At 7.30 A.M.

on the 19th March, during a N.E. gale, the Coastguard reported that a schooner was flying signals of distress. The Life-boat Queen Victoria was launched, but considerable difficulty was ex- perienced, and she was beaten back broadside on to the rocks. When the tide flowed the boat was got clear, the haul-off warp being found most useful.

In the meanwhile, owing to their efforts to get the boat clear, one of the helpers became exhausted and fell, but he was successfully rescued by his father, assisted by Mr. William Couldrey, the Honorary Secretary. Two of the Life- boatmen also became exhausted through the seas repeatedly breaking over the boat and they had to be landed. When the Life-boat reached the vessel the captain engaged the Life-boatmen to try and save her, and in this they were eventually successful, being helped by a tug which had also come to the vessel's assistance. The Committee of Management, in recognition of the meritorious conduct of the Honorary Secretary and the endangered helper's father, awarded an Aneroid Barometer to the former and made a monetary reward to the latter. The vessel was the schooner Theodora, of Newcastle, and carried a crew of seven hands..