BANKING RETURNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 17

BANKING RETURNS.

The following are the chief items in the bank returns for the March quarter compared with those of the previous quarter and the corresponding quarter of 1892 :—

These returns are very satisfactory as showing a steady increase of private deposits, amounting to £212,000 on the quarter and to no less than £1,170,000 on the year ; while the advances have not increased in the same proportion, showing only an excess of £43,000 for the quarter and of £765,000 for the year. Government deposits also show an increase of £19,000 for the quarter and £73,000 for the year. The notes in circulation at same time show an increase of £15,000 for the quarter and of £31,000 for the year. The banks have also considerably ttrengthened their position as to coin and bullion held, which show an increase of £196,000 for the quarter and of £296,000 for the year. The total coin and bullion is equal to over 10s in the pound of the deposits at call and notes in circulation. Including Government deposits the banks have deposits to the amount of £2,000,000 over and above their advances in the colony, and presumably must be employing some of this money elsewhere, and this is the only unfavourable feature in the returns. The following are the liabilities and assets of the individual binks for the quarter ending

luae sO : — Liabilities. Assets. 5 Zealand °Z £ 6 068,527 15 8 £ 7,096,733 16 7 Jnion Bank of Australia 2,926,295 6 0 2,418,826 Oil 2,450,532 16 7 2,589,389 15 9 ' tralasia 1,327,288 13 9 1,754,643 1 6 National Zealand ..". 1,295,296 3 4 1,806,714 12 4 3olonial Zealand ...' 1,820,544 3 3 2,716,557 17 2 Totals ... £15,888,484 18 7 £18,382,837 4 3

June Quarter 1893. Deposits— £ At interest... 9,995,086 At call 4,317,397 Totals ... 14,312,483 March Quarter 1893. £ 10,056,813 4,044,084 14,100,897 Juno Quarter 1892. £ 9,292,305 3,848,508 13,140,813 Government advances ... 469,024 Discounts ... 2,290,940 Other advances ... 10,458,092 450.C44 ~27297,954 10,408,628 396,933 2,419,080 9,565,226 12,749,032 12,706,582 11,984,306 Notes in cir. culation ... 1,018,545 1,003,393 987,591 Coin and bullion held ... 2,697,561 2,501,902 2,401 265 Government securities ... 100,235 Other securities 2,225,250 Assets 18,382,870 Liabilities ... 15,888,484 120,333 2,221,424 18,150,989 15,627,058 100,000 2,229,709 17,399,006 14,595,503 Surplus of assets over liabilities ... 2,494,336 2,523,931 2,803,803