Mr. Joseph Patrick O'Neill recently arrived on the Island and moved into Chelston, the US Consul's residence in Paget.

Dr. Stephen Kish, who had served as acting Consul General since July, said Mr.

O'Neill was a Minister Counsellor, the second-highest rank in the American foreign service.

Washington wanted a high-ranking diplomat in the Consulate on Middle Road, and it was also felt Dr. Kish and his wife, Marie, needed help in running the busy office, he said.

Dr. Kish had been hired as deputy principal officer and his wife as administrative officer. With no Consul named to succeed Mr. Ebersole Gaines, the couple had been sharing the extra work. The consular officer fell ill, further adding to the staff shortage.

Mr. O'Neill, who was in Washington on the weekend and could not be reached for comment, will "be down here probably until there is a political appointee,'' Dr. Kish told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Professional diplomats hold most foreign Consular postings, but the American Consul to Bermuda has been a political appointee since 1982.

Mr. O'Neill has served in Eritrea and Addis Ababa, among other postings, Dr.

Kish said.

Meanwhile, last weekend a yard sale was held at Chelston to get rid of some extra furniture.

The Consulate normally had four officers and four households, but because Dr.

Kish and his wife lived together, there was an extra set, Dr. Kish said. Beds, mattresses, and some other surplus items from Chelston were also sold, he said.

The sale had created some concern the Americans were sharply cutting back their Consular representation in Bermuda and vacating Chelston in anticipation of the closure of the US Naval Air Station.

"I'm amazed,'' Dr. Kish said. "It was strictly a garage sale.''