BANKING RETURNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 5

BANKING RETURNS.

The following are the bank returns for the December quarter, compared with those for the two preceding quarters :—: — December September June Quarter Quarter Quarter 1593. 1893. 1893. Deposits— £ £ £

Surplus of assets over liabilities ... 3,202,8^7 2,842.411 2,494,386 Last quarter we had to announce a falling oS in deposits of £362,000, and there was reason to hope that this was only temporary. We regret, however, to see from the above figures that it has proved progressive, and the total falling off in the past quarter is £432,000, making very nearly £800,000 decline in the six months, of which total £292,000 is in deposits at interest, £479,000 in deposits at call, and £25,000 in Government deposits. The evidence of the Government Savings Bank returns for the past quarter does not show any large transfers of these deposits to that department, for though there was an increase on the quarter of £62,000 in the amount deposited as compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year, there was also an increase in withdrawals to the amount of £117,000, so that although £503,666 wan paid into the Savings Bank account £550,575 was withdrawn. We can only suppose then that the amount withdrawn from the banks has in some way left the colony. If it had merely changed hands within the colony it would only have been a transfer from one account to another. The advances only show a very slight increase on the quarter, and an actual decrease of £77,000 in the six months. The drawing-in which has been taking place within the last month or two has hardly had time to tell yet appreciably on the figures, having been mainly a refusal of fresh advances. The position is one which necessarily means a tight money market, and the next returns for the March quarter, after a ■ good deal of the wool clip will have been shipped and come to account, will be looked for with some anxiety. There is a yery slight increase in the note circulation for the quarter, but in the. six months the decline is £78,000. There is also a decline of £107,000 in coin and bullion held. The return la on the whole the least satisfactory that we have had to chronicle for a considerable period.

The Taieri Advocate learns that Messrs Hastie and Gray have opened up a quarry of lime at Brighton, which is said to be of excellent quality. Mr H. F. Edger, at present registrar of |the Native Land Court in Wellington, is to be appointed a judge of the Native Land Court. Mr Edger -is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, and has been long connected with the Native department. He is the only son of the late Rev. S. Edger, of Auckland, whq came out to New Zealand 31 years ago with the Nonconformist settlers who colonised the Albertland district, in. the province of Auckland.

dvances — Discounts ... 2,336,528 Other advances ... 10,335,338 Totals ... 12.671,866 2,305,175 10,320,551 12,625,726 2,290,940 10,458,092 12,749,032 rovernnient securities ... 108,172 108,301 100,235 •ther securities 2,241,828 2,232,426 2,225,250 Jbtes in circulation ... 940,418 loin and bullion held ... 2,601,948 issets 18,216,258 labilities ... 15,013,381 933,220 2,708,055 18,272,017 15,429,606 ,1,018,545 2,697,561 18,382,870 15,888,484

At interest... 9,702,868 At call 3,838,174 Government 444,270 Totals ... 13,985,312 9,835,395 4,055,383 526,566 14,417,344 9,995,086 4,317,397 469,024 14,781,607