COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2361, 27 October 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christchuroh on Monday, October 24th, were as follows : Spirits, £242 4s 2d ; cigars, .£3O 7s Xld ; wine, £l9 9s ; sugar, .£24 7s 6d; tea, .£3 lis 4d ; ad valorem, £ll3 15s. Total, £433 Is lid. On Tuesday. October 25th, the collections were —Spirits. £53 183 6d; tobacco, £2lO 13s 2d: wine, £63 6s ; sngar. £l2 2s ; toa, £32 5s lOd ; goods by weight, £lO3 6s 6d ; ad valorem, £93 14s. Total, £636 5s Bd. At the usual sitting of the Waste Lands Board, held at Christchurch on Monday, October 24th, sales were made as follows: — Ordinary : Ashley, 54a Or 25p; Geraldine, Ca 2r; Waimate, la 2r 35p. Deferred payments village settlement: Orari No. 2, sa. Total acreage sold, 67a lr 20p. Total cash received, £174 15s. Befunds on account of former purchases were made in the amount of £B7 9s 3d.

BANK OP NEW ZEALAND. [PBBSS ASSOCIATION TBLEOBAM.] Auckland, October 26. The fortieth half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand was held to-day ; the Hon. Jas. Williamson in the chair. The directors" report •was as follows : —The directors congratulate the shareholders on the result of the past half-year's operations, as exhibited in the report and balance sheet. The net profit for the half-year -ended September 30th, after amp ! i appropriations for all known bad or doubtful debts, and in reduction of the Bank's premises and furniture account, amounts to £73,943 2s 4d, to which has to be added the balance from the halfyear ended March 31st, £24,801 16s 3d, giving a total available for division of £98.744 18s 7d, the following appropriation of which is now recommended : —To payment of a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, £50,000; bonus, 5s per share, equal tospercent. per annum, £25,000; balance carried to prcfit and loss new account, £23,744 18s 7d; total, £98,744 18s 7d. The dividend and bonus will be payable at the head office, Auckland, on the 27th instant, and at branches on receipt of advices. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that during the half yeir, which embraces the most stagnant portion of the year, banking profits generally have been adversely affected by the continued plethora of money and consequent low rates, but the large measure of support which the Bank eDJoys enables them today to meet you with a report which is the best evidence of the continued success of our operations. iThe note circulation is practically the same as last year. Bills payable have increased £176,000; deposits and other liabilities have decreased £360,000. Coin and its equivalents are considerably reduced, but advances have been proportionately increased, showing that the reseurces of the Bank are more actively employed than at the last balance period. The profit and loss balance is about the same as last balance. In conclusion he epoke hopefully of the prospects of the colony. The report was adopted, and the retiring directors, Messrs F. Whitaker and Dr. Campbell, were re elected. Messrs G. P. Pierce and B. Tonks were elected auditors.