IN another column we give an account of the very fine service rendered by the crew of the Matthew Simpson, the Berwick-on-Tweed Life-boat, in rescuing the whole of the crew, eleven in number, of the Swedish barque Jacob Baiters, of Gothenburg, which stranded on rocks near the Needle's Eye on the night of the 29th March last.

This incident was brought to the notice of the Swedish Government by the. Swedish Vice-Consul at Berwick, who happens to be the Mayor of Berwick, Alderman Logan, and the Swedish Government acted very promptly in recognising the gallant conduct of the Coxswain, Robert Burgon, the Second Coxswain, James Jamieson, and the crew on this occasion.

Nor were the townspeople of Berwick slow to recognise the honour conferred upon the town, both by the fine service of the Life-boat crew and by the mark of thanks which had been bestowed upon them by a foreign Government. On the 30th September a public presentation of the awards took place in the Town Hall, Berwick, Captain Norman, R.N., J.P., the Chairman of the Branch, presiding over a large audience. Among others present were the Mayor, the Sheriff, Dr. Fraser, the Honorary Secretary of the Berwick Branch, Mrs. and Miss Fraser, Mr. John Barr, the Honorary Treasurer of the Branch, and many others, while the crew were seated in front facing the Chairman.

Captain Norman, who is over eighty years of age, delivered a most interesting and stirring address, and the Medals awarded to Robert Burgon and James Jamieson were handed to them, as well as the sum of £2 to each of them and to the other members of the crew. The Mayor, who distributed the awards, took occasion to appeal to the citizens of Berwick on behalf of the work of the Institution, and pointed out that the example set by the Swedish Government in rewarding the men for the work was one which ought to inspire all friends of the Life-boat cause to maintain it in a flourishing condition.

The meeting was in every way most successful, and has served not only to give additional honour to Coxswain Burgon and his fine crew, but to bring them into closer touch with their fellow-citizens, who, in these busy days, perhaps need to be reminded of the services of the Life-boat, which are so often carried out in the darkness of a winter's night, and which are therefore less apt to obtain the support to which they are entitled than those other charitable movements whose activities are more easily brought under the public eye.