Dover, Kent.-—At 3.15 in the morning of the 23rd of November, 1949, Lloyd's signal station reported a vessel stranded on the blockships at the western en- trance to the harbour. At 3.30 the life-boat Southern Africa left her moor- ings in a rough sea, with a fresh south- south-west gale blowing. The vessel, the steam drifter Thrifty, of Lowestoft, was being towed clear by a motor boat.

The life-boat stood by until the drifter anchored, and as the skipper said she was not leaking, returned to her station, arriving at 4.45.—Rewards, £7 5s..