UNCLAIMED MONEYS.

Forgotten Bank Balances

In the N.Z. Gazette, of January 15th, 190SJ, there ia some interesting reading. In 1898 the Unclaimed Moneys Act was passed, making it imperative on Banks to keep a register of such moneys lying in their hands, and to publish it in the month of January in the journal named. Such a list is now published, " under protest," by the Bank of Now South Wales. It occupies eight pages, covering about SSO names, and showing that no less than £6072 10s was lying in their hands unclaimed.

Among the items aro unclaimed amounts dating away back into the fifties and sixties. Inter alia are the following: —Francis Gifford, editor Evening Post, Wellington, £Hl 6s 10d, September, 1872. Lucky journalist to have so much spare cash lying to his credit forgotten by himself! There aro numerous trust accounts, sums due in bankrupt estates, etc., military men, joint deposits, and balances ranging from 3d to £300. It is difficult to see how so many sums have come to be overlooked and forgotten by customers. It is as well to mention, however, that if these moneys are not claimed within two years, tho total will pass to the credit of tho Government, and will have to be paid over to the general revenue. Looking casually through the long list we find: —Alfred Troop of Cavalry, Bulls, Captain John Stevens, £1 13s 2d (1880); estate of George North (do any of our readers remember that little incident in 1881 ?), £7 7s 3d; Isaac Freeth, cattle-dealer, 10s 2d (1877); Matbew Hammond, farmer, Bulls—dead many yearg— £B 6s lid (1876); John Edward May, cadet, Mount Somers—evidently a remittance man— £iQ 4s (1890); and last, but not least in importance, Masterton Coalprospecting Association (Limited), Henry Edgar Eton, deceased, and Joseph James Smith, printer, to sign cheques, 4s (25th February, 1889). Several of the items have been lying unclaimed for 40 years and upwards, and in numberless eases the persons interested have, years ago, passed the bourne from which no traveller returns. It is by no means an uninteresting schedule to peruse at leisure, as many of the names bring back almost forgotten associations and recall reminiscences of days that are past.