Blyth, Northumberland.

THE Blyth Life-boat Station was established in 1826, when the Newcastle Branch Association applied to the Institution for a Life-boat, and the Station was taken over by the Institution in 1866. It has a record of 192 lives rescued, and in 1916, when eight men were rescued from the Norwegian barque Ander, of Brevik, the Coxswain, W. Bushell, was awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum, and presented with a Silver Cup by the King of Norway.

The 192 lives have not been saved without loss. In 1841, when going out to take instructions to a brig from Archangel, the Life-boat was driven under by a heavy sea, and before she could right herself another sea struck her, she capsized and ten men were drowned.

For many years there was a second Station at Blyth, which, in 1900, was renamed Cambois, and closed in 1927.

It had a record of forty-eight lives saved.

The Station's Centenary was celebrated on 21st November. The Mayor of Blyth presided, and, in the absence of Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management, Mr.

George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institution, handed to the Mayor the Vellum, signed by the Prince of Wales, expressing the Institution's appreciation of the Station's work. In making the presentation, Mr. Shee paid a tribute to the Life-boatmen of Blyth, men who made splendid sailors, although the Crew was largely recruited among the mining population.

Mr. Shee also formally opened the houses which have been built for the Coxswain and Motor Mechanic near the Boathouse. The deeds of conveyance of the land were handed to Mr. Shee by a representative of Lord Ridley, who has generously presented the land on which the cottages are built to the Institution. Before the Centenary Ceremony Mr. Shee was the guest of the Blyth Rotary Club, and gave an address on the Life-boat Service.

Aberdeen.

The first Life-boat on the coasts of the British Isles was built and stationed at Tynemouth in 1789. The builder of the boat was Henry Greathead, and during the next fourteen years he built thirty-one Life-boats, of which one was stationed at Aberdeen. Of the work of this first Life-boat the Institution has no records. In 1853 the Harbour Commissioners stationed a Life-boat at Aberdeen. This was known as the " Beach Life-boat." In 1875 they stationed a second Life-boat, which was known as the " Harbour Life-boat." These two Life-boats remained in service until 1925, and between them they rescued 589 lives. At the beginning of that year, at the request of the Harbour Commissioners, the Institution took over the Stations, the Commissioners agreeing to contribute £550 a year towards their maintenance, and handing over to the Institution a legacy, received in 1894 to provide a Life-boat for Aberdeen, which by 1925 amounted to £3,000.

The Institution at once laid down for Aberdeen a Motor Life-boat of the largest type, the 60-feet Barnett Twin Screw, costing over £14,000, and meanwhile sent two Pulling and Sailing Lifeboats temporarily to Aberdeen. The Motor Life-boat went to the Station in October, 1926, and when, at the beginning of 1929, the celebrations of the Centenary of the Aberdeen Life-boat Station was held, she had been out on service ten times and had rescued six lives.

The presentation of the Centenary Vellum, signed by the Prince of Wales, was made on 25th January last, on the occasion of a conference of Life-boat workers in the Aberdeen area. The chair was taken by Mr George M.

Cook, D.L., in the unavoidable absence of the Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, one of the patrons of the Branch, and the presentation was made by the Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O., V.D., a Vice-President of the Institution and Chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council. Among those present were Lady Provost Lewis, Baillie Reid, Commander the Hon. A. D. Cochrane, D.S.O., M.P., Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Council, Mrs. Adam Maitland, President of the Aberdeen Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and representatives of the Branches at Aberdeen, Banff, Buckie, Fraserburgh, Newburgh, Peterhead, Stonehaven and Whitehills.

In making the presentation the Duke of Montrose said that Aberdeen had fully earned this tribute to its services for the Life-boat Cause. He then spoke of the work of the Scottish Council, which was carrying out an intensive campaign for funds. What was urgently wanted was a large, steady annual subscription list. Other parts of the British Isles were providing £6,000 a year towards the upkeep of the Scottish Life-boats.

That was not fair. Scotland should be able to maintain her own Life-boats. ".

Baillie Reid, the Senior Magistrate, received the Vellum, in the absence of the Lord Provost. He spoke of the city's appreciation of the fact that the Institution had provided it with such a fine Life-boat, and said that the Vellum would be preserved with the greatest care in the archives of the city. Commander Cochrane also spoke, and Mrs.

Adam Maitland gave an address on the work of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

A resolution was unanimously passed by which the delegates undertook to consider at once what special efforts could be made in their areas, and to submit proposals within two months..