DECEMBER 24TH. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL, AND APPLEDORE, DEVON.

During the afternoon information was received from the coastguard that a vessel appeared to be in difficulties about five miles west-north-west of Hartland Point. A westnorth- west gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The Padstow No. 1 motor life-boat Princess Mary was launched at 4.45 and spoke a vessel. She was probably the one she was looking for, but she did not need any help.

The life-boat returned to her station at 7.30 on Christmas morning. She had been out for fifteen hours. The Appledore motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 5.30 and searched, but found nothing. She put into Clovelly Roads for shelter during the night and reached her station at 10.30 on Christmas morning. She had been out for seventeen hours. For these long and arduous trips an increase in the usual money awards on the standard scale was made to each member of the crews of both life-boats. Padstow : standard rewards to crew and helpers, £18 3s. ; additional rewards to crew, £6 1s. 6d. : total rewards, £24 4s. 6d. Appledore: standard rewards to crew and helpers, £26 19s. ; additional rewards to crew, £6 1s. 6d. ; total rewards, £33 0s. 6d..