while vital rewiring work is carried out at his official residence.

Mr. Masefield is set to move into the former Royal Navy Commander's house at HMS Malabar by the end of April, a project which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And The Royal Gazette can reveal the work on Government House will not be finished until the end of the year.

The finishing touches are now being put to contract negotiations for the electrical refit on the Langton Hill mansion.

But builders and decorators have already finished off preparation work to welcome the Governor to the old Commander's house at Dockyard.

An exact moving date has not yet been finalised and the Governor's wife may delay moving even longer so she can visit relatives in England.

But it is believed the house, known as "The Cottage'', will provide accommodation for the Governor and his wife, their butler, chef and maids. The house will also include a small office and has two large rooms which could handle a reception.

But regular offices will be kept at Government House, despite the electrical renovations.

The cost of the entire project -- to prepare the Royal Navy Commander's House and rewire Government House -- has not been revealed but is expected to be a six-figure sum.

A spokesman for Works and Engineering said negotiations with an unnamed firm were at "an advanced stage''.

He added: "We have got tenders back from different contractors and we are now negotiating with one of them to do the rewiring at Government House.

"Hopefully, fine details should be concluded early next week when everybody has had a chance to review the contract.

"It will run for about eight months but the offices for the Governor and Deputy Governor will still be at Government House,'' he said.

ROYAL BOUQUET -- Joe Pacheo of Locust Hall Farm presents a bouquet of Easter lilies to the Governor, Thorold Masefield and his wife, Jennifer. The flowers are a traditional gift for Her Majesty, The Queen, from the people of Bermuda, and are flown free of charge by British Airways to Buckingham Place.