Looking at the banking returns for tho whole of the colonies, the most noteworthy featuio is the shrinkage of nearly seven millions in advances, which is attributed chiefly to the disappearance of the City of Melbourne Bank from the Victorian re turns. The same cause accounts largely for the shrinkage of two millions in deposits. The Government Savings Bank received .£2,146,000 in deposits, -which is a largo in crease, while tho withdrawals amounted to .£1,794,000, a decrease of ,£50,000 on tho preceding year. Local banks’ clearances for the your amounted to .£108,509,000, against JJ10J,503,000. Tho transactions in real estate wore of a limited character, and tho total probably will not exceed .£536,000, compared with an estimated £BOO,OOO in 1894. The stagnancy is in some measure due to the unsettled taxation. Co-operative enterprise is not brisk ■ in round figures the capital of companies re gistered during the year was one and three quarter millions. In commercial circles, the statement that 1894 saw bedrock prices was borne out by the advance of prices in 1595. This advance occurred, too, in face of the knowledge that duties would probably be remitted at the close of the year. Tho feature of the year was the interest evoked in the shipment of timber to Europe. The shipments in 189 i were practically nil, while last year there were 2,000,000 ft to credit, with the prospect of a lively trade this year. Owing in groat measure to the shortness of tho clip, tho quantity of wool offered was not proportionate to that of former years, but tho percentage sold was heavier than for 10 years past. The produce trade saw active business and higher prices. The cheapness of maize had a depressing effect on oats, al though after the news of the New Zealand shortness the cereal market became excited, and prices rose steadily. There, again, tariff uncertainties interfered, and prices receded -when tho remission of duties was fixed definitely. Potatoes were in large supply, due to the heavy crop iu Tasmania. The deliveries from that colony to Sydney exceeded those of the year 1891 by 22,709 bags. With such a heavily-stocked market prices were low.
