BANKING RETURNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 10

BANKING RETURNS.

Following are the bank returns for quarter ending 31st December, 1896, compared with the corresponding quarter of 1895, and with the previous returns for September quarter, 1896, thus giving the comparison for 12 months and three months :—: —

These figures disclose a considerable falling off in deposits for the quarter — £175,000 on fixed deposits, £139,000 on deposits at call, and £52,000 on Government deposits, but in these items there is an excess of £710,000 compared with the previous year. It was to be expected that money would get into circulation in various wajß, aB for instance in mortgages of real estate, and this is, therefore, not necessarily an unfavourable feature. The advances show an increase of only £145,000 on the quarter, and a decrease of £380*000 on the *eat» Tia most

favourable nigni of improving trade are the 1 increase of £81,000 in the discounts as oompared with previous quarter, and the increase of £52,000 in the note circulation for the same period. These being coincident with a large increase in custom? receipts and railway revenue, indicate some revival in trade, which '; will probably be progressive during thft year, the cheapness of money being a factor which, when public confidence revives, tells upon the ipdustries of the country sooner or later, and brings about a demand which in the end tends to hardening the .rate* of interest. We should not be surprised to find before the end of the ■ year that the banks are able to obtain a better return for their money, though except to a certain extent in goldmiuing shares there is no sign of a speculative tendency. The reserves of bullion remain about the same, and in this respect the banks are, strong. '

Dec. Quarter 1896. Deposits— £ At interest... 8,058,114 At call ... 5,277,212 Government 919,609 Totals ..."1i204,935 Dec. Sept. Quarter Quarter 1895. 1898. £ £ 8.119,559 8.235,98! 4,455,125 6,416.901 969.737 . 971,37; 1 13,544,413 14.624.27J Advances — Discounts ... 1,826,088 Other advances ... 9,353,478 Totals ... 11,179,566 1,758,498 1,745,29* 9,810,717 9,289,09; 11,569:215 11,034,39] Other securities , ♦1,909,5>82* 2,242,274 1,626,951 Government securities ... 437,345 483,235 363,411 Notes in circulation ... 971,046 861,717 .919,391 Coin and bullion held ... 3,29-1,601 3,333,272 3,331,60: