BANK OF N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1930, Page 6

BANK OF N.Z.

69 YEARS OLD

SOME PAST HISTORY

‘ Bv Telegraph—Prese AasoonUion' WELLINGTON, October 16. To-day the Bank of New Zealand commences its 70th. year of its existence, having opened for business in Auckland on October 16th. 1861. The Wellington • branch was opened in January loth. 1862. The first balance sheet of the bank at March 31st. 1862, disclosed assets of £000,979. At March 31st. 1930 these figures had grown to £54,774,366. There .were. 813 names on the list of shareholders at March 31st. 1862. Tn that year the bank had only 11 branches and agencies in New Zealand. To-day it has 150 branches in the Dominion, two in Australia, two in Fiji and one in Samoa. 'Hie oldest continuous customer. 6f the Bank is believed to be P. Le Quesne of Hamilton, who opened an account in 1866. Le Quesne, hale and hearty, celebrated his ninety-fourth birthday on October 7th.

The Government of New Zealand which is a vgry large shareholder in the Bank has derived a total revenue in dividends and taxation amounting to £540,154. for the last financial year. Sir Henry Buokleton- General Manager of the . Bank entered into its service in Sydney on December 16th. 1878 and will shortly complete his fifty-second year of service.