BANKING RETURNS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9340, 3 February 1892, Page 2

BANKING RETURNS.

Following are the bank returns for the quarter ending 31st December 1891 compared as usual with those of the two preceding quarters :-— DEPOSITS. December September June Government... 2"SBS_ i"3&« »& At interest ... 8,874,920 8,702 385 fi 529 Bfifi At call - 3,32.;8U g'.li^li ||_;490 £12,609,823 £12,809,926 £12,892,225 ADVANCES. Discounts ... £2,303,230 £2,301,115 £2 302 070 Other advances 9,336,966 8,875,0JW 8,7991051 £11,640,196 £11,179,145 £11,101,121 Othersecurities £2,227,850 £2,354,262 £2,424,781 Notes in circu« lation ... £946,045 £908,165 £965,959 Government securities ... £100,000 £100,801 £100,000 Coin and bullion held ... £2,357,587 £2,354,262 £2,424,781 fsspts . ... £17,016,900 £16,555,866 £16,382,382 Liabilities - 13,711,317 13,802!990 l^aifroi Excess of assets over liabilii ties ..: £3,305,583 £2,752,876 £2,644,681 The changes are as follow :—The deposits at interest have increased by L 172.555, but these at call have decreased byL295,474, so that with a slight decline in Government deposits the total has declined by L 140.103, no very large amount on a total of over L 12,500,000. The advances have increased by L 461,051 entirely under the head of " other advances"— practically overdrafts—the discuonts having remained at almost exactly the same figures for the three quarters. The alterations are doubtless in a great measure due to requirements for station expenses, which reach their maximum in the December quarter while only a small^ portion of the value of the clip comes to credit in that quarter.. The increase in note circulation of L 38,000 np doubt indicates to a great extent sums paid in wages. Although there is more money employed, the advances are still a million under the deposits, so that the.banks are still strong and would doubtless be glad to get more money out on safe terms. Next quarter large sums should come m for the wool clip and earlier crops, of which large shipments will be made. The sums represented by "other securities" are chiefly those included in the Bank of New Zealand globo assets, and these begin to show some slight reduction (L 200,000 in six months) indicating a process of gradual realisation.