Latest weekly arrival figures show a dramatic 23.3 percent drop.

Just 3,447 holidaymakers came here between February 7 and 13, compared to 4,492 for the same week last year.

Last month hoteliers had voiced hope business would hot up because of the Arctic conditions overseas.

But latest figures show the opposite has happened.

A Government spokesman said: "The drop was due to visitors lost as a result of the bad weather on the East Coast late last week.'' Overall, this year has seen a five percent increase in arrivals compared to 1993.

Some 15,189 people have flown here during January 1 and February 13.

This compares with 14,470 for the same period last year.

XL GENEROSITY FNR Bermuda got a major charitable boost last year from one of its international companies based here.

The XL Foundation, formed by XL Insurance Company to manage its charitable donations, gave more than $450,000 towards the areas of health, education, cultural and community development, an XL spokesman said.

The Foundation has several Bermudian board members.

Included in its grants is a four-year university scholarship of $10,000 a year.

"The Foundation has established policy to give to a broad range of causes,'' XL Insurance chairman Mr. Michael Kevany said.

"It is one of the ways that we have chosen to express our appreciation to the community in which we operate and to help areas that benefit all residents of Bermuda.'' XL Insurance is a wholly owned subsidiary of EXEL Limited.

AIDS FUNDRAISER FNR The Allan Vincent Smith Foundation will hold a special premier screening next Thursday of the hit film Philadelphia.

The Foundation, which was formed to foster awareness of AIDS and support for its victims, will hold a cocktail reception at the Liberty Theatre at 7 p.m.

followed by the film at 8 p.m.

The film, which stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, is about a man with AIDS fighting discrimination. Hanks has been nominated for Best Actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Tickets for the February 24 screening are $25. They can be obtained at Eden, The Body Shop, The Edge and the Foundation's office at Bermuda House Lane off Front Street.

NEW LIBRARY HEAD LIB Miss Grace Rawlins has been appointed Head Librarian of the Bermuda Library, the Community and Cultural Affairs Ministry announced this week.

Miss Rawlins joined the library in 1969 and was the Deputy Head Librarian under Mr. Cyril Packwood who retired last year.

She was educated at Berkeley Institute. After graduating from Morgan State University in Maryland and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, she worked at the New York Public Library in the Bronx.

She has actively participated in the library's out-reach programmes, including radio and television broadcasts and school visits. She assisted with the research and recording for TV of Bermudian Profiles.

BOXED IN . . .

GVT A number of Hamilton Post Office box holders will have to collect their mail from a specially designated stamp counter for about three weeks while extensive internal renovations take place.

Access will be unavailable to box holders HM 1073 to HM 1757 and HM 2469 to HM 2528, Information Services said in a news release this week.

Holders must present the key or other form of identification to collect their mail and they are urged to do it once daily because of limited space. Saturday hours are between 8 a.m. and noon.

The renovations will increase the number of mail boxes at the Post Office and improve service to the public.