IT is our pleasing duty to record, from time to time, the rewards which are conferred on our Life-boatmen by the rulers of foreign countries.

The latest instance is a gracious act on the part of H.M. the King of Norway in rewarding the crew of the Skegness Life-boat for their gallant services in saving the crew of the Norwegian brig Azha on 13th November, 1912.

The reward took the shape of a gift of money to each of the crew, and His Majesty's recognition will be appreciated by all supporters and of workers for the Institution, and will act as an incentive to all Life-boatmen to maintain, when- ever opportunity occurs, those high traditions for which they are justly famous.

The wreck of the Azha occurred during a whole N.E. by N. gale, when a very heavy sea was running. The vessel was first seen off Sutton-on-Sea, at about 1.30 P.M., and a message was sent to Skegnesa reporting that a brig was being driven before the gale with her canvas blown away. The Coxswain of the Samuel Lewis Life-boat, Matthew Grunnill, therefore, kept a look-out, and at about 2.30 P.M. he saw a distress signal hoisted on the vessel. Very shortly afterwards she grounded on a sand bank. The Life-boat was launched with all possible speed, and on reaching the vessel rescued the eight men on board. Owing to the severity of the weather, the Coxswain was obliged to take extra hands in order to double-bank the oars.

The crew of the wrecked vessel told a pitiable tale of their experiences during the previous four days. The vessel was an old one, and only her cargo of timber kept her afloat. The crew had had no sleep for four days, during which time the brig had been at the mercy of wind and tide, practically every stitch of canvas having been stripped in the gale.

It will be realised that the help of the Life-boat was only given just in time to avert a disastrous loss of life..