Whitehills, Banfishire.—4th December.

At 7.10 A.M. the coastguard reported that a distress flare had been seen about three miles N.W. of East Head. A strong north-westerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The weather was thick, and bitterly cold. The motor life-boat Civil Service No. 4 was launched at 7.35 A.M., but could find no trace of any vessel in distress. She spoke a steamer which reported that she had seen no signals. It is thought that the reported flare probably was the glare from a passing drifter's engine-room fire when it was being stoked. When the life-boat returned to Whitehills huge seas were running across the harbour entrance, and the coxswain ordered the drogue out.

Just then a very heavy sea swept over the life-boat, and Alexander Mair, the man who was attending to the drogue rope, was washed overboard. He held on to the rope, however, and was pulled back on board. The life-boat, slightly damaged by the force of the sea, returned to her station at 10.30 A.M., after an arduous trip made under very bad conditions. The Institution sent a letter of appreciation to Coxswain A. Findlay and his crew, and an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was granted to each member of the crew.—Rewards, £14 175. 9d..