BANK RETURNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13109, 24 April 1903, Page 5

BANK RETURNS.

[Pjee Pkess Association.] [ WELLINGTON, April 23. The bank returns for the first quarter of the year show heavy increases in the volume of fixed and free deposits, the aggregate increase being in excess of £1,500,000. Advances .show a moderate increase, being only £294,887 in excess *f the corresponding period of last year. Discounts exhibit a slight shrinkage! The note circulation is 'substantially larger, being £60,131 in excess of the March quarter of 1902, and there is also a decided expansion in the metal.. reserve, the aggregate showing an excess of £248,700. Liabilities exceed assets by £613,655, while for the corresponding period of last year there was an excess of assets amounting to £913,593. | The assets in March last amounted to £19,342,084; in the preceding March to £19,029,139. The liabilities at the end of March this year were £19,955,739, and at the end of the first quarter of 1902 £18,115,546. The following figures show the liabilities and assets of each bank: Bank of New . Zealand—Liabilities £10,044,090, assets £7,731,609. Union Bank .of Australia—£2,6o3,932, £2,227,450. Bank of New South, Wa1e5—£2,839,549, £3,640,351. Bank of Australasia £2,895,726. _ National Bank of N»w Zealand—" £2,831,600, £2,846,948. Turning to advaneas, the returns disclose an increase of £294,887 as compared with a year ago, while last year exhibited an increase of £592,291 over the previous year. Deposits show an abnormal increase, fixed deposits being £318,205 more than atx the corresponding date of last year. The fixed deposits are as under: —Bank of New Zealand £3,966,058, Union £1,232,721, New South Wales £1.546.471, Australasia £676,250, National £1,315,143; total £8,736,644.