F.-l

X

Money Obdees. The following 19 additional money-order offices were opened—Matamata, Port Fitzroy, Tikokino, Karangahape, Mount Eden, Clevedon, Liehfield, Matakana, Eketahuna, Johnsonville, Mauricevrlle, Culverden, Seacliff, Chertsey, Little Eiver, Norsewood, Tapu, Ellesmere, Pungarehu. Two money-order offices were closed—Hurunui (Christchuroh) and Portobello (Dunedin). The total number of money-order offices open at the end of the year was 277. 155,680 money orders, for £547,755 2s. 9d.,were issued, against 188,622 orders, for £581,395 Bs. 9d., in 1885. The falling-off is largely due to the increased use made of postal notes. 83,389 postal notes, for £34,980 6s. 9d., were sold during the year. 129,242 orders, for £471,185 75., were paid, against 159,335 orders, for £490,686 7s. 5d., paid in 1885. The expansion of the postal-note business is mainly the explanation of the apparent decrease. 80,038 postal notes, for £33,207 os. 6d., were paid. The number of money orders issued for payment in the United Kingdom, the Australian Colonies, the United States, Canada, &c, and the Continent of Europe, and other foreign places, through the London Post Office, was 42,082, for £135,478 19s. 9d. 15,369 orders, for £59,163 ss. 9d., were received from places outside the colony for payment in New Zealand. The balance against the colony on money-order account was therefore £76,316. In 1885 the balance against the colony was £90,709. The returns show that the money-order business between New Zealand and the Australian Colonies is increasing largely (vide table No. 1). 16,568 telegraph money-orders, for £62,048 7s. 10d., were transmitted, against 17,806 orders, for £62,202 75., in 1885. The revenue derived from money-order commission was £8,541 7s. 10d., a decrease of £1,011 12s. 9d. compared with the previous year's business ; but, taking the postal-note commission into account, the net decrease was only £371 9s. 2d. The exchange of money orders with foreign countries, through the medium of the London Post Office, shows a fairly satisfactory increase of 159 orders. Postal Notes. The success which followed the introduction of postal notes, as shown by the results of the first quarter's business, published in the last report, has been more than maintained during the year. 83,389 postal notes, for £34,980 6s. 9d., were sold; and 80,038, for £33,207 os. 6d., were paid. The notes most in demand were those of the Is. value, of which 15,082 were sold. The postal-note commission amounted to £640 3s. 7d., which is £140 in excess of the estimate. It may be remarked that of the postal notes sold, only £1,133 worth remained unpaid at the end of the year. Savings Banks. The number of offices open at the end of the year for the transaction of savings-bank business was 271. 17 additional offices were established and two closed during the year. 21,671 new accounts were opened, against 20,661 in 1885; 16,757 accounts were closed, against 16,421 the previous year. The following table gives the total number of savings-bank accounts open on the 31st December, 1886, with classified balances; also the number of open accounts compared with the number open at the end of 1885 :—

137,989 deposits, amounting to £1,248,405 6s. lid., were received during the year; the average amount of each deposit being £9 os. lid. In 1885 the average was £10 4s. Id. 89,182 withdrawals for £1,336,287 6s. 4d. were made; the average of each being £14 19s. Bd. The average in 1885 was £14 18s. The withdrawals exceeded the deposits by £87,881195. 5d.; while in 1885 the deposits were in excess of the withdrawals by £76,695 14s. lid. The large withdrawals were principally due to the high rates of interest offered by private banks and loan companies.

Postal District. Not oxceeding £20. Over £20 Over £50 Over £100 Over £200 Over £300 and under and under and under and under and under £50. £100. £200. £300. £400. Over £400 n and under £500., ±ouu - Total. Auckland Blenheim christchurch .. Dunedin jisborne 3reymouth Bokitika Invercargill Napier kelson Sew Plymouth 3amaru rhames rimaru Wanganui Wellington Westport 6,953 1,164 12,309 10,058 451 1,203 724 2,119 2,380 2,134 1,129 969 1,821 1,653 2,260 9,334 707 1,060 181 1,661 1,480 68 182 122 364 401 269 206 188 232 316 337 1,057 119 615 110 1,062 894 37 117 77 195 207 155 100 138 153 158 171 592 71 409 64 736 543 16 84 43 108 131 99 69 75 95 98 100 403 39 116 16 188 137 4 19 28 30 27 30 18 14 30 27 27 157 15 27 3 43 35 4 4 4 6 4 6 6 8 4 3 8 53 1 23 1 27 17 ' 3 2 3 2 4 9 22 10 *2 2 9,212 1,539 16,048 13,174 580 1,614 998 2,827 3,155 2,695 1,536 1,392 2,337 2,261 2,910 11,638 955 i 1 2 3 27 2 1 4 4 15 1 Totals .. 57,368 52,366 8,243 8,198 4,852 4,926 3,112 883 219 117 77 74,871 Totals for 1885 3,131 889 253 109 83 69,955