has delayed work at Hamilton docks.

The Royal Gazette received calls from concerned businessmen wondering why there was a delay in the stripping of containers which were sitting on the docks in Hamilton.

Marvin Kelly, of Stevedoring Services, explained that there were labour problems at the docks recently and that efforts to break down the containers which had accumulated during this period were continuing.

But the main reason for the recent delays was the arrival last week of the Birthe Boye , carrying a consignment of steel for the Bermuda Electric Light Company's new engines and smoke stack project. It took stevedores most of the week to off-load the steel.

The late arrival of the Oleander and the recent rain compounded the problem.

Mr. Kelly advises that overtime will be arranged for tonight and possibly Thursday night to help allay the problem.

FIRE OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE BLAZE FIR Fire officials investigate blaze Fire officials are still investigating the cause of a blaze which caused $80,000 worth of damage to a St. George's building.

The St. George's Fire Brigade received the report of a fire at Chick's Bar and Grill around 11:20 p.m. on Monday.

A Fire spokesman said three vehicles from St. George's and two from the Hamilton Fire Service with 13 people attended the extensive structural fire.

There was an "extensive burn'' to an apartment on the second floor of the building and a 30-foot-by-15-foot area of roof was destroyed. An adjacent apartment had heat and smoke damage.

But No injuries were reported.

US CONSUL GENERAL GETS CLEARANCE VIP US Consul General gets clearance Bermuda's next US Consul General is expected to arrive on the Island by the end of the summer.

Larry Owen, who was hand picked for the post by US President Bill Clinton, has received medical and security clearance.

And with the red tape out of the way, he should be ready to start his new job after taking a number of courses in the next few months.

Meanwhile, acting Consul General Bruce Berton confirmed that Chelston, the official residence of the US Consul General, is still on the market.

The 14-acre luxury estate, which has a price tag of $15 million, has been empty since the last US Consul General, Robert Farmer, returned home in March.

Mr. Berton said while no buyer had been found, the property had generated a great deal of interest amongst real estate agents.

GROUP STAGING A SPECIAL CONCERT CHU Group staging a special concert The St. James' Church Stage Group will be marking its 30th anniversary with a special concert celebrating the past 100 years of Island culture.

The organisation evolved out of fund- raising activity in 1968 to help the church guild pay for a banner marking its 50th anniversary.

Every year the group holds an old fashioned variety concert at Easter to raise cash for the church.

But on Friday a special one-off performance will be given at City Hall to commemorate 30 years of fund raising.

Organisers said the distinctive quality of the show had not changed in its history and features old fashioned costumes, timeless songs and sketches centred around anecdotes and events from 100 years ago.

This year's show starts at 8 p.m.. Tickets, costing $10, are now on sale at the People's Pharmacy on Victoria Street, Hamilton and, Bailey's Enterprise and Caesar's Pharmacy in Somerset. Tickets will also be available on the night at City Hall.

VANDALS DESTROY PICNIC BENCH CRM Vandals destroy picnic bench A case of suspected wilful damage is currently being investigated at St.

George's Preparatory School.

Police said it appeared that a red wood picnic bench, worth $400, was dropped from a great height and totally destroyed during the weekend.

The school's principal reported the matter to Police on Monday morning.

FORMER RESIDENT ON FRAUD CHARGES CRM Former resident on fraud charges A former resident of St. George's has been arrested by Police in Louisiana on fraud charges.

A 72-year-old Pembroke woman reported that last year, whilst she was visiting the 53-year-old man in New Orleans, he used her credit card without authorisation and stole her rental car.

After considerable delay, Interpol in Louisiana, where the man now lives, was contacted and the suspect was arrested on April 13. He still had the rental car.

The man was charged with being in possession of stolen property and with eight counts relating to the use of the credit card. He has been remanded in custody in New Orleans. Other charges are pending.

STOLEN HORSE WAS SOLD TO WOMAN CRM Stolen horse was sold to woman Police are investigating a case of a man horsing around.

A man, pretending to be the owner of a horse, sold it to a St. George's woman in April.

Several weeks later she was approached by a number of people, asking her from whom she had bought the horse. She soon realised that the man had given her a false name. She was told the name of the real owner and contacted him.

The ruse became apparent and when the suspect was unable to be found, Police were called in to assist.

HOUSTON COME TO AID OF YACHT RES Houston comes to aid of yacht A motor vessel, the Houston , came to the aid of the Finnish yacht Meriuikku which was in grave difficulty on Monday night.

Harbour Radio yesterday reported that the Houston was diverted by the US Coastguard and passed fuel to the stricken yacht to enable it to get back to Bermuda.

The Merriuikku left Bermuda on May 13 headed for Europe and was some 400 miles out of Bermuda when she ran into difficulty. She was dismasted in heavy weather and the crew were attempting to rig a make-shift sail to get her back to the Island.

Given current conditions, it is expected that the boat should reach the Island sometime during this weekend.

SPEECH OFF BECAUSE OF A MIX-UP CLB Speech off because of a mix-up A mix-up nearly caused Hamilton Rotarians to miss out on a special presentation on tourism yesterday afternoon.

Monitor executive Randall Kempner was due to give a lecture at the club's weekly lunch at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

But he was unable to attend after a mix-up with other appointments.

Former Hamilton Rotary president and lawyer Peter Smith stepped in at the last minute and treated the guests to a talk on the development of the Island's legal system this century.