—A fishing-smack being observed with signals of distress flying, while a strong gale was blowing from N.N.E., accompanied by a very heavy sea, on the 23rd March, the crew of the Life-boat Baltic were summoned, and at 5 P.M. the Boat was on her way to the vessel. She was the F. T. B., of Boston, and as it was feared she would founder, her crew of four men left her, got into the Life-boat, and were brought safely to land at 8 o'clock.

FISHGUARD, SOUTH WALKS.—On the morning of the 24th March, a whole gale blew from the N.E. with heavy squalls of sleet, and the sea was very heavy. At 9.55 signals of distress were shown by a vessel at anchor in the bay, and the crew of the Life-boat Appin were thereupon summoned. Three other vessels sub- sequently showed signals for assistance.

At 10.5 the Life-boat was launched and proceeded first to the ketch Progress, of Aberystwyth, bound from Aberdovey for Dover, with a cargo of slates; then to the ketch John and Ann of Aberystwyth bound from Newport, Mon., for Good wick, coal laden; afterwards, to the smack Martha Jane of Aberystwyth coal laden, from Cardiff for Aberayron; and finally, to the ketch Dolphin of and from Bide- ford which had discharged her cargo of gravel at Goodwick. From each of these four vessels the master and crew of two men were rescued by the Life-boat, which then ran for the beach at Goodwick, where all were safely landed. The Dolphin and Martha Jane afterwards parted their cables and drove on to the beach; the John and Ann parted her cables about an hour after her crew had been taken off, sunk in deep water, and became a total wreck; and the Progress rode heavily at her anchors, apparently waterlogged, and eventually sunk.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT.—The schooner Mary Jane, of Barrow, which had left Maryport for Port William with a cargo of coal on the 22nd March, entered the river on the 23rd March at 2.30 A.M., and lay in Boss roads awaiting suitable weather to enable her to proceed to Port William. On the following morning the wind blew from N.E. and increased to a gale. The vessel's anchor dragged, her tiller broke, and she commenced to leak. A message was despatched by telephone from Boss Island to the coxswain of the Life-boat, and in response the Life-boat Hugh and Ann was launched at 12.40 P.M., proceeded to the vessel, rescued her crew, consisting of two men, and landed them at Brighouse Bay.

SOUTHEND (ESSEX).—A telegram having been received from Lloyd's Station at the pierhead stating that a schooner was ashore on the Nore Sand with signals of distress flying, while a strong gale was blowing from N.N.E., accompanied by a very rough sea and snow, on the 21th March, the Life-boat Theodore and Herbert was launched at 5 P.M., and found the stranded vessel was the Hugh Miller of Inverness, laden with salt, from Middlesborough for London. She had driven over the Nore Sand on to the Grain Spit, and had lost her rudder. The Life-boat remained by her until the following morning at the master's request, but as there was no prospect of getting her off, the crew of six men got into the Life-boat, which then made for Sheerness, arriving there at 11 A.M. At 12 o'clock the schooner rolled over on her beam ends and became a total wreck. In consequence of the severity of the gale, the Life-boat had to remain at Sheerness until 6 o'clock on the following morning, when she was able to leave, arriving at Southend pier-head at 9 o'clock.

ALDEBURGH and HARWICH.—In response to a message received by telephone, the Life-boat Aldeburgh was launched at 5.30 A.M. in a whole gale from N.E. and a terrific sea, with very heavy rain and snow squalls, and saved the crew of three men from the ketch Ludovicus, of and from West Hartlepool, bound for Orford with coal. The Life-boat then made for Har- wich and landed the rescued men. To return to her station would have entailed a dead beat to windward against a very heavy gale, and as, moreover, there was too much sea on the shoals to allow of a landing at Aldeburgh, it was decided to remain at Harwich until the gale moderated. At 5.30 on the following afternoon the Life-boatmen were sitting at tea when the signal gun was heard, a message by telephone having been received reporting a vessel on the Maplin Sands.

The crew at once manned the Life-boat, proceeded to the sands, and found the s.s.

Pampa, of and from Hamburg for San Francisco, with a general cargo and twenty-four persons on board. The Aldeburgh Life-boat reached her at 7.45 P.M., and shortly afterwards the Institu- tion's Harwich steam Life-boat City of Glasgow and the private Life-boat True to the Gore, of Walton-on-the-Naze, arrived.

The Life-boatmen assisted to jettison the cargo in order to lighten the vessel, and with the help of two tugs she was got off the sand at 3.30 on the morning of the 28th, and proceeded to Gravesend, some of the Life-boatmen accompanying her.

The Aldeburgh then started for home and just after daylight observed a vessel apparently ashore. The 8 win Middle light-vessel was spoken, and those on board having stated that they thought the vessel was stranded, and that they were about to fire guns for a Life-boat, the Aldeburgh proceeded to her and found she was the barque Magdimeta, of Kisor, laden with ice from Christiania for London.

She was lying on the Heape Sands, her back was broken and she was full of water.

Her crew of ten men were saved by the Life-boat, which then resumed her journey to Aldeburgh, falling in with the SS Moness, of Hartlepool, which very kindly gave her a tow, and arriving at her station at 1.45 P.M. The Aldeburgh Life-boat- men were thus engaged on service more than a hundred hours, and contributed to the saving of thirty-seven lives.