to a power outage affecting about 10,000 homes early on Monday.

A Belco spokeswoman said the power went out shortly before 5.15 a.m. and power was restored at 6 a.m. The cooling system failure caused a "load shift'' in the power station and engineers worked to find an alternative way to operate the engine. It was restarted by 9 a.m.

Specialist engineers from the company that supplied the new engines, BWSE are still in Bermuda monitoring the first months of the machine's operation and worked with Belco's staff.

HIGH DEMAND FOR PACKAGE SERVICE BUC High demand for package service An overseas package service is holding over all new membership applications to the New Year due to the overwhelming demand it is experiencing.

IBC's Zip Express (ZIPX) customer services manager Elizabeth Schaefer said: "We are delighted with the demand for the ZIPX service. "To ensure we can continue to provide the highest quality of service over the holiday season, we have taken the decision to hold any new membership applications for this year for processing until the New Year.

"Any applications held over will take top priority in January.'' Applications made between December 12 and 31 will be affected.

IBC Bermuda and its affiliates in the US, UK and Canada provide local customers with foreign shipping addresses and a comprehensive shipping, handling and Customs clearance service for packages and mail from anywhere in the world.

ZIPX also has a dedicated aircraft flying daily to Bermuda which ensures packages are delivered quickly and are not bumped during the peak shopping season when other airlines have already switched to smaller planes with limited cargo space.

FESTIVE SPIRIT COMES TO BOTANICAL GARDESN ENT GVT Festive spirit comes to Botanical Gardens Bermuda's Botanical Gardens is being swept up in the festive spirit with a variety of musical productions which started yesterday.

The Dance of the Woodlands Christmas horticultural display and musical entertainment began at lunchtime yesterday afternoon in the JJ Outerbridge Building in Paget. School choirs and bands, as well as top local entertainers, were expected to be on hand to entertain the crowds with carols, seasonal tunes and musical arrangements between now and December 20.

But there were also hundreds of Poinsettias and other various sub-tropical and tropical house plants on show, along with Christmas trees that are decorated with all natural materials.

Pianist Tony Barry was to kick off the shows yesterday at 12.15 p.m..

Paget Primary School and Berkeley Institute were taking part, and today pupils from Mount St. Agnes will take the floor from 12.30 p.m..

Others taking part are Saltus Grammar School, Happy Talk Pre-School and Huntley Septimus and Horace Watson.

SALVATION ARMY TO BOOST CHRISTMAS SPIRITS CHU Salvation Army to boost Christmas spirits Residents will be able to spread some Christmas cheer with the Salvation Army.

The Bermuda branch is to use the International Christmas Cheer Kettle at various spots around the Island to raise funds for the festive hamper scheme.

Called "Simpson's Pot'', the idea dates back to the last century when the Salvation Army placed the pots around San Francisco to collect for the poor.

Next Thursday, Saturday and the following Wednesday the pot will be at Windsor Place. Manned by Salvation Army representatives. It will be there from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

Others will be at different locations across the Island.

They hope it will help the fund to give hampers and clothing to 500 needy families.