calling Bermuda a contender for the most boring place on earth.

But journalists who met the ever-so-English reporter during his visit for the Queen's three-day tour of the Island, were slightly amazed by his comments.

If fact, over a couple of dark `n' stormies, Mr. Sweeney -- in between several visits to the men's room -- expressed great interest in how he could get a job on The Royal Gazette ! Can it be so boring here among the susurrating palms, after all? * * * A St. George's flag, a gilded tray, a cedar plaque -- and a bottle of rum.

What do they all have in common? They were presented by local officials to the captain of Royal Majesty , the new St. George's-only cruise ship.

But it was Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge's gift that was the "rum-markable'' one.

Plaque exchanges -- by Transport, Tourism and town officials -- are a tradition on a luxury liner's maiden voyage to Bermuda.

But since the Royal Majesty paid a casual call to the Island two years ago before it was signed as the St. George's ship, quick-witted Jim decided her captain had had enough plaques and expensive objects to fill a dozen walls.

After saying how pleased he was the ship was finally a reality, he presented Capt. Nikolaos Aslanis with a bottle of rum.

"Here you are,'' the Minister said, pulling a bottle of Black Seal from a brown paper bag. "It's to put in that crystal decanter we gave you (two years ago).'' It would make a good dark `n' stormy he told, Capt. Aslanis, who graciously accepted the gift.

PS. There wasn't a mention of that green feeling this time. Rather than give the real reason for declining an invite to cruise from Boston to Bermuda on Royal Majesty 's first voyage, Mr. Woolridge said he had been "much too busy'' to accept.

* * * And St. George's is still hailing the arrival of the Royal Majesty as a major boost for business in the town with passengers landing close to King's Square.

As it arrived at the bright, new terminal entertainers and tourism officials waited in silent anticipation as the doors opened. But there were still several minutes to wait as Customs boarded the ship to check things out.

Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. Jim Woolridge and Director of Tourism Mr. Gary Phillips watched as the first visitors entered Bermuda.

Mr. Theodore and Mrs. Virginia Peary walked down the small gang plank followed by ... nobody.

Seconds again passed, then more, then finally to everyone's relief the promised rush of the other 876 passengers began.

Mr. Phillips grinned. He said: "Well we only promised you a ship, didn't we?'' Bermuda's political leaders had some strong recreational reasons for making sure Friday's hotel workers' strike ended as quickly as possible.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan left the Island on Saturday on a private trip.

Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman flew to Boston that afternoon where he joined the inaugural cruise of the Royal Majesty .

The night before, Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade and Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess also flew to Boston for the cruise.

Not wanting to be left out of the action, cruise buff the Hon. Wayne Furbert, the Community Affairs Minister, flew to Boston with them.

Mr. Furbert didn't have an official invite for the Royal Majesty , so he and his wife paid for their flights. They also planned to pay for their cruise but Majesty officials waived the fares when they came aboard. * * * Texas billionaire and US presidential aspirant Mr. H. Ross Perot has denied rumours there are plans to sell Tucker's Town properties owned by him and his son.

Talk abounded that the sales were planned because Mrs. Perot could not stand the buzz of Mr. Michael Smatt's helicopter tours.

"We're not selling any of our houses,'' an irate Mr. Perot said from his office in Texas. He only hoped the rumour would not lead to a media "feeding frenzy.'' "Our personal goal is to be able to come in and enjoy Bermuda and not be the centre of attention,'' he said. "You literally can create a situation where my family can't go to Bermuda safely.''