A Government spokesman said on Friday that Bermudians and foreigners had applied to succeed Barrie Meade, who became Solicitor General in 1992.

Meanwhile, the $94,044-a-year position of Collector of Customs -- currently held by Gerry Ardis -- has attracted 14 applications, also from Bermuda and overseas.

Wednesday was the deadline for applications for the two advertised jobs.

The applications will be reviewed by the Public Service Commission.

"It will take some time for the process to be completed,'' said the Government spokesman.

He added the job of Solicitor General had been advertised locally and overseas.

According to local ads, the position entailed supervising criminal prosecutions and all civil litigation involving Government and giving advice to heads of Department and Ministers.

It also involved the conduct of major criminal prosecutions and civil cases, the ads stated.

Mr. Meade -- who could not be contacted for comment yesterday -- was appointed Bermuda's number two officer in March 1992, when he was 49.

He replaced Andre Garneau. At the time the post attracted a salary of $80,340-a-year.

Mr. Meade, who has also been acting Attorney General, was former Senior Crown Counsel.

A former Policemen in his native England, he came to Bermuda in 1963.

He served in the Bermuda Police Service, retiring in the late 1970s while an inspector.

As a Crown Counsel, one of his notable cases involved Christopher Dillas, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of psychiatrist Dr. Richard Wilkie.

In 1994, Mr. Meade was turned down as a replacement for then-Attorney General Walter Maddocks.

Mr. Ardis, 59, who announced his retirement last month, is expected to leave towards the end of September.

He joined the Customs administration as Collector seven years ago following a career in the Bermuda Police Service which he joined in 1966, coming from Northern Ireland.

Over the last five years he has seen more than 700 drug seizures, 400 people -- including 169 international drug runners -- arrested and 780 kilos of drugs worth more than $53 million seized.

According to the ads, Mr. Ardis's successor would work under the policy directive of the Financial Secretary.

He would be responsible for the management, administration and development of Customs.