to the people of Bermuda was described yesterday as "an exciting day for Bermuda, particularly for the art world and the historians of this Island''.

Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs the Hon. Leonard E. Gibbons made the comment at a Cabinet Office ceremony in which he publicly thanked Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Elliott for their "magnificent'' gesture.

Mr. Gibbons, who said he had been "over the moon'' ever since he had heard about the gift, described the pictures, which depict scenes of early 18th century Bermuda as "one of a kind and beyond value''.

He also said that although the colour and quality of the paintings was remarkably good, the Elliotts had also undertaken to pay for the cost of their conservation "so this is not a gift that's going to cost the taxpayer anything. We are all very grateful for this gift.'' The collection has been placed on permanent loan with the Bermuda Archives, with 12 of the paintings due to go on show to the public when the new Ondaatje Room of the National Gallery opens on April 16.

Archivists Mr. John Adams and Miss Karla Hayward said that due to the fragility of the paintings, and following normal museum practice, they would only be placed on display for about three months at a time and that some conservation work would be required.

Thomas Driver was employed by the British authorities, probably the Royal Navy, as an artist/surveyor between 1814 and 1836. His paintings were the earliest depictions ever made, covering every section of Bermuda. Each picture includes the names and owners of many of the houses shown and there are also rare and detailed pictures of locally-built ships.

Also on hand was National Gallery chairman, Mr. Jay Bluck, who said he was thrilled by the gift: "One of the reasons the gallery was created was to provide a setting where these priceless paintings can be protected from ultra-violet rays and high humidity and to be able to show them for a short length of time for everyone to enjoy. We will be working closely with Archives so that we can preserve our wonderful heritage that is now developing.'' It is understood that the collection, auctioned in London last year, was later purchased by Mrs. Fay Elliott for an undisclosed price.

A collection of the Driver watercolours was sold at Phillips auction house in London late last year for 49,500. A poor catalogue description was blamed for the low price, estimated by art dealers as being a third of its true value.

Mr. Gibbons, who said that the Elliotts, who had only been residents of Bermuda for two years, had already made a presentation to Bermuda of a rare book by George Berkeley, the founder of Berkeley Institute.

Asked why they had chosen to make such a generous gift, Mrs. Elliott replied: "Bermuda is our adopted country. We already have an art collection and we wanted to share this with the people of Bermuda.'' GIFT FOR BERMUDA -- The people of Bermuda were presented with 35 rare Thomas Driver watercolours of the Island by Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Elliott in a ceremony at the Cabinet Office yesterday. Seen with three of the paintings are (left to right) Mrs. Fay Elliott, archivist Mr. John Adams, Minister Community and Cultural Affairs, The Hon. Leonard E. Gibbons, assistant archivist Ms Karla Hayward, Mr. Geoffrey Elliott and chairman of the Bermuda National Gallery Mr. Jay Bluck.