A Glimpse of the National Bank.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 2, 25 September 1880, Page 12

A Glimpse of the National Bank.

One of the first things to strike a neAv chum Avhen he lands in an Antipodean port is the extraordinary number of banks. They are, or perhaps I should say they appear to be, almost as numerous as public-houses and like the farfamed gin palaces of Whitechapel and Seven Dials, they go in for a good deal of external display. The queer little hou-es in Avhich branches of the Bank of England and the London and Westminster do business would never suit the celebrated Bank of Hoky Poky, or the Combined Association of Fiddle-de-dee. The outside, directors are aAvare, goes a great Avay toAvards seducing customers inside, and Avith so many banks to struggle over so f eAv carcasses, no means of securing success is ever left untried. One of the pluckiest of colonial banking corporations is the National Bank of NeAv Zealand. The National is a younger brother of the Bank of NeAV Zealand and has, I am told, clone the latter a great deal of harm. In Tauranga and other country toAvns, business men are divided into tAvo cliques, viz., National men and NeAv Zealand men. As nearly all settlers and storekeepers have OA^erclrafts the tAvo banks Avield extraordinary poAver and (many of us knoAV this to our cost) they are not chary of using it. One of the Avorst tilings an unlucky Avight can do is offend a bank manager. If ever bad tinies come let the poor beggar look out. In a quiet business-like Avay the last drop of blood Avill be Avrung out of him ancl even Avhen he is reduced to a flabby impecunious corpse, his enemy Avill jump on him. It must be the hope of securing this great influence Avhich makes young fellows so anxious to get into banks. OtlierAvise, the life doesn't strike me as being A T ery tempting. The clerks Avork till all hours of the night, and the slightest lache or error is recorded against them. At the Auckland office of the National, the employees from the manager doAviiAvard are remarkably good looking. They are also (strange fact) invariably civil. - Our artist has chaffed the teller and ledger clerks someAvhat, but his etchings, I need scarcely say, are only chaff and mean nothing.

Mr. Hean, the manager of the National Bank, though nofc perhaps universally popular, is a great favourite Avith a certain set. His appearance strikes cA r en strangers as prepossessing. He has a pleasant face and good complexion, dresses neatly and Avell, is seldom seen Avithout a cigar in his hand and a flo Aver in his buttonhole, and affects bright coloured neckties. FeAV people, I should imagine, knoAv ;how to enjoy life more or to live better. Mr. Hean indeed bears the reputation of being something of a " bon vivant." Nine out of ten colonists merely feed — he dines. His little dinners are celebrated in toAvn, and no one Avith any regard for the good things of this world Avas ever IcnoAvn to say " Nay" to his invitation. With the ladies, the manager of the National Bank is nearly as great a favourite as is the accountant, Mr. Coates. His manners are "quite perfect, my dear ;" moreover he is that " rara avis" a rich bachelor. In business, Mr. Hean is not. rirmmir declareth. quite SO pleasant a man to know. The head of a bank Avith no foolish leanings toAvards kindly indulgence or undue clemency, he has occasionally to act Avith apparent severity and gets maligned in consequence. He has lioavever, to my certain knoAvledge, done many kindnesses to unfortunate debtors though Avith less fuss than other managers assume. The accountant of the National Bank holds the proud position of being the handsomest man in Auckland. He is also immensely popular. Everybody likes Jim Coates. I am sorry to say our artist has not been very successful either Avith Mr. Hean or Mr. Coates. Some day soon he must try another of the former.

— Mr. Broome, the Colonial Secretary, will succeed Sir George BoAven at Mauritius.}